Issue details

Creation of additional Special Support Centres

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 out of county education provision.  Increasing provision for children and young people with SEND through the creation of up to 11 additional Special Support Centres (SSCs) in maintained schools will assist in the aim of enabling children to attend school locally.

 

It has been identified that children with Autism and/or Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs are more likely to move into Independent and Non-Maintained Schools (INMS) because it is currently not possible to meet their needs in maintained schools and Academies.  By creating more provision to meet these areas of need the County Council will be able to reduce spending on both expensive placements at INMS and costs associated with transporting children to out-of-county provision.

 

The first step would be to develop a Full Business Case to support the proposals set out in this report for consideration within the County Council’s Capital Programme governance and for subsequent prioritisation within the Capital Programme.

Decision type: Key

Reason Key: Expenditure > £500,000;

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Divisions affected: (All Divisions);

Notice of proposed decision first published: 30/08/2018

Decision due: December 2018 by Cabinet Member for Education and Skills

Lead member: Councillor Richard Burrett richard.burrett@westsussex.gov.uk

Contact: Helen Johns, Head of Inclusion Email: helen.johns@westsussex.gov.uk Tel: 07715 616560, Graham Olway, Head of Organisation and Planning Email: graham.olway@westsussex.gov.uk Tel: 033 022 23029.

Consultation process

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

Consultees

Schools

Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources

Democratic Services Contact: Wendy Saunders Tel: 033 022 22553

Background3: Best Start in Life

Decisions

Background papers