Decision details

The Cabinet Member with the Children and Young People Portfolio introduced the report of the Director of Children and Adults Services (previously circulated) requesting that consideration be given to the release of government grant to fund the creation of additional school places for young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.

The submitted report stated that Cabinet had previously agreed the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Strategy (Minute C125/Mar/19 refers); a key element of the Strategy was to increase the provision of school places for young people with SEMH needs in order to allow more young people to be educated locally; two schools had agreed to work with the Council to provide additional places; and outlined the final designs and costs following consultation with the schools, completion of the planning process and final tenders.

It was reported that a number of the elements in producing the final designs and costs had been impacted by COVID-19 and that additional grant was requested to cover the final design costs of those projects.

Particular reference was made to the increase in costs, particularly for the scheme at Rise Carr College; the additional traffic that may be generated in residential streets around the Rise Carr College; and requesting that consideration be given to improving the processes in future to ensure that the estimates are more realistic.  The Cabinet Member with the Children and Young People Portfolio responded thereon.

RESOLVED - That the remaining funding of £148,837 from the Special Provision Fund allocation and an additional £906,520 from the Basic Need Capital allocation, as detailed in the submitted report, be released, and the additional costs for individual projects as detailed below, be noted, namely:

(a)     Red Hall Primary additional £65,709; and

(b)     Rise Carr College additional £989,648.

REASONS - (a)  Release of the additional funds will enable capital investment to be undertaken in the SEND areas identified with the greatest need.

(b)  Development of the SEMH units will provide an important link in the escalation process for children and young with SEND to reduce the number who eventually progress into specialist provision, often out of area.