Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Lee Wilkes.

RESOLVED that:-

The minutes of the meeting held on 5^th May 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Members received a report which sought to update members of the Future Communities Executive Advisory Panel on the proposal for the new use of the former Wilby CEVA Primary School building.

It was heard the reasons for the proposal for the new use of the Wilby CEVA Primary School (Wilby School) building was subsequent to the Executive approving Wilby School to relocate to the newly built school on 16th November 2023. Based on this position, work had been undertaken to assess the options for the vacated Wilby School building to ensure its continued effective use with consideration to ensuring that there are sufficient school places available.

Members then heard that having regard to the severe shortage of SEND school places in the North Northamptonshire locality, an assessment of the Wilby School building was undertaken to determine its suitability to occupy children with special educational needs. As part of this planning work, it was decided that the opportunity to increase capacity at Rowan Gate Special School would be a suitable option to support the growth of SEND places.

Rowan Gate Special School would under the proposal expand onto the former Wilby School site and would accommodate pupils in Reception to Year 1 with a maximum capacity of 30. Members noted that the expansion of Rowan Gate Special School would have implemented support for children with:

•                  Cognition and Learning Needs (Severe Learning Disabilities)

•                  Communication and Interaction Needs (Autistic Spectrum Disorder)

•                  Sensory and/or Physical Needs 

•                  Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs (SLCN)

•                  Complex medical needs

It was then noted that the benefits of the proposal were to ensure the delivery of sufficient suitable school places that meet the needs of the community now and in the future and too provide an appropriate expansion of an existing school to meet the growing forecasted deficit of school places in North Northamptonshire. The proposal would also support the current shortage of SEND places in North Northamptonshire and support children to access special needs education and facilities that enable the achievement of the best outcomes whilst making effective and efficient use of the education estate in North Northamptonshire to meet the needs of all pupils.

The expansion provided an opportunity to meet the statutory responsibilities to provide sufficiency of school places in North Northamptonshire.

Members then heard that The Executive was invited to consider the benefits of the proposal when considering the request for approval of the expansion of Rowan Gate Special School to the Wilby School building. Should the proposal be approved by the Executive, the necessary minor refurbishments of the Wilby School would have commenced once vacated in July 2024 so that Rowan Gate Special School can occupy the building from October 2024.

David Watts, Executive Director of Adults, Health Partnerships and Housing (DASS), and Children’s Services (Interim DCS) attended the meeting and provided members of the Future Communities Executive Advisory Panel with an update on the SEND Priority Action Plan.

It was noted that that SEND Priority Action Plan needed to be submitted to Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission by 16^th May 2024. Subsequently approval was received from Ofsted for the SEND Priority Action Plan on the 24^th May 2024 with no proposed amendments. Further meetings had taken place between North Northamptonshire Council, Department for Education (DfE) and NHS England where three potential options were identified:

·       The Local Area Partnership takes control of the situation to lead any improvement.

·       An Improvement notice was to be issued.

·       More intensive intervention including step-in arrangements.

The Department for Education following discussions confirmed that they were mined to go the for improvement notice option which was the expected outcome. The SEND Priority Action Plan was published on the 3^rd June 2024 due to a set timeline. It was proposed to members of the Executive Advisory Panel that an agenda item be included at the next meeting to discuss the SEND Priority Action Plan in more detail and to update with regards to steps that have already been implemented.

Members heard that there were four areas that were identified as being high priority areas including partnership working, Joint Strategic Commissioning, Governance Arrangements and accurate assessment of needs. Six further areas for improvement were also identified including long waiting times for Health Services, access to specialist equipment, the approach to coordinating early years support, Strategic commission of alternative provision and support for transition services and preparedness for adulthood.

It was confirmed to members that a Stakeholder Assurance Group had been developed jointly chaired by North Northamptonshire Parent Carer Voice. It was believed that the group would strengthen oversight and challenge around the delivery of SEND improvement.

The forward list of items for the EAP was considered and members were asked to consider any subject areas within the Executive Advisory Panel that members felt should be considered at future meetings. The following items were noted for discussion at the next meeting on 5^th September 2024.

Item 1:   SEND Priority Action Plan Update

Item 2:   Home to School Policy Update

Item 3:   School Allocations/Admissions

Item 4:   Education Support Services

Future items for consideration were also discussed and members raised the following subject areas for consideration at future meetings of the Future Communities Executive Advisory Panel.

·       Homeschooling

·       Youth Offending Service

·       Disabled Children’s Team

There being no further business, the Chair thanked Members and Officers for their attendance and closed the meeting.