To approve spend from the High Needs Provision Capital Grant to extend Hampton Dene Primary School’s Language and Communication Centre.

Cabinet members considered the report to approve spending from the High Needs Provision Capital Grant to extend Hampton Dene Primary School’s Language and Communication Centre.

The cabinet member explained that the Council have a secondary responsibility to provide sufficient high quality resources for pupils with Educational Health and Care Plans (ECHP’s).  There has been an increase over the last five years in children diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder referred to as ASD.  The expansion will provide two new classrooms with appropriate support space and will accommodate 16 further learners. 

The Council received the High Need and Capital Grant from the Department of Education.  The £3.97 million is supplied to create additional places and improve existing provision for children and younger people with Special Educational Needs disorder (SEN).  The extension of the Hampton Dene Provision is one of a number of projects to utilise that funding. 

There were no comments from cabinet members. 

Group leaders gave the views of their groups.  Consensus that this is a positive project overall.  Concerns were expressed about the project achieving passive house equivalent standard and due to the significant demand for Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) will students be able to access this resource remotely.

In response to queries it was noted that:

• Clarification will be provided regarding availability of funds for schools within the capital programme review;
• Sections 18, 19, 21 and the environmental impact sections of the report set out that the Council will be following environment biodiversity.  It was confirmed that passive measures will be sought when designing this building.  However there are no funds to retrofit the exiting building.  The overall footprint of the building will have a lower carbon footprint;
• The Project Management Office will lead.  A suitably skilled multiplicity disciplined team will be employed to design and deliver this project;
• A 21^st century technology approach will be used and will be part of a feature of the Council’s future sufficiency strategy for students to access remotely. 

It was unanimously resolved that:

a)    Subject to planning consent, up to £2.4m of capital spend from the high needs provision capital grant be allocated to extend Hampton Dene Primary School’s Language and Communication Centre, and

b)    The Service Director for Education, Development and Skills will be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to deliver the works.