Purpose

To present the responses to the published
proposal for the creation of a permanent SEN resourced provision at
Boarshaw Community Primary School and to ask for Cabinet to
determine the proposal.

To present the responses to the published proposals for the
reduction in Published Admission Numbers at the following Rochdale
Schools and to and ask for Cabinet to determine those proposals:
Harwood Park Primary School In Heywood and Stansfield Hall Church
of England / Methodist Church Primary School in North
Pennines.

Content

The Cabinet considered
a report of the Director of Children’s Services / Cabinet
Member for Children’s Services and Education which sought to
inform of the responses to the published proposals for the creation
of a permanent Special Educational Needs (SEN) resourced provision
at Boarshaw Community Primary
School.
 
The report also sought
approval of proposals to reduce the Published Admission Numbers at
Harwood Park Primary School in Heywood and at Stanfield Hall Church
of England / Methodist Church Primary School in North Pennines,
following the conclusion of the public consultation relating to
these proposals.
 
The School Place
Planning Manager was in attendance to present the report and to
address the questions of the Cabinet Members.
 
Resolved:
1.   
That the creation of a permanent Special Educational Needs
resourced provision at Boarshaw
Community Primary School, providing 12 additional places for
children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs be
agreed;
2.   
That the reduction in Planned Admission Numbers for Harwood Park
Primary School in Reception year from 2025, reducing intakes from
60 places to 30 places be agreed;
3.   
That the reduction in Planned Admission Numbers for Stanfield Hall
Church of England / Methodist Church Primary School in Reception
year from 2025, reducing intakes from 20 places to 15 places, be
agreed.
 
Reason for
decision:
 
Rochdale Council has a
statutory duty under section 14 of the Education Act 1996, to
ensure there is a sufficiency of school places available to meet
the needs of all children and young people living within our
authority. This includes having regard to the need to secure
provision for children with special educational needs and
disabilities (SEND). In addition, section 315 of the Education Act
1996 requires that arrangements for children with SEND be kept
under review.
 
The local authority
has a duty of care to children in schools to make sure too many
empty places are removed in order that the school is adequately
financed through its per-pupil funding allocation, and that
education is not compromised because of limited finance.
 
The opening of formal
consultations on the reduction of admission numbers at Harwood Park
Primary School and Stansfield Hall Church of England / Methodist
Church Primary School.
 
Alternatives
considered and rejected:
 
In relation to the
first decision, above, every child with an Education and Health
Care Plan has a bespoke plan that aims to deliver the best
education outcomes for that child. As part of that process the
local authority is required to meet the needs of the child through
providing the most appropriate education placement. The current
system sees many of these children being placed in educational
settings out of borough in independent settings. While these
placements aim to meet the immediate need, they do not meet the
social need of families to bring their children up with good links
to their local communities.
 
The alternative to the
second and third decisions above is to keep the schools at their
current admission numbers with the associated teaching capacities
which would make the schools financially unviable. Schools,
including schools maintained by the local authority, are required
to set 3 year balanced budgets. Keeping the status quo was rejected
as it would be against the best interest of fiscal
responsibility.