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Proposal to establish a resource base at Clarendon Juniors School
Statutory Consultation
Introduction
Wiltshire Council propose to establish a resource base (a SEN provision) at Clarendon Junior School, Tidworth, Wiltshire. This proposal has been developed in response to the demand for special educational needs provision in the Tidworth and East 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 Clarendon Junior 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 24 places by September 2027.
Space at the school has been identified to locate a refurbished modular building that was previously used for SEN provision. The building is being tailored to the specific needs of the school in accordance with BB104 standards to ensure it will fully meet the needs of pupils attending the resource base.
Clarendon Juniors is part of the Clarendon Federation, together with next door Clarendon Infants. A resource base at Clarendon Infants was opened September 2022 for pupils aged 4-7 (Reception and Key Stage 1) and the proposed resource base at Clarendon Juniors would be for children aged 7-11 (Key Stage 2). This means there would be a continuation of the resource base offer from the Clarendon Federation from Reception - Year 6 and provide the opportunity for a smooth transition for pupils from Year 2 to Year 3, moving from the Infant School to the Junior School with their mainstream peers.
There is no change to the Published Admissions Number (PAN) as part of this proposal.
Wiltshire Council are making this proposal to meet the needs of the growing number of children with SEND, particularly in the Tidworth and East 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 Clarendon Junior School is being proposed for the following reasons:
Wiltshire Council has identified a demand for resource base provision in the Tidworth and East Wiltshire area
Clarendon Junior School was judged to be a good school by Ofsted at their last inspection in May 2023
Clarendon Junior School and the Clarendon Federation 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
Suitable space to locate both indoor and outdoor provision at the school have been identified for the resource base
An affordable refurbished modular building and adaptation work has been agreed in principle between Wiltshire Council and the school to make the ideal spaces for resource base provision
Clarendon Junior School and Clarendon Federation are fully supportive of the proposal
Wiltshire Council is proposing to establish a resource base at Clarendon Junior School.
We believe that this will:
Provide additional capacity to meet the increasing demand for SEN school places in Wiltshire, particularly in the Tidworth and East Wiltshire area where demand is high
Support improved educational outcomes for children with SEN
Enable a smooth transition from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3 for children moving from the Clarendon Infants resource base to Clarendon Juniors resource base with their mainstream peers
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 Clarendon Junior School is part of a wider plan of increased SEN school place capacity across Wiltshire to ensure countywide SEN school place sufficiency.
Clarendon Junior 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 modular building and the adaptations to the indoor and outdoor space 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.
Consultation process indicative timeline
Stage 1
Publication
The proposal will be published on the Clarendon Junior School and Wiltshire Council website for 4 weeks from 29 April to 27 May 2024.
A copy of the proposal has been sent to the Governors of Clarendon Junior School and the Head Teacher.
Clarendon Junior 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 (opens new window) or Special School Transformation Team (ref: Clarendon Junior School Resource Base), Wiltshire Council, County Hall, Trowbridge, BA14 8JN
Comments must be received by no later than the 27 May 2024 to be considered in the decision-making process.
Stage 2
Representation (Formal consultation)
The period of consultation will run from 29 April to 27 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.