Agenda item

Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment (PTE/18/7) on approval for the merge of Oaklands Park and Ratcliffe Schools to provide a single provision across both sites for pupils aged 3-19 years, attached.

An Impact Assessment is attached to the reports pack.

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment (PTE/18/7) on approval for the merger of Oaklands Park and Ratcliffe Schools to provide a single provision across both sites for pupils aged 3-19 years, the Report being circulated prior to the meeting in accordance with regulation 7(4) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

The Report outlined that the Governing Body of Oaklands Park and Ratcliffe Schools (Foundation Special Schools within the Sentient Co-operative Trust) had proposed merging the two schools to ensure the ongoing high quality educational standards against changing patterns of provision and demand for children with additional needs and within a sustainable financial climate.  The Governing Body had undertaken the necessary consultation and was seeking final approval to implement the change.

The two Schools were currently situated on adjacent sites and the Dawlish Federation of Special Schools consisting of Oaklands Park and Ratcliffe Schools was formed in January 2016 and both Schools were part of the Sentient Co-operative Trust. 

Oaklands Park School was inspected by Ofsted (education) in February 2016 and required improvement.  The residential provision was inspected in June 2016 and also required improvement, although at the time of the inspection, the residential provision was in a period of a change following the closure of the Children’s Home and the establishment of the residential special school provision.  A follow up monitoring inspection visit (education) confirmed that senior leaders and governors were taking effective action to tackle the areas requiring improvement identified.

Ratcliffe School was inspected by Ofsted (education) in March 2015 and was rated Good.  Good teaching featured across the school and there were examples of outstanding practice in all key stages.  The residential provision of Ratcliffe School was inspected by Ofsted (Social Care) in November 2017 and required improvement, however, there were no serious or widespread failures that resulted in pupils’ welfare not being safeguarded or promoted. Again, work was ongoing to further improve the quality of education and care.

The current provision at the Schools was outlined in the Report with Oaklands Park School having 60 places including 17 residential places for boys and girls aged 3-19 with Severe Learning Difficulties, Complex Communication and Interaction Difficulties and Autistic Spectrum Conditions. Ratcliffe School had 96 places including 40 residential places for boys and girls aged 5-16 with Communication and Interaction Difficulties and Social Development Needs.

The Governing Body of Oaklands Park and Ratcliffe Schools were proposing to merge the Schools to provide a single provision across both sites for pupils aged 3-19.  The school would continue to provide 156 registered places but planned to increase the number to 190 in the future, but Cabinet noted this would be subject to further consultation.

Also proposed was the reduction of residential places to 35 weekly residential places for pupils aged 3-19 to reflect current and future demand for places, with merging the residential provision from April 2018 and the two schools from August 2018, reopening as one residential special school in September 2018.

The proposal met current need as the Schools had seen a gradual but continued reduction in the number of pupils being placed residentially at both schools and there was no expectation that there would be any significant increase in demand in the future. 

There was a high demand for special need places and the change in provision was in line with the emerging Strategic Review of Special Needs places being undertaken in the County, Devon’s Local Offer and the Education Infrastructure Plan to ensure the most effective use of resources and future pattern of service delivery.

The Report outlined the financial considerations of the proposals, including the need to target educational resources, the redesign and structure of the schools, the impact on staffing and associated costs.

The Head of Service’s Report also incorporated an Impact Assessment relating to the possible impacts of the proposal, which had been circulated with the agenda for the attention of Members at this meeting in order that as part of its determination of the next steps in the process the Cabinet might have full regard to the responsibilities placed upon it to exercise its Public Sector Equality Duty, under s149 of the Equality Act 2010.

That assessment outlined that the combined impacts were seen to be positive with improved and sustainable provision for pupils for the future, therefore no unmanageable impacts had been identified.  The assessment highlighted that all young people placed would have an Education Health and Care Plan. In terms of monitoring, placements to school were managed, monitored and allocated by the SEN Team following consultation with the school. There were clear entry and exit criteria and procedures with an emphasis on re-integration and inclusion being required, with an aspiration for employability on exit, ensuring that provision developed employability and independence skills.

The Governing Body considered that the merged Schools and changes to provision would provide future sustainability, fulfil demand for this specialist provision and meet both theirs and the LA’s statutory duties to provide places and for pupils to be able to attend their local school.

The matter having been debated and the options and/or alternatives and other relevant factors (e.g. financial, sustainability, carbon impact, risk management, equality and legal considerations and Public Health impact) set out in the Head of Service’s Report and/or referred to above having been considered:

It was MOVED by Councillor McInnes, SECONDED by Councillor Hart, and

RESOLVED that the proposal to merge Oaklands Park and Ratcliffe Schools to provide a single provision across both sites for pupils aged 3-19 years be approved, which will include provision of 156 registered day places. Residential places will be merged and reduced to 35 weekly residential places from April 2018.  The two schools will merge in August 2018, reopening as one Residential Special School in September 2018.

[NB: The Impact Assessment referred to above may be viewed alongside Minutes of this meeting and may also be available at:  http://new.devon.gov.uk/impact/].