Issue - meetings

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  ...  view the full minutes text for item 128