Q2.1	Q2.2	Q3.4
	Do you support the proposal to establish a new special school?	Do you have any comments about the proposed establishment of a new school provision for Autistic children (with or without diagnosis) aged 11- 19 at the site of the former Woodfield Community Primary School from 1 September 2024?	Do you have any suggestions for improvement? Please do not include any personal or sensitive information in your answer
1	Yes	Fully support this a much needed addition to specialist provision in the area.
2	No	Why is this provision only for secondary aged pupils?
3	Yes	Local education professional who also has personal experience of lack of such places being available
4	No	There is also a huge need for places for primary children with autism and communication and interaction needs. With Woodfield being a primary designed site, it would be better suited to primary aged SEND.  Rossett high school sixth form is closing - there is a lot of space there that could be used for secondary aged pupils with SEND
5	Yes	I fully support this proposal as chair of governors of a local school, I only wish there was more provision for primary aged children, but this is a start
6	Yes	Always need special schools, there is a huge need for them.
7	Yes	Significantly high numbers of ASD /SLCN pupils coming through referrals or requiring smaller specialist setting .Would prefer to see 5-18 provision as would cut cost of ISP placing substantially
8	Yes	As a headteacher I can clearly see a need for a secondary school that caters for children with autism.  Many children with autism fail to do as well as they could because they are not in the correct setting to flourish.  Academically they have the potential to pursue a secondary curriculum but this needs to be carefully delivered in an area where the sensory environment is carefully considered.  Because there is a lack of specialist provision for children with ASD, they often end up going to schools that may not adequately meet their needs, or that are outside of the LA's responsibility.  In this setting, the school may not be able to meet their primary need or they end up avoiding school completely.  In order to ensure that children with ASD thrive I believe a specialist provision for children with autism is essential.
9	Yes	We desperately need this provision in North Yorkshire to support students ASD needs. There are a growing number of students who require smaller classes in a quieter school. In addition to this we have a number of school refusers who would attend a mainstream school that is able to manage their needs.
10	Yes	We are in desperate need of more specialist provision settings for our young people, so that their needs can be met.
11	Yes
12	Yes
13	Yes
14	Yes
15
16	Yes	As the Headteacher of a local primary school, I am delighted to see North Yorkshire County Council hoping to repurpose the Woodfield site into a special school. This is very good news indeed, especially when we consider the number of pupils attending private placements alongside the skyrocketing levels of need. It is very good to feel 'heard' by the Local Authority.  I would have hoped for a through-school, or potentially a KS2 - secondary offer, as primary schools in the Local Authority are also struggling under the significant rise in need. Many pupils in mainstream primary schools require specialist placements, and sadly these are all full. Targeted Mainstream Provisions are rare, and most of these tend to be filled with pupils who are awaiting special school placements. If there were more suitable special placements, then this would lead to less pressure on the TMP model and a greater uptake from local schools. This, in turn, would lead to a fairer distribution of need across the Local Authority, which would result in more schools being able to meet the increasing levels of need that they are facing.  Is there some discussion around younger placements within the Woodfield special school proposal?  It would also be worth considering what outdoor / forest school / urban farm type of provision could be offered on the site, as well as a special school provision. Increasingly, EHCPs name outdoor specific provision and this is only accessible through very costly private providers. An NYCC provider would have a really positive impact on the local area.
17	No	There are other SEND schools in the very local area that could've benefitted from using this space. Springwater school it struggling for space already- having the addition of the Woodfield school would have been useful to expand the role. I think introducing a whole new school is undermining the work already being done in the specialist schools. Perhaps the council could consider offering the building and finances to schools that have worked during periods of unsuitable buildings and lack of funding. I think this should be considered by the council.
18	No	There is already a Special School in Starbeck - Springwater - which has been asking the Authority to provide more space for more pupils for a number of years and when the news became public that Woodfield School was going to close, Springwater asked if they could be considered as having this space as a satelite....  the answer was no.  We have been told and it has been publicised that we are being given access to the current Meadowbank buildings but as work for this has not even got off the ground and the place is practically standing empty why are the Authority not supporting the exisiting local Special school to continue to grow and thrive.
