To seek approval to enable the local authority to develop a proposal to commission a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) free school for young people aged 16-19 years old; and to recommend that approval be given to use an existing site within Hereford to accommodate the new school proposed.

The cabinet member for children and young people introduced the report. He noted that this was an exciting opportunity to extend provision for children with special educational needs (SEN) in the county. The proposed new school would meet an identified need for additional places and would be a proactive measure to provide for future growth. There was a need to progress sooner than hoped in order to take advantage of external funding. While there was some risk involved it was considered to be a good opportunity.

Group leaders were invited to present the views of their group.

The leader of the Herefordshire Independents group asked what facilities were presently in place. The cabinet member for children and young people responded that there was existing provision but that there was an identified need for extra capacity for future years. Rather than have overcrowding on the existing sites, the proposal was to open a new facility to cater specifically for this age group. The interim director for children’s wellbeing stated that both Westfield and Barr Court schools offered good and outstanding SEN provision for 16-19 year olds as judged by OfSTED but that their sites were challenging in terms of expansion to provide for expected growth. 

The leader of the It’s Our County! group welcomed the proposal. He commented that the ward member for the proposed site for the new school recognised the need and supported the proposal. He asked what would happen to the private nursery provision which was operating on the site. The interim director of children’s wellbeing responded that notice had not been served on the nursery provider and discussions were ongoing.

The cabinet member for financial management and ICT asked what level of funding might be invested in Herefordshire. The interim director for children’s wellbeing responded that the potential funding for the building of the new school could be between £1.5m and £2m but that this would be determined by the department for education and met by them in accordance with the rules of the scheme.

The leader of the Liberal Democrats group supported the proposal and welcomed the planned improvement in the service.

Resolved:

THAT:

(a)  approval is given to progress to the next stage of the DfE Free School Special School initiative following the success of Herefordshire’s expression of interest to commission a 16-19 SEND free school in accordance with the specification in appendix 1;

(b)  approval in principle is given to the allocation of the former Broadlands School site for the development of the 16-19 SEND free school subject to a satisfactory business case being approved and planning consent being obtained; and

(c)  necessary feasibility works to further develop the business case and scheme to a maximum of £250k be approved and authority delegated to the director of children’s wellbeing to take operational decisions necessary to inform a further decision.