Purpose

Delivery of a SEND Resource Base at Westfield Primary School, by adapting the existing school accommodation. The Resource Base will accommodate up to 10 children with special educational needs who will attend mainstream school and receive additional support relating specifically to speech and language difficulties. The provision is linked to the Council's priorities as set out in the SEND Education Strategy and Action Plan 2021-2024 and also aligns to the requirements of section 14 of the Education Act 1996.

Decision

To fully approve £53,000 of provisional capital budget, fully funded by the High Needs Capital Provision Allocation (HNCPA).

Alternative options considered

MATