Agenda item

To consider a report on the outcome of initial consultation and to seek approval to formally consult on the proposed changes to provision at the Melrose Centre, Longbenton High School and to Southlands School.

Cabinet considered a report on the outcome of an initial consultation and to seek permission to formally consult on the publication of statutory notices regarding proposed changes to the Melrose Centre at Longbenton High School and Southlands School, both of which were maintained by the Authority.

On 29 July 2019 Cabinet had received an update on the education system in North Tyneside including the challenges in meeting the needs of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The report had described the need for change arising from the increase in the numbers of children with SEND and particularly children with autism. Cabinet had noted the work undertaken with schools and agreed that the Authority should enter pre-publication consultation with schools, parents and other interested parties in relation to the amendment of the structure of provision for pupils with Special Educational Needs (minute CAB 31/07/19 refers).

Following Cabinet’s decision in July an initial (non-statutory) consultation on changes to provision at the Melrose Centre at Longbenton High School and to Southlands School had been undertaken with school governing bodies, with staff and with parents and carers. The proposal was that leadership of the Melrose Centre, currently the responsibility of Longbenton High School, would transfer to Southlands School. Southlands School would also increasingly offer places to children with autism at the main Southlands site, gradually increasing the number of autism places available. The proposal was to have the new arrangements in place for September 2020. The proposed change was subject to the requirements of the Department for Education (DfE) statutory change process to de-commission or make changes to provision.

It was vital that the Authority continued to work alongside schools to meet the needs of children with special needs and disabilities, and to increase the number of specialist places for children with autism.  The emphasis on continuity of children’s education remained the Authority’s top priority as it considered these changes.  Melrose Centre was highly regarded by parents and the Authority understood that parents would want reassurance about what the changes would mean for their child.  The Authority had been clear that it was the leadership of the Melrose Centre that would change and not the location of the centre or the staff team who worked there.

The Authority was following the Department of Education’s statutory guidance on making significant changes to maintained schools.  The first part of that process was an informal consultation which had been carried out with parents and carers, school staff, and with the governing bodies of the schools involved.  This had included 5 consultation sessions with parents between 25 and 27 November 2019.  Feedback from the initial consultation had been considered and a frequently asked questions response had been prepared. This would inform stage 2 of the consultation process.              

Cabinet considered the following decision options: either to agree the request for permission to consult on the publication of statutory notices, or alternatively to reject this request.

Resolved that (1) the outcome of the initial (non-statutory) consultation on changes to provision at the Melrose Centre, Longbenton High School and to Southlands School be noted and endorsed;

(2) the next phase of consultation and the publication of statutory notices regarding the proposed changes to maintained schools, covering the Melrose Centre, Longbenton High School and Southlands School be approved; and

(3) Cabinet receive a further report on completion of the consultation.

(Reason for decision: It provides an appropriate curriculum offer and clarity to parents, stability and certainty about the future offer for pupils with autism. It provides clarity about the future for the staff involved and enables the change to be implemented by September 2020 with no disruption to pupils’ education. It allows the Authority to comply with the statutory Education, Health and Care plan process well in advance of September 2020 and it allows the number of educational places for children with autism to increase over time, under appropriate special school leadership.)