19	Yes	There is not enough provision for children with special needs.
20	Yes	Fantastic opportunity would also benefit early years too age 6
21	Don't know	In the proposal the statement that there are no realistic alternative sites without going to the open market. As I understood a previous proposal was to extend Springwater School in Starbeck into the buildings adjoining the library and the adult learning facility at Meadowbank. This seems to have been over looked, forgotten about or ‘binned’. It would provide better insight to the Woodfield proposal if the proposal contained information regarding the Springwater expansion or otherwise. This would make the new Woodfield proposal more understandable and allow a fuller discussion regarding NYCC’s provision of SEND, and perhaps give and idea as the the future of Springwater School.
22	Yes	As the Grandparent of an Autistic Grandaughter who is due to start secondary School next September this would be the most perfect place for her to continue her education. Autistic children can bring so much to this world and need a very different, relaxed and simple environment to achieve their talents.This building is the perfect setting.	No improvement needed.
23	Yes	It will be great to keep Woodfield as a school. There's a real need for a SEND school. I think it's a brilliant idea.
24	Yes	We need more support for those children that don’t fit into the square hole that is mainstream schooling. They need love and nurturing
25	Yes	Think it is much needed and a very good idea
26	Yes
27	No	Why open a new special school when there is already a good with many outstanding areas special school open in Harrogate that is bursting at the seams for space. Springwater School is regularly consulted for students who we could potentially meet need but just do not have enough room for however Ofsted have said that what we do provide is excellent so why not allow Springwater to have that site as a satellite so they can continue the already proven excellent offer to more youngsters rather than starting again?
28	Yes	Too little too late for the academic autistic community who are masking in mainstream and NOT having their needs met at all. That is why there are so many children out of school. If they were in a wheelchair it would be different! Ripon grammar is a prime example of failing to support many children with a range of needs!
29	Yes
30	Yes
31	Yes
32	Yes	This is absolutely necessary. This is so important for the children and the whole community. It also provides vital jobs to local specialised people and opportunities for career growth for others.	I think a summary of the proposal as a singular document would work better for most people. Not a lot of people will fully read a huge document, so a one/two page PDF summary would be better appropriate to get more responses from the general public.
33	Yes	A well needed school for this large group of children!
34	Yes	There is a need for specialist provision for all children, would there be capacity for places for Primary aged children?
35	Yes
36	Yes	Glad to know secondary pupils with autism will have a school especially if has open areas to be e corporates in the safe learning environment
37	Yes	With the severe lack of provision for children with SEND needs this is an amazing proposition for our town and the children who desperately need this help. I am not a parent and I do not know personally anyone who would use the provision however I am aware from my employment that this area is far behind other areas in providing support for SEND children. Woodfield school is a perfect place with facilities to build a specialist school if it is not used for this purpose I fear in the very near future a school will need to be built at the extra cost of the tax payer, having been a part of this community and having actually worked in the community I know this would be welcomed
38	Yes	The link to the demographic data shows access denied. I think this is a good idea that the site is able to accommodate. Alternative would be some kind of sporting facility for the teenagers of Harrogate. This demographic has very little public smenity provision in Harrogate.	The question that says School/Trust, what is this asking for?
39	Yes	Excellent use of the County's assets for a much needed Educational use.	No
40	Yes
41	Yes	I wish it was also for primary school age children as well.	No
42	Yes	The idea of a local school for the children of Harrogate who struggle. Yes Struggle with Autism would be very welcome. The site of the Former Woodfield school would be the ideal site. It's so close to nature. It's peaceful and it's already equipped with many things needed to make a a safe and understanding school to support and nurture these incredible children. What is not needed is more houses crammed in by greedy property developers. Bilton just does not have the infrastructure to support it. Instead we need to start thinking about supporting the future of our children.
