Decision details

SEN Capital Programme

Decision Maker: Executive Member for Education, Learning & Skills

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

The report will set out how the local authority is proposing to deploy a range of capital resources available to support the enhancement and expansion of capacity in Specialist provisions (including the £9.2 million that has been received from the DfE in the form of High Needs Provision Capital Allocations). It will contextualise that those decisions need to be informed by a combination of (a) our level of provision in Special schools currently being lower than the national average, (b) our assessment that there are both significant shortfalls in our overall capacity in specialist provisions and also particular gaps in our range of provisions, and (c) the HNPCA grant being a beneficial resource but North Yorkshire’s allocation being at a much lower level than across other English local authorities.

Decision:

To approve a programme to deploy £20.5 million to enhance SEN Specialist capacity within North Yorkshire

Reasons for the decision:

The report identifies the specific challenges that North Yorkshire faces with limited specialist capacity, and some top priorities in terms of the new provisions we would want to develop (particularly Social, Emotional and Mental Health provision in the North of the County, and Secondary Autism provision). The programme approved will create an additional 315 SEN places across North Yorkshire to respond to those challenges.

Alternative options considered:

None

Publication date: 19/04/2023

Date of decision: 18/04/2023

Effective from: 26/04/2023

Accompanying Documents: