To consider a report of the Executive Member for Children's Services.

That the proposals contained within the report be agreed as the detailed capital programme for 2020/21, specifically -

1.     Agree to the reallocation of funding streams of Egerton High School and Delamere School in order to carry out work to improve the facilities and expand provision for pupils with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) detailed in Appendix A to the report: Proposed Capital Projects, SEND Capital Programme, Table 2.

2.     Note the demand for primary and secondary school places, Section 2 and 3 of the report and approve the proposal to expand Firs Primary from 2FE to 3FE as detailed in Section 7.

3.     Note and agree the completion of previous schemes and the demand for early years places, Section 5 of the report.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Corporate Director for Children’s Servicessubmitted a report which drew attention to the Council’s statutory duty to provide sufficient places in schools and early years settings and a duty to meet the needs of children and young people with special education needs and disabilities (SEND). The report set out the funding received to support the achievement of this duty, and to meet any risks in relation to school conditions and access; and provided further details and updates on the progress that had been made on existing projects to meet demand for places which had been predicted in 2019.

In discussion, queries were raised regarding the nature of advance planning being undertaken to identify forthcoming pressures on school places, particularly in the context of significant housing developments within the borough, and on the nature of consultations undertaken. It was noted that the pandemic had generated particular immediate challenges in respect of the allocation of school places, but that a working group had been set up to monitor and take account of the kinds of issues and pressures referred to in the discussion.

RESOLVED - That the proposals contained within the report be agreed as the detailed capital programme for 2020/21, specifically -

1.    Agree to the reallocation of funding streams of Egerton High School and Delamere School in order to carry out work to improve the facilities and expand provision for pupils with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) detailed in Appendix A to the report: Proposed Capital Projects, SEND Capital Programme, Table 2.

2.    Note the demand for primary and secondary school places, Section 2 and 3 of the report and approve the proposal to expand Firs Primary from 2FE to 3FE as detailed in Section 7.

3.    Note and agree the completion of previous schemes and the demand for early years places, Section 5 of the report.