43	Yes	Fantastic and very much needed
44	Yes
45	Yes	It's a fantastic site with generous grounds. It would be a shame if it got developed for housing (which I assumed would be the case!).    I had wondered Grove Road and Bilton Grange primary schools could have move there as they have limited outside space but the proposal makes good use of the site.     Would it be possible to make provision for the 2 schools above to have some area for outdoor activities too?	I don't know enough about what would be required but I am certainly very keen that the site is kept for educational purposes and not sold for housing/business buildings!
46	No	I think the site should have been offered to Springwater School first, we always have increasing numbers and don't have enough space anyway at the moment and are supposed to be getting smaller buildings around Starbeck to help with our space issue but would benefit much more from a purpose built site with everything in one place.
47	Yes	There is certainly a need in Harrogate for this type of school provision with the increase in students, many without diagnosis, displaying autistics traits coming into secondary schools. I feel though that a local school group / Trust needs to be involved in the running, of this school provision which would ensure a collaborative approach to meeting the needs of these children.  A community school / local Trust would also have relationships formed with families of these children which would help in the establishment of the provision.
48	Yes	I think this is a fantastic proposal that follows the needs of the children in the community, autistic children need specialist provision in a way that also doesn’t effect children education who are not autistic. Children need to be able to be themselves without judgment and this fully enables all children
49	Yes	I have an 11 year old autistic daughter and live in Harrogate. She has an EHCP but has been unable to attend her state school and has very little support. This area is in desperate need of a school that can support high functioning autistic girls who find the large secondary schools in the area overwhelming.
50	Yes
51	Yes
52	Yes	Although I think this is only a small drop in a very big ocean and may drive parents to seek an Autism diagnosis
53	Yes
54	Yes	As Branch Secretary for the NEU in North Yorkshire, I welcome this proposal. Whilst it was tragic that Woodfield School was allowed to close, it is vital that the site remains an educational establishment and to re-purpose a wonderful facility to provide specialist education is positive news.
55	Yes	it is very much needed
56	Yes
57	Yes	The Trustees of Bilton & Woodfield Community Library are delighted that there is a proposal to continue providing education on the site.
58	Yes	There is a desperate need for more provision for autistic children and students in North Yorkshire.
59	Yes
60	Yes
61	Yes	This provision is much needed as the typical school is already struggling to provide places. I know Springwater school is being expanded but they are limited in space and safe parking
62	No
63	Yes	We desperately need a new Autism speciality school In this area.  I wool in the SEN field and it’s awful how many children are not getting the support needed
64	Yes	I am a parent of a child with Autism he had to travel to Darlington . We do need this school
65	Yes	I think its a wonderful idea and much needed
66	Yes
67	Yes	There is nothing better for children with special needs, especially those on the Autism spectrum and/or ADHD, than to have specific educational provision after Primary School. As the mother of a child forced to go through mainstream secondary education with a range of special needs, and as the grandmother (and primary carer from 13yrs old) of one of her sons who was in a SEND school, I can vouch for the amazing difference in outcome of the latter.
68	Yes
69	Yes	Delighted at this proposal to keep the site used for education, at the same time as providing a desperately needed resource.
70	Yes	I understand there is increasing demand for thid provision. The site is a super site as it has plenty of grassed outside area. I think it is vital to keep the plot in use for the education of harrogate children.
71	Yes	I think this is a really positive step for the children who need this type of specialised provision.  It would be a wonderful opportunity for NYC to expand into a school base that is currently disused, giving the families of Harrogate hope for their children who need the additional support to ensure they are able to academically progress past Primary School.
72	Yes	You will easily fill those spaces as there is so much need
73	Yes	We need so much more provision at Primary school and secondary schools for those with autism who are often high functions with huge potential but which is never achieved because they cannot cope with the bustle and busy environment of mainstream.	More autistic specialist schools please!
74	No	I think there are higher priorities for specialist provision eg a school in the Selby area and specialist provision for SEMH in primary
75	Yes	There is a significant need for additional ASD provision in this area. This is a welcome proposal.
76	Yes
77	Yes	There is a strong need for a school such as this in the Harrogate area, to provide a suitable environment for high functioning autistic students to thrive.
