Agenda and minutes

17.1     The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 7 October 2019.

Notification of items which the Lead Member considers to be urgent and propose to take at the end of the appropriate part of the Agenda

18.1     Copies of the reports referred to below are included in the minute book.

19.1     The Lead Member for Education and Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services seeking approval to consult on admission arrangements for the 2021/22 school year.

19.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED – to approve to consult on the proposed admission arrangements for the 2021/22 school year, including:

1)    The proposed admission priorities and community areas;

2)    The proposed admission numbers; and

3)    The proposed co-ordinated admissions schemes with changes as detailed in Appendix 4 of the report;

4)    That the proposed changes to the schemes as set out in appendix 4 of the report are also adopted in respect of in-year admissions

Reason

19.3     The County Council is required by law to carry out consultation on admissions arrangements every seven years or sooner if any changes to those arrangements for the schools where the local authority is the admissions authority.

20.1     The Lead Member received a report from the Director of Children’s Services regarding the proposal to establish SEN (Special Educational Needs) facilities at Priory School and Robertsbridge Community College.

20.2     The Lead Member RESOLED to:

1) authorise the publication of a statutory notice in respect of a proposal to establish new SEN (Special Educational Needs) specialist facilities for up to 12 pupils each at Priory School and Robertsbridge Community College with effect from 1 September 2020; and

2) delegate authority to the Director of Children’s Services to amend the proposals prior to their publication if required.

Reason

20.3     The Council has identified a gap in specialist provision in mainstream secondary schools for pupils with a primary need of specific learning difficulties, with associated special educational needs (e.g. anxiety and high functioning autism) in both the west and east of the county and the Council would like to establish two facilities for up to 12 pupils, one at Priory School and the other at Robertsbridge Community College to address this provision gap.

20.4     The majority of respondents to the consultation were supportive to the proposals of establishing the two specialist facilities.

21.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services regarding a proposal to postpone the establishment of a SEN (Special Educational Needs) facility at Peacehaven Heights Primary School.

21.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED – to agree to postpone the establishment of a SEN facility at Peacehaven Heights Primary School.

Reason

21.3     Since approval was granted for the establishment of the new facility the school has been through a period of significant change. The headteacher at the time resigned their post and left the school in April 2019 and interim leadership arrangements were put in place. Following concerns about pupil progress and outcomes, and in consultation with the governing body, the local authority successfully applied to the Department for Education (DfE) to establish an Interim Executive Board (IEB) at Peacehaven Heights Primary School. These factors have led the local authority to conclude that it would be inappropriate to establish the facility at this time.  The Lead Member will be advised when a new opening date for the facility has been agreed.