Bluecoat Church of England Primary School, Great Torrington

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Proposals
The Governing Body of Bluecoat C of E Primary School and Devon County Council are consulting on two separate proposals:

Proposal 1: to formally establish the 8 place Key Stage 2 (KS2) Bluecoat Group to become a Resource Base for 12 pupils at KS2 with Complex Needs (Cognitive, Social Emotional and Mental Health, Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Speech, Language and Communication Needs) from September 2024.

Proposal 2: to establish a Resource Base for 8 pupils with Complex Needs (Cognitive, Social Emotional and Mental Health, Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Speech, Language and Communication Needs) for Reception/Key Stage 1 from September 2024.

These proposals are not linked. One proposal is not dependent on the other.

Background
Increasing Resource Base provision is part of a county-wide strategy by Devon County Council in response to the demand for increased special educational needs provision and to enhance the inclusive capacity of mainstream schools.

A Resource Base supports learners whose needs can be met in a mainstream setting but who require a specialist environment and support within the school. Pupils are supported within this environment with an Education Health and Care Plan, small class sizes and high staffing ratios. Their plan will also support their involvement in larger classes within the school according to the needs and progress of the pupil. Our aim is to enable pupils to fulfil their potential to successfully access part or all of the curriculum within the mainstream school, where appropriate. The opportunity for pupils within the group to remain within the local community and access key experiences alongside peers working within the mainstream has been particularly valued by pupils and their families. The bespoke provision available will be dependent on the needs of the pupils identified but will include personalised individual teaching programmes incorporating social and intensive emotional support including specialist sensory and language provision, alongside group work and opportunities to participate in small class groups for shared curriculum input alongside their peers, where appropriate.

Evidence of need
Devon has one of the lowest percentages of learners accessing Resourced Provision in comparison to its statistical neighbours and is lower than the national average. Alongside this Devon has seen a significant increase in the number of children and young people with Education and Health Care Plans (EHCP) in recent years.

These proposals will ensure a better offer for children and young people that is local and suitable to their needs. The proposals will support more children with special educational needs to be educated and thrive in their local school and community, facilitating better access to the curriculum and avoiding the need for children to travel to an appropriate school further away from their local community.

Bluecoats C of E Primary Proposals
Existing suitable space at the school has been identified for the Resource Base provision. The Published Admission Number of the school will not be impacted by these proposals.

Costs and Expenditure
Capital funding of £113,000 has been approved by Devon County Council to support the provision of two Resource Bases, should the proposals be approved. This will include remodelling of the internal space, creation of a sensory room, fencing, landscaping and enhancement of the outdoor learning area, enabling the school to provide a secure, self contained environment within which to meet the needs of the pupils accessing this provision.

Revenue funding from Devon County Council is in place to support these proposals.

Admission to the Resource Base
To be considered for a place in a Resource Base the child or young person must have an EHCP. Should the creation of the Resource Bases be agreed, it is the Local Authority 0-25 SEN team who will allocate places in the bases, in consultation with the school.

Consultation and decision-making process
There will be an informal consultation period beginning 19th February 2024.
If it is agreed to proceed with the proposal/s, following this informal consultation, then a formal 4 week representation period will be held inviting further comment or objection.
Devon County Council will consider all responses to the informal consultation and the formal representation period when making their decision.

The indicative timescale is likely to be (assuming agreement to each stage):

Informal consultation 19th February 2024 to 22nd March 2024
Formal 4 week representation period: 15th April to 13th May 2024
Proposed implementation: September 2024.

Responding to the consultation
Comments can be made to the Governing Body by:
Emailing: clerk@bluecoat-learn.org
By post to: Clerk to Governors. Bluecoat C of E Primary School, Borough Rd, Great Torrington. Devon. EX38 7NU

Please note that all responses must be received by 22 March 2024.

All responses to the consultation will be considered by the Governing Body and senior leadership team of Bluecoat C of E Primary School and will be shared with Devon County Council unless you request otherwise. We will not send individual responses to any specific points made.

Please see Devon County Council’s Privacy Notice for further information:
www.devon.gov.uk/privacy/privacy-notices/privacy-notice-for-representations-to-school-organisation-statutory-consultations/