The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Property, Councillor James Crocker, approved the expansion of a special educational needs provision at Outwoods Primary School in Atherstone and authorised the surrender and re-grant of a lease for the Benn Education Centre in Rugby to create new alternative education places.

Addition to Education Capital Programme - Outwoods Primary School

Councillor James Crocker approved the addition of £0.345 million to the capital programme for Outwoods Primary School in Atherstone. This funding, derived from the High Needs Provision Capital Allocation and a grant from the Department for Education, will facilitate the replacement of an aging modular building with a new one. The decision also approves an increase in the number of places offered by the school's resourced provision for pupils with Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans, from 8 to 16. The Executive Director for Children and Young People, in consultation with Councillor Crocker, has been authorised to manage the procurement and contractual processes for the works.

The existing modular building at Outwoods Primary School, which has served as a resourced provision for pupils with communication and interaction needs, is over 50 years old and in poor condition. Replacing it with a new modular building will ensure the continuation of this vital local provision and address a shortfall in such places in the Atherstone area. Data indicates that 6% of primary school children with EHC plans in North Warwickshire attend independent special schools, the highest proportion across the county, suggesting a need for increased local provision. The new facility will offer improved accommodation, including more pupil toilets and an accessible toilet, enabling the increase in capacity.

Financially, the project is estimated at £0.345 million, to be funded from the High Needs Provision Capital Allocation. This allocation has significant funds available, with £5.518 million for 2025/26 and a further £7.451 million announced for 2026/27. Establishing this provision aligns with the Council's strategy to manage the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) overspend by reducing reliance on more expensive independent specialist provision. The average annual cost for independent provision is £0.073 million per pupil, compared to £0.023 million for a pupil in a resourced provision, representing a potential annual saving of £0.050 million per pupil. This initiative also supports the national SEND Reform proposals aiming to increase the number of pupils with SEND educated in mainstream settings within their local communities, potentially reducing home-to-school transport costs. Environmental considerations were noted, with the works involving a like-for-like replacement of an existing modular building, and contractors are expected to adhere to sustainability practices.

Surrender and Re-grant of Leasehold Interest at the Benn Education Centre, Rugby

Councillor James Crocker authorised the surrender of Warwickshire County Council's existing leasehold interest and the re-grant of a new leasehold interest at the Benn Education Centre in Rugby. This decision will enable the creation of new alternative education places for primary-aged pupils in the Rugby area, addressing a current gap in provision. The new provision will be established as a satellite site of Arise Education, an organisation rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted.

The Benn Education Centre, a former Victorian school building owned by the Coventry Diocesan Board of Education (CDBE), is currently partially leased by the Council. The proposal involves surrendering the existing lease and taking a new lease for the entire building. The Council will then grant sub-leases to Barnardo's, who will continue to operate the Children & Family Centre, and Arise Education, who will deliver the alternative provision. The existing Youth Service Hub will also remain. Arise Education's new provision will have capacity for 15 pupils and is expected to offer placements at a better value than other independent providers, while also reducing home-to-school transport costs by being located closer to pupils' homes. This initiative supports the Council's statutory duty to provide suitable education for permanently excluded pupils and those with SEND, as outlined in Warwickshire's SEND and Inclusion Strategy 2024–29.

Financially, the new lease arrangement is designed to be cost-neutral for the Council. While the Council will pay a concessionary rent for its existing accommodation, a market rent for the remainder of the building will be recovered from Arise Education through their sub-lease. Revenue costs associated with the building will also be shared. The Council has a concessionary rent position until November 2033, after which a market rent will be payable for the entire building. The Council has break options within its lease, which could mitigate financial liability if the accommodation is no longer required. The proposal is expected to generate home-to-school transport cost avoidance, though specific savings cannot be quantified without knowing the profile of pupils placed. The decision was noted as confidential due to commercial sensitivities related to the lease terms.