Issue - meetings

    Report by Executive Director Terence Herbert

Cllr Laura Mayes, Cabinet member for Children, Education and Skills thanked members of the public that had taken the time to attend the meeting and responded to the consultation on the proposals for Special Schools.

The Cabinet member gave a presentation about the responses received to Phases 1 and 2 of the consultation on the proposals to close Rowdeford, St Nicholas and Larkrise special schools and open a new special school at Rowde. She reminded the Cabinet that they had considered the matter at their meeting held on 27 November 2018. Since that meeting, a case was taken to court by a group of families about the process used for consultation prior to November 2018, the outcome of which brought about an extension to the consultation process, thus phase 2. The report considered by the Cabinet at this meeting contained all the consultation responses received between 9 January 2019 and 6 May 2019, along with alternative proposals received.     

Cllr Mayes explained that the Council anticipated a total investment of up to £32 million in a purposed built Centre of Excellence at Rowde, to accompany provision at Exeter House in Salisbury. The Special Schools Larkrise and St Nicholas would stay open until the new school is built in 2023 and it is appropriate for children to transition to the new site at Rowdeford. The changes were necessary due to increased demand for specialist Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision, increased pupil population as a result of Army Rebasing. In total an additional 120 school places were needed for specialist SEND provision in the north, and this was to be met by the expanded centre on the existing Rowdeford site.

The Cabinet member explained there was overcrowding in the current schools and the best option was to expand the school site at Rowde. Cllr Mayes highlighted the investment was an opportunity to improve the quality of education for those in a Special School setting, as well as improving opportunities for pupils with SEND in mainstream schools. The councillor outlined that Rowde was the ideal site for expansion due to its location and excellent community links. The councillor was confident an expanded site in Rowde would give the best opportunity for travel times to the majority of pupils and families. It was explained the expanded site would keep its small, safe setting by separate small learning areas on the site, landscaped to maintain a ‘countryside’ feel and additional therapy facilities would also be available at the school.

A number of statements were received from the public which covered the following points:

• Experiences as a parent of a child with SEND
• That the decision to proceed with the proposals had already been predetermined
• Concern about the travel times
• Current proposals were not acceptable and the current 3 special schools’ provision should remain at Trowbridge, Chippenham and Rowdeford.
• The development of life skills
• Importance of receiving an education close to home, integration and social inclusion into the local community
• The need  ...  view the full minutes text for item 67