Decision details

The County Council has a statutory duty to provide sufficient school places for all children who need a place.

There is a need to reduce the number of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) moving from maintained schools and academies into costly education provision in the Independent and Non-Maintained Special School sector, often at schools not situated in West Sussex.  Increasing provision for children and young people with SEND through the creation of additional places in County Council Special Schools will assist with the aim of enabling children to attend school locally.

St Anthony’s in Chichester caters for a wide range of Special Educational Needs, for children aged between 4 and 16. Following a review of current numbers on roll, projected needs and the existing accommodation the need to expand the school has been identified, to enable 12 additional young people to be accommodated in temporary accommodation in September 2022 whilst opportunities for further permanent expansion are explored further.

This report proposes an increase in accommodation at the school in order to provide sufficient capacity for these additional 12 places, including all associated fees, ICT and furniture and equipment. The report also seeks approval to award the contract for the project to be delivered, due to the time constraints involved and the need to meet the deadline for places to be available for September 2022.

The Leader, on behalf of the Cabinet Member for Learning and Skills, has approved:

(1)The procurement process for the design and hire of two additional classrooms with ancillary accommodation for two years to enable an increase of 12 additional places at St Anthony’s School in Chichester;

(2)The submission of a planning application for full planning permission and statutory consents;

(3)The award of the contract for the construction and hire of a double modular classroom with ancillary accommodation for a two-year period to Portakabin in the sum of £515,089, inclusive of £98,335 for contingencies and risk items, to be funded from the High Needs Block.

None