Issue - meetings

Recommendations

1)               Statutory proposals and notices be published on 14 November 2024 proposing to permanently increase the number of places Springwater School, Starbeck can offer to pupils from 122 to 157, with effect from 1 September 2025.

2)               The Executive (or the Executive Member for Education, Learning and Skills if there are no objections during the representation period) schedule taking a final decision on these proposals on 7 January 2025. 

Considered – A report of the Corporate Director Children and Young People’s Service detailing the outcome of the public consultation carried out by the Council on the proposal to permanently increase pupil numbers at Springwater School, Starbeck from 1 September 2025, and requesting Executive (or the Executive Member for Education, Learning and Skills if there are no representations during the representation period) to authorise the publication of proposals and statutory notices, and to schedule taking a final decision on the proposal on 7 January 2025.

Councillor Annabel Wilkinson, Executive Member for Education, Learning and Skills, introduced the report and stated that Springfield School served children from 2 – 19 years.  It was proposed to increase the number of school places from 112 to 157 from September 2025 due to an increase in Educational Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) by 95% since 2018.  Whilst the majority of those with EHCPs had their needs met in mainstream schools, the demand for special school places was increasing.

Resolved (Unanimously) – that

1)     Statutory proposals and notices be published on 14 November 2024 proposing to permanently increase the number of places Springwater School, Starbeck can offer to pupils from 122 to 157, with effect from 1 September 2025.

2)     The Executive (or the Executive Member for Education, Learning and Skills if there are no objections during the representation period) schedule taking a final decision on these proposals on 7 January 2025.