The Hampshire County Council Executive Lead Member for Children's Services Decision Day & Executive Member for Education Decision Day held on 26 June 2024 focused on updates to the Children's Services Capital Programme, approval for additional specialist provisions, and the expansion of Shepherds Down School. Key decisions included the approval of a revised capital programme cash limit, consultations on new specialist provisions, and final approval for the expansion of Shepherds Down School.

Children's Services Capital Programme Update

The council approved a revised capital programme cash limit of £137.917 million for 2024/25. This update includes several significant allocations:

• Foster Carers Budget: An additional £1 million from contingency funds to support the increased complexity and volume of cases.
• SEND Grant Funding: £0.661 million previously allocated to P-16 College Independence Hubs will be repurposed to provide a small grants fund.
• Musical Instruments and Technology: £0.57 million for the purchase of new musical instruments, equipment, and technology to enhance learning opportunities for children and young people.
• Hollywater School: £0.8 million allocated for new modular provision at Hollywater School, Borden.
• Noadswood School: £0.45 million for the expansion of the Resourced Provision at Noadswood School, Dibden Purlieu.
• Peel Common Schools: £0.75 million to amalgamate Peel Common Infant and Nursery Unit and Peel Common Junior Schools onto the junior school site.

The council also recommended carrying forward £21.028 million of uncommitted funding from 2023/24 to the 2024/25 capital programme. The full details of these updates can be found in the Decision Report - Children's Services Capital Programme Update and its appendices (Appendix 1, Appendix 2, Appendix 3, Appendix 4, and Appendix 5).

Additional Specialist Provision - Resourced Provisions

The council approved consultations on several new specialist provisions to address the increasing demand for special educational needs and disability (SEND) placements:

• Pennington CE Junior School, Lymington: Expansion of the Resourced Provision for pupils aged 7-11 with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs from 5 to 8 pupils from September 2024.
• Fleet Infant School, Fleet: Establishment of a Resourced Provision for pupils aged 4-7 with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) for 9 pupils from September 2025.
• Velmead Junior School, Fleet: Establishment of a Resourced Provision for pupils aged 7-11 with ASC for 12 pupils from September 2025.
• Portway Junior School, Andover: Establishment of a Resourced Provision for pupils aged 7-11 with ASC for 10 pupils from September 2025.
• Bartley Junior School, New Forest: Establishment of a Resourced Provision for pupils aged 7-11 with SEMH needs for 12 pupils from September 2025.

The council also approved working with Academy Trusts to expand and establish additional provisions at Noadswood School, Totton, and Sun Hill Junior School, Alresford. Full details are available in the Decision Report - Additional Specialist Provision Resourced Provisions.

Specialist Provision – Final Approval for Expansion at Shepherds Down School

The council gave final approval for the expansion of Shepherds Down School, Winchester, increasing its capacity from 170 to 190 places effective from September 2024. This expansion aims to address the growing need for SEND placements within the local area and reduce reliance on independent and non-maintained special school (INMSS) placements. The full details are available in the Decision Report - Specialist Provision Final Approval for Expansion at Shepherds Down School.

Outside Bodies Appointments

Councillor Jackie Porter was appointed to the Hampshire Admission Forum, replacing Councillor Prad Bains. This forum considers a range of admissions issues and advises on Hampshire County Council's admission arrangements. The full details are available in the DRAFT Decision Record - Outside Bodies Appointments.