To approve the proposed expenditure of up to £150k from the schools accessibility works 2021/22 budget to create a hygiene room at St Mary's CE Primary School, Fownhope and a changing space at Shobdon Primary School.

The schools accessibility works budget is intended for any accessibility improvement works identified to enable children with special educational needs to attend schools.

That:

a)    The Assistant Director Education Development and Skills be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to implement the schemes at St Mary’s CE Primary School and Shobdon Primary School within the approved schools accessibility works budget of up to £150k.

1.             Do nothing. This option is not recommended. The council would fail in its statutory duty to place children with special educational needs and / or disabilities in schools.

2.             Children are required to attend different schools. There is a statutory process which requires the council to arrange the admission of a child with a disability or an education health and care plan to the parent / carers preferred school, unless it can be shown that to do so would prejudice other children or it would be unreasonable to do so. The excessive financial cost of making adaptations could be considered unreasonable.