Decision details

There is a need to increase provision for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) through the creation of additional places in Specialist Support Centres that are attached to mainstream schools and academies. This will assist with the aim of enabling children to attend school locally.

In December 2019 Cabinet approved the proposal to develop Phase two of the project for opening additional Special Support Centres in accordance with capital governance processes (decision reference CAB03(19/20). In October 2020 the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills approved the allocation of design fees to progress 6 of the Special Support Centres (SSC) including expanding the SSC at Warden Park Academy to create additional places (Decision reference ES09 (20/21).

In November 2020 the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills approved the allocation of Section 106 funding for education infrastructure capital projects, including education infrastructure at Warden Park Secondary Academy (decision ES10 (20/21) refers).

Since that approval further design work has been undertaken and costed in relation to expanding the SSC at Warden Park Academy. This indicates that additional funding will be required over and above the S106 allocation to deliver the works required.

The Cabinet Member for Learning and Skills will be asked to approve the allocation of additional capital funding from the Capital Programme to enable the project to create additional places at the Special Support Centre at Warden Park Academy to proceed.

The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Learning and Skills has approved;

(1)   the allocation of £2.268m (of which £1.795m is Section 106 and £0.473m is SEND capital) to fund the necessary accommodation and external play area as set out in paragraph 2.1 of the report.  This will enable the redesignation of the Special Support Centre from Additional Learning Needs to Social Communication Needs and the expansion from 24 to 28 places at Warden Park Secondary Academy from September 2024;

(2)   the passporting of £2.268m to Warden Park Secondary Academy in accordance with the relevant Section 106 Agreements and SEND capital grant to fund the work outlined in Section 2.1; and

(3)   the negotiation and completion of the Development and Funding agreement between the County Council and the Academy Trust as a pre-condition for the transfer of the funds.

None.