78	Yes	I think the idea of autism provision is outdated, I think the title needs review. I also think it is confusing - "with or without diagnosis" and there needs to be careful attention to the entry/admission criteria. The school will benefit from very close partnership with local colleges, sixth forms and secondary schools in order to be as inclusive as possible whilst meeting accreditation needs.	I think the HKR locality board and the Special Schools in the locality should have been made aware before the article broke in the press, but I have already expressed these views.
79	Yes
80	No	The Forest school site could be developed	Develop The Forest School to take more ASD pupils . Use the vacant school building to relocate Springwater Sen school.  Use the old Springwater building to develop a 6thForm Sen provision
81	Yes	I think the possibility of making this site as an extension of Springwater School should be something to consider. They already have a strong curriculum and ethos in place and also this would create less strain on their already very strained resources. Offer this site to ASD/SLD/other abled bodied young people and have the original Springwater site as the PLMD site. These provisions are in dire need of more support and it has been shameful how the LA has treated them thus far.
82	Yes
83	Yes	Seriously needed provision in the Harrogate area.
84	Yes	There is a huge need for more specialised provision in this area . It's a great idea and good use of space.
85	No	Why would you be able to afford to fund a new SEND school when you are not making existing schools safe by ensuring funding for appropriate staffing for SEND schools - pupils with 1:1 cited on their ehcp are not currently receiving this.	yes - tell us exactly where the money will be coming from and why it is not being used for existing provisions to make them safe.
86	Yes
87	Yes	Very supportive of increasing the provision for autistic students in North Yorkshire
88	Yes	As a parent of a high achieving autistic young person, I have found the provision within mainstream fluctuates greatly dependent upon the school, the ethos of the senior leadership team and the skills set of the teaching staff within the school. This has led to differences in the quality of provision my son has experienced through his education. Whilst we are hoping for good results in the summer, I am not as hopeful now as I was when he left primary school. Had there been access to a provision which catered to students academically with autism, then I would have fought for my son to have access to this. SILCs are not specialist enough to be able to support with the unique difficulties that neurodiverse people experience, and often do not have high expectations academically for their young people - it is difficult to be all things to all people. This is the same issue that mainstream school have when attempting to provide a 'one size fits all' education.  I would wholeheartedly support the creation of a provision of this sort in the local area.
89	Yes	About time this was done & the council used their buildings, maybe move Springhead school into the Springhead 6th firm site making most of the old secondary school that is there too.
90	Yes	Excellent space - with the opportunity for expansion unlike other special schools in the area. Ground floor accessible with lots of outdoor space.
91	Don't know	It is the view of the Governing Body that this proposal is a missed opportunity for Springwater School. The board feel that there should have been discussion and communication about whether the empty school site might alleviate some of the accommodation issues experienced by Springwater School pupils and staff. It is their view that a satellite/or split site model would have been beneficial for the demand for specialist school places in the locality with the potential for some of Springwater School - such as the Primary Dept, or the Sixth Form to move to this site - thus providing an immediate rise in school places through vacated classrooms on the Starbeck Site. The board are disappointed that this opportunity has not been explored, but hope that the opportunity to raise their views at this stage is also a chance to be heard before final plans are cemented. The board feel that the young people whom are proposed for access to this new provision are potentially those who would benefit from an inclusive offer - not one which is apart from mainstream. It is their view that a 'hub' model in several high schools is more appropriate for access to accreditation, inclusion and a peer group. Their view is that providing for the most able pupils in an isolated setting, not linked to a high school, or college does not prepare them for society or inclusion. It also seems to undermine the strategic direction for the LA which is towards an inclusive approach with a matrix of specialist provisions. It was felt that this type of need could very readily be provided for within a mainstream setting as a hub model and that this might be a more appropriate approach given the 'type' of need which is proposed to be met there. It's muddled thinking - was one comment, and it is an 'old fashioned' model.
