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.

Cornfield School in Littlehampton caters for a wide range of Special Educational Needs, for children aged 9 to 16 year olds with social, emotional and/or behavioural challenges. Following a review of current numbers on roll, projected needs and the existing accommodation, the need to expand the school has been identified. This will enable 8 additional young people to be accommodated in temporary accommodation in September 2022 with permanent expansion of the school to follow.

This report proposes an increase in accommodation at the school in order to provide sufficient capacity for these additional 8 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.

The Cabinet Member for Learning and Skills has approved:

(1)The procurement required for the design and hire of one additional classroom with ancillary accommodation for two years to enable an increase of 8 additional places at Cornfield School in Littlehampton;

(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 single modular classroom with ancillary accommodation for a two-year period to Portakabin in the sum of £586,875, inclusive of £101,854 for contingencies and risk items, to be funded from the High Needs Block.

None