Issue details

The re-designation of Post 16 provision at Oak Grove College, Worthing

The County Council has been developing a new Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Inclusion Strategy to support the inclusion of all children and young people, particularly those with SEND. One of the aims of the County Council’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Inclusion Strategy 2019-2024 is to support the inclusion of all children and young people with SEND to participate in local mainstream schools and educational settings. 

 

Oak Grove College is a special school in Worthing that offers provision for students with learning difficulties from Years 7-14. Following assessment of options for post-16 provision for children with SEND it is recognised that many of the pupils with less complex needs who currently undertake their post-16 studies at Oak Grove could be successfully educated within mainstream Further Education Colleges, thereby enabling Oak Grove College to focus provision for students with more complex needs.

 

Redesignating the post-16 provision to become more specialist would also mean there could be a reduction in the number of Post 16 planned places at the College, from 56 to 24 by 2025/26.   The intention would be to retain the overall number of places at the school (256) by re-designating some of Post 16 places as Pre-16 provision.  This is in line with the current patterns of attendance.

 

A public consultation on the proposal that post-16 provision at Oak Grove is redesignated to become more specialist and cater for pupils with complex needs including; Complex Autistic Spectrum Condition, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties and Severe Learning Difficulties took place during September and October 2020 and the outcome is set out in section 3 of the report.

 

Decision type: Key

Reason Key: Affects more than 1 division;

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Divisions affected: Northbrook;

Notice of proposed decision first published: 08/07/2020

Decision due: November 2020 by Cabinet Member for Education and Skills

Lead member: Councillor Nigel Jupp nigel.jupp@westsussex.gov.uk

Contact: Oliver Lane-Smith, SEND Pupil Placement Planning Officer Email: oliver.lane-smith@westsussex.gov.uk Tel: 033 022 23105.

Consultation process

Representations concerning this proposed decision can be made to the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills via the officer contact, by the beginning of the month in which the decision is due to be taken.

 

Consultees

Schools

Governing Bodies

Parents and Carers

Democratic Services Contact: Wendy Saunders Tel: 033 022 22553

Background3: Best Start in Life

Decisions

Background papers

  • None