Agenda and minutes

30.1     The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 26 April 2021.

Disclosure by all Members present of personal interests in matters on the Agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the Member regards the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct

31.1     There were none.

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

32.1     There were none.

33.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services seeking permission to consult with schools on an in-year variation to admission arrangements, to vary in-year arrangements and introduce admissions co-ordination for 2021-22 as required by the Schools Admissions Code 2021.

33.2     RESOLVED – to

1) approve consultation with schools on amendments to in-year admission arrangements as set out in Appendix 1 of the report (this will require an In-Year Variation to be consulted on at the same time)

2) Approve consultation on the introduction of  a co-ordinated scheme of admissions for in-year applications as set out in Appendix 2 of the report.

Reason

33.3     Consultation approval is being sought so that East Sussex County Council can meet its consultation requirements for the changes expected by 31 October 2021, as set out in the report.

34.1     The Lead Member considered a report on the proposed amendment to the school term and holiday dates for the academic year 2021/22.

34.2     RESOLVED – to approve that the academic year 2021/22 finishes one day early on, Thursday 21 July 2022.

Reason

34.3     The additional bank holiday on 3 June 2022,  to celebrate the Queens Platinum Jubilee falls within the East Sussex school term and holiday dates for 2021/22. The expectation is that arrangements will be put in place to ensure that the schools’ workforce benefit from the additional bank holiday if the date falls in the school holidays. The school term and holiday calendar for 2021/22 will be updated to reflect the decision. Schools, relevant services and other key stakeholders will be notified of the decision.

35.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services seeking approval to publish a statutory notice in respect of a proposal to extend the designation of the specialist facility at Wallands Community Primary School.

35.2     RESOLVED – to

1) Authorise the publication of  a statutory notice in respect of a proposal to extend the designation of the specialist facility at Wallands Community Primary School; and

2) Delegate authority to the Director of Children’s Services to amend the proposal prior to its publication if required.

Reason

35.3     The local authority wishes to extend the designation of the specialist facility at Wallands Community Primary School to ensure it can meet the needs of local pupils with Special Educational Needs, reflecting the changes being seen to the type of Special Educational Needs being presented. Feedback from the initial consultation was largely positive, with 11 out of 15 respondents being supportive