We use cookies to collect information about how you use localoffer.wiltshire.gov.uk We use this information to make the website work as well as possible and improve our services.
Proposal to establish a resource base at St. Paul's Primary School
Statutory Consultation
Introduction
The Leadership Team and Governors at St. Paul's established that the school have the capacity and capability to support some additional pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN). Therefore, Wiltshire Council proposes to establish a resource base (a SEN provision) at St. Paul's Primary School, Chippenham, Wiltshire. This proposal has been developed in response to the demand for special educational needs provision in the Chippenham and North Wiltshire area.
Should the creation of the resource base be agreed, the council and the school will work together to ensure that all admissions are handled effectively and efficiently.
The proposal
In accordance with Section 19(1) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 (as amended by the Education Act 2011) and the School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2013 Wiltshire Council are proposing changes to St. Paul's Primary School, to establish a resource base and register it with the Department for Education (DfE).
The SEN designation of the resource base would be Complex Needs (inclusive of pupils with communication and interaction needs and/ or autism) to support children who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). The resource base would receive children with SEN from the local area, not limited to the school's mainstream catchment.
The resource base would open in September 2024, initially for up to 10 places, increasing to up to 20 places from September 2025.
The resource base would be created in spaces historically used as classrooms. The school has nine classrooms - sufficient to enable the admission of up to 41 mainstream children per year group. However, the school has been admitting fewer than 30 pupils per year group for some time and there is no expectation that demand for places at the school will exceed 30 in future years. This means there are classrooms available to create the resource base. There is no change to the Published Admissions Number (PAN) as part of this proposal, however the Council will consult to reduce the PAN to 30 from Sept 2026 as part of the Council's admissions policy later this year.
Wiltshire Council are making this proposal to meet the needs of the growing number of children with SEND, particularly in the Chippenham and North Wiltshire area.
Wiltshire Council has a statutory duty to secure sufficient school places for pupils with special education needs (Children and Families Act 2014) and to ensure that these places provide both high quality provision and value for money. The establishment of a resource base at St. Paul's Primary School is being proposed for the following reasons:
Wiltshire Council has identified a demand for resource base provision in the Chippenham and North Wiltshire area
St. Paul's Primary School was judged to be a good school by Ofsted at their last inspection in July 2019
St. Paul's Primary School are committed to inclusion and delivering a high-quality SEN provision
The development aligns with the school's values to serve its community and put children at the centre of everything that they do
Existing, suitable indoor and outdoor space at the school have been identified for the resource base
Affordable refurbishment and adaptation work has been agreed in principle between Wiltshire Council and the school to make the identified spaces ideal for resource base provision
St. Paul's Primary School are fully supportive of the proposal
Wiltshire Council is proposing to establish a resource base at St. Paul's Primary School.
We believe that this will:
Provide additional capacity to meet the increasing demand for SEN school places in Wiltshire, particularly in the Chippenham and North Wiltshire area where demand is high
Support improved educational outcomes for children with SEN
This proposal is not expected to have any limiting impact on other local provision including local schools but will contribute towards parental choice.
Following consultation, the local authority and school will work together to ensure that all admissions are handled effectively and efficiently. Pupils will start at the new resource base from September 2024.
The establishment of a resource base at St. Paul's Primary School is part of a wider plan of increased SEN school place capacity across Wiltshire to ensure countywide SEN school place sufficiency.
St. Paul's Primary School will receive SEN place funding for each child placed at the resource base and top up funding for each child which will vary according to the child's needs identified in their EHCP. The school will be responsible for staffing and resources, and the local authority and the school have worked together to financially model the provision to ensure it is affordable and will not impact upon the mainstream school budget.
The capital costs for the agreed refurbishment and adaptations have been costed and will be funded by the local authority from the SEN capital grant.
All statutory consultation requirements relating to these proposals have been complied with.
Stage 1
Publication
The proposal will be published on the St. Paul's Primary School and Wiltshire Council website for 4 weeks from 19 April to 17 May 2024.
A copy of the proposal has been sent to the Governors of St. Paul's Primary School and the Head Teacher
St. Paul's Primary School will ensure that the information is released through a circulated update (this may be a paper or electronic newsletter or update) and sent directly to all parent/carers of all registered pupils
Copies of the proposal will be available via the school, by contacting Wiltshire Council and on the websites.
Comments can be made via E-mail or letter to: SpecialSchools@wiltshire.gov.uk or Special School Transformation Team (ref: St Paul's Primary School Resource Base), Wiltshire Council, County Hall, Trowbridge, BA14 8JN
Comments must be received by no later than the 17 May 2024 to be considered in the decision-making process.
Stage 2
Representation (Formal consultation)
The period of consultation will run from 19 April to 17 May 2024.
Stage 3
Decision
Following the representation period, a decision will be made by the end of June.
The proposal can be:
Accepted
Rejected
Or accepted with modifications by the proposer
The decision will be published within one week of the decision and;
published on the same sites as the publication
sent to every registered pupil
and sent to the governing body
Stage 4
Implementation
If approved, the new resource base will open from September 2024.
If the proposal is accepted the council and the school will work together to ensure that all admissions are handled effectively and efficiently.
Comments can be made via E-mail or letter to:
SpecialSchools@wiltshire.gov.uk or Special School Transformation Team (ref: St Paul's Primary School Resource Base), Wiltshire Council, County Hall, Trowbridge, BA14 8JN
If you choose to respond, please use the consultation response template below:
Please note that all comments must be received by 17 May 2024.
What to include in your response:
Are you a: Pupil, Parent/ carer/ family member, Governor, Member of staff
Do you agree with the proposal to establish a resource base at St. Paul's Primary School?
Your comments
Describe any other options that you think should be explored?
Any other comments about the proposal you would like to make