Decision details

The Leader of the Council delegated to the Cabinet the power to make the decisions set out below

RESOLVED: To

School Place Planning

1.   note the progress made on delivering the Education Estates supply strategy for mainstream and special schools for the 2018/19 to 2020/21 academic years. (Appendix 1 of the report - Capital Programme Budget summary).

Special Educational Needs and Disability

2.   agree the revised SEND supply strategy and budget to provide additional places for children with special educational needs and disability - Appendix 2 of the report.

3.   approve the start of statutory process - publication of statutory proposal and formal consultation – in the autumn term relating to the proposed extension of the age range at Red Gates School.

4.   note that the Department for Education(DfE) has approved/announced the provider for Croydon’s new special free school. 

5.   note progress relating to the proposed partnership with Croydon Further Education (FE) college to establish new local post 16 places in an SEN Centre of Excellence.

6.   delegate authority to the Executive Director, Children, Families and Education in consultation with the Director of Finance and Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Learning to spend from the £6.833m of DfE Basic Need funding for 2019/20 to provide additional places at St Nicholas and Red Gates Special School, and relocate Springboard – Pupil Referral Unit. 

Alternative Provision / Pupil Referral Unit (PRU)

7.   agree to the relocation of Springboard Tuition Service – PRU - and delegate authority to the Interim Director, Children, Families and Education in consultation with the Director of Finance and Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Learning to make decisions relating to capital funding required for the relocation. Cabinet are asked to agree to commission the necessary works, subject to agreement from the site owner, including feasibility and design development; and capital funding for this relocation. At the time of writing, the estimated cost is in the region of £500k.

Early Years Provision

8.   note information relating to early years provision in the borough.

                 School Admissions

9.   note the percentage of Croydon’s pupils who have been offered a place at their first and top three preferred primary and secondary schools.

                 School Maintenance and Compliance

10.   note the Schools’ Maintenance Plan (Appendix 3) for the 2018/19 academic year which includes £2m for fire safety works in community schools (plus an additional £1m for 2019/20), all as agreed in the Education Estates Strategy report at Cabinet in January 2018. In light of the issues set out in paragraph 7.7 below, it is recommended  that the Executive Director, Children, Families and Education, should be given delegated authority to vary the plan to reflect actual prices and new urgent issues that may arise, including authorising spend against the allowance for emergency and reactive works. The Executive Director, Children, Families and Education shall report back to members in respect of any exercise of such authority.