92	Don't know	I think the idea to provide a setting for pupils with EHCPs and a primary need of Autism is a good one. However, as the Head of the Primary department at Springwater school, I would say there is just as greater need for primary places as well as secondary places, therefore, I'd like to see the offer extended to include pupils from age 2 up to 19 (as Springwater is designated). We are having to turn away consultations on pupils largely due to capacity and this needs to be addressed in the county asap.	A further thought is that I think the local special school Heads should have been approached for their views prior to this consultation. Heads from Springwater, Forest, Forest Moor, Springwell could all have been approached for their opinions rather than the council just deciding - speak to the people on the ground about what is best. Our site at Springwater is not fit for purpose, we have outgrown ourselves in terms of pupil capacity, but the building is also ancient. Could the council have considered offering us the site first and look to develop a smaller provision for 80 autistic pupils at our site? Some common sense needs to be employed in these decisions.
93	Yes	Long overdue provision for autistic children in Harrogate.  Wholeheartedly support the proposal.
94	Yes	Given a lack of SEND quality in the area this is needed. From Experience we have used one school where reliance on physical restraint, and over use of sanctions was picked up by OFSTED, with one child who failed to complete their education due to trauma under the care of a NYCC residential school, resulting in them falling through the net, and leaving with no qualifications. To a current NYC school for another child of ours who see a positive outcome, from a OFSTED report where they have gone from Good to Needs Improvement. They have also taken over three years to assist in implementing a EHCP and now failing a second. Hold.	I would suggest sending to all known parents of Children with SEND
95	Don't know	Supporting data appears to focus on primary school use with a reduction in rolls demonstrated and therefore a justification of closure of the Woodfield site for primary education use. No data is presented on rolls in secondary education which is relevant to this proposal. If primary school rolls are falling, it can be anticipated that secondary school rolls will also fall. This creates capacity within mainstream education to meet pupils needs in different ways. For example to use satellite units within mainstream schools for pupils with autism who require more formal secondary curriculum and associated academic accreditation routes as detailed in the proposal . It enables this group of pupils with autism to benefit from the opportunities provided by mainstream expertise together with specialist education expertise to respond flexibly to their needs - educational, emotional, social and functional, thus preparing them for life after school. NYCC espouses a whole education strategy where mainstream and specialist education are developed in tandem, using new ways of service provision to enhance the potential of all pupils, including those with autism. Satellite units enable integration at the pace a pupil can deal with, enable engagement with peer group(s), support them and parents/carers to make the transition from primary to secondary school and the transition from secondary school to occupation following school. Is this the best use of the Woodfield site - what other options for continuing education use of the Woodfield site were considered? For example increasing places to meet other specialist education needs such as pupils with autism requiring semi-formal education provision or sixth form provision.	Needs more detailed information eg school rolls data, financial , comparison of options.
96	Yes
97	Yes	As someone who has spent her professional life working with the autistic community I am very aware of the lack of provision in North Yorkshire and therefore whole heartedly support this proposal.
98	Yes	Think this would be a fantastic addition
99	Yes	As a school for autistic young people that currently has North Yorkshire students on roll, we feel another Lighthouse school within in the North Yorkshire area would be highly beneficial to NY young people's outcomes.
100	Yes
101	Yes
102	Yes	I believe the proposal for a new SEND school to meet the needs of autistic learners who require a formal curriculum with specialist teaching in an environment specifically designed for autistic learners is the right strategic decision for North Yorkshire County Council. I agree with the proposed change of use of the Woodfield Primary School site. Many young autistic learners fail to meet potential in a mainstream environment and they also do not fit in traditional generic specialist settings. This has already been proven with Lighthouse School in Leeds which is significantly oversubscribed due to the outcomes achieved by learners who have gone on to meaningful college courses and employment in organisations including John Lewis, NHS and HMRC and many more. North Yorkshire families would benefit from a similar provision where students can be happy, thrive and reach their full potential. North Yorkshire would not need to send students across to Leeds if they have their own similar provision.	None
103	Yes
104	Yes
105	Yes
	Yes	90
	No	10
	Don't Know	4
	Blank	1
		105