Decision details

To determine the statutory proposal to change the designation of Grove Park School.

6.1       The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services.

DECISIONS

6.2       The Lead Member RESOLVED to approve a proposal to change the type of need catered for by Grove Park School with effect from 1 September 2025 to include Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Severe Learning Difficulties in addition to its current designation of Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties.

REASONS

6.3       In accordance with the EIA 2006 and the 2013 Regulations, the Local Authority, as the responsible body, is required to determine the statutory proposal within 2 months of the end of the representation period. The Regulations set out the options the decision-maker must consider when making a decision, or the proposal must be referred to the Schools Adjudicator.

The decision-maker can:

·     reject the proposal

·     approve the proposal without modification

·     approve the proposal with modifications, or

·     approve the proposal, with or without modification, subject to certain conditions being met.

6.4       Over a number of years Grove Park School has accepted pupils with a broader range of need than Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD), including pupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD).  The Interim Executive Board’s proposal to change the type of need catered for by Grove Park School to include ASD and SLD in addition to its current designation of PMLD with effect from 1 September 2025 will more accurately reflect the needs of the school’s cohort of pupils.  This means that any new admissions to the school would be considered against this new designation, and the school would be able to plan its curriculum and support to ensure it meets the needs of these pupils.  There would be no impact on the placement of current pupils at the school, regardless of their need they would continue at the school.