Proposal to Improve provision and build capacity for Additional Learning Needs

Overview

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council reviews the capacity of its schools on an annual basis. As such, the Council is responding to the increased demand and growth noted over the course of the last 3 years, in line with pupil placement requests for both Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and ALN Resource Base settings.

The proposal would support the Education Directorate’s purpose to deliver:

‘Better Schools, Better Citizens and Better Communities’

The Proposal

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council propose to increase the capacity for ALN and ASD Resource Bases across the County Borough in certain Primary and Secondary Schools. This will involve the establishment and change of ALN provisions in a number of Primary and Secondary Schools.in the Council Borough. The proposal is to increase ASD and ALN places from 61 to 86 across the Primary Schools and increase the provision at Secondary Schools from 62 to 80 places in Phase 1 (including 15 Welsh-medium places). Further the proposals include the potential to increase places by a further 40 places in Phase 2 (including a Faith Based provision). This will take effect from September 2023 on a phased basis over the next 5 years.

The Council plan to remodel existing learning environments to create classroom spaces and associated facilities to accommodate and provide appropriate resources for the proposed ALN and ASD provisions In addition, and alongside this, the Council will work with the schools to develop a long-term plan to support sustained growth and development.

Therefore, this proposal will be delivered in 2 phases:

Phase 1

To recognise the transition group established in Ebbw Fawr 3-16 Learning Community- Secondary Phase as a 6 place RB from September 2023
To create a 6-8 place ASD Resource Base at Tredegar Comprehensive School from September 2023
To create a 10 place ASD/ALN Resource Base at Sofrydd Primary School from September 2024/25
To create a 15 place ASD/ALN Resource Base at Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Helyg from September 2024

Phase 2

The development of a Medium-term plan to secure additional capacity to facilitate sustained growth and development in Primary and Secondary Schools. This will include provision at the below schools between 2025 and 2029:

To create an ASD/ALN Resource Base at Brynmawr Foundation School for 10 pupils
To create an ASD/ALN Resource Base at Cwm Primary School for 10 pupils
To create, if required, an ASD/ALN Resource base at a Faith Based Primary school (such as Roman Catholic/Church in Wales Schools) in Blaenau Gwent (yet to be determined) for 10 pupils
To create an ASD/ALN Resource Base at Abertillery 3-16 Learning Community - Roseheyworth Road Primary Campus for 10 pupils

Consultation

The consultation document and associated process, will provide consultees and interested parties with the opportunity to learn more about, understand and express their views on the Council’s proposal, which will inform the final decision on how the proposal is taken forward.

The consultation period for this proposal commenced on Monday 24^th April 2023 and concluded on Tuesday 6^th June 2023.

Consultees can submit their views on the proposal, however, it should be noted that responses received during this period will not be logged as objection. Should the proposal proceed, and a consultee wish to make an objection, they will need to do so in writing during the statutory notice period.

The Council would like you to consider the information set out in the consultation booklet and provide your views on the proposal.

If you have any questions or queries on the information contained within this document, please contact us either by using the email address 21stcenturyschools@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk, or by calling us on (01495) 355470.

Consultation Outcome and Next Steps

Consultation Report

A Consultation Out-turn Report to the Council’s Cabinet will be produced in June 2023. The report will be available 2 weeks before a decision is made via the Council’s website (please see related document section) before the decision is made to or not to proceed with the proposal. Hard copies can be obtained on request from the email address detailed above.

An addendum was created to included amendments to the original information that was included in the formal consultation (please click here)

For Estyn’s response of the formal consultation (please click here)

Statutory Notice

The Cabinet approved this proposal be approved in June 2023. The Council went out to Statutory Notice 26^th June 2023 concluding on 26^th.July 2023. In compliance with the School Organisation Code V2 (2018) the statutory notice period run for 28 days along with one day for publication. During this time, there were no objections to the proposal by any consultee. Therefore, the Objection report was presented to Cabinet for approval. Copy of the Statutory Notice were displayed on the Council’s website and at all schools affected by this proposal. Hard copies of the statutory notice were also available upon request.

Determination of Proposal

On the 4^th September 2023 Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council Cabinet determine the proposal based on the outcome of the statutory notice period and approved the proposal for implementation. Please click here for copy.

Decision Notification

On this bases an electronic copy of determination letter was sent out 7^th September 2023 as determined by the School Organisation Code V2 (2018) will be sent out to all interested parties and published on Blaenau Gwent’s County Borough Council’s website within 7 days of the decision September 2023. Please click here for copy.

All Enquiries

If you have any questions or queries on the information contained within this document, please contact us either by using the email address below, or by calling us on (01495) 355470.

21stcenturyschools@blaenau-gwent.gov,uk