Decision details

The Chair welcomed Mel Ormesher, Head of Asset Management; and Ben Terry, School Planning Principal, to the meeting.

The report presented explained that the School Place Provision Strategy 2017/18 to 2019/20 replaced the Strategy for the Provision of School Places and Schools' Capital Investment 2015/16 to 2017/18, which was last published in 2015.

Members were advised that the strategy took into account SEND provision within a mainstream school setting and not within SEND Schools as this was subject to a separate strategy.

It was reported that some schools had reclassified rooms used specifically for art or music or ICT rooms for general teaching. This, and other flexible use of space, were options which more schools needed to consider going forward. It was vital to bring spare capacity into schools.

Members were informed that the Education Contribution Methodology had been consulted upon with all the borough councils and local planning authorities. It identified a method which was in line with planning regulations and Department for Education requirements in terms of securing education contributions to provide for the school places.  A link to the Education Contribution Methodology is provided below:

http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/media/324206/education-methodology-may-2016.pdf

It was confirmed that specific pupil yields varied and were based on research. There was good engagement with local authorities to see where the needs were. It was also highlighted that until a development had planning permission, it did not get accounted for in pupil projections.

The Committee was informed that the SEND service had secured a capital allocation. Some of this would be used to develop a county wide consultation to discover what the mainstream and SEND provisions were throughout Lancashire.

In addition the authority was currently undertaking a series of site visits in order to fully understand the capacity issues and develop a more detailed strategy accordingly.

It was reported that there was a definite need for alternative provision and this had been recognised in the current strategy. It was also an area that needed to be looked at in terms of the capital allocation. Local authorities were responsible for arranging suitable education for permanently excluded pupils and for other pupils who, because of illness or other reasons, would not receive suitable education without such arrangements being made.

It was confirmed that the accelerated migration in East Lancashire was over and above what had been forecast and a review of the situation had been brought forward including the review for the distances that pupils had to travel to schools. In terms of migration, the team was working with borough councils and was also engaging with schools and pupil access to obtain figures.

Resolved: That the;

  i.  School Place Provision Strategy 2017/18 – 2019/20 be noted.

  ii.  Supporting data will be updated within the timescale of the Strategy to reflect changes on an annual basis be noted.

  iii.  Challenges to providing school places contained within Section 6 of the Strategy, and offer recommendations to help the County council as Education Authority meet these challenges be considered.

  iv.  Education Contribution Methodology be distributed to all members of the Education Scrutiny Committee.