Issue - meetings

This report sets out the proposals to ensure that appropriate levels of good quality mainstream and SEND school places are available through to 2027. It requests that full Council agrees for them to be added to the Education Capital Programme, as recommended by Cabinet on 4 April 2023.

Background:

This report set out proposals to ensure that appropriate levels of good quality mainstream and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) school places would be available through to 2027. It requested that the projects be approved, and that the Cabinet recommend to Full Council for them to be added to the Education Capital Programme.

The report set out proposed mainstream projects worth £19.44million and SEND projects worth £16.2million. The report advised that the mainstream proposals, together with occasional bulge classes at other schools on a rota basis, including the two new free schools, should ensure that Medway would have sufficient primary and secondary school places for the foreseeable future. In relation to the proposed SEND projects, these were a mix of special school expansions and new resourced provision attached to mainstream schools. This would ensure that the most appropriate provision was in place to meet the pupil need.

The report had been considered by the Cabinet on 4 April 2023, the outcome of which was set out in section 7 of the report.

The Portfolio Holder for Education and Schools, Councillor Potter, supported by the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services – Lead Member, Councillor Mrs Josie Iles, proposed the recommendations set out in the report.

Decision:

The Council approved the addition of the following to the Capital Programme:

i)      £19,447,199.09 to provide sufficient mainstream school places, as shown in table 1 of the report and the funding available as set out in paragraph 3.3 of the report.

ii)     £16,599,649.00 to provide sufficient SEND school places, as shown in table 2 of the report and the funding available as set out in paragraph 4.5 of the report.

Background:

This report set out proposals to ensure that appropriate levels of good quality mainstream and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) school places would be available through to 2027. It requested that the projects be approved, and that the Cabinet recommend to Full Council for them to be added to the Education Capital Programme.

The report set out proposed mainstream projects worth £19.44million and SEND projects worth £16.2million. The report advised that the mainstream proposals, together with occasional bulge classes at other schools on a rota basis, including the two new free schools, should ensure that Medway would have sufficient primary and secondary school places for the foreseeable future. In relation to the proposed SEND projects, these were a mix of special school expansions and new resourced provision attached to mainstream schools. This would ensure that the most appropriate provision was in place to meet the pupil need.

Reasons:

By approving the recommendations in section 11 of the report, the Cabinet will be ensuring that the Council meets its statutory duty to ensure sufficient good quality school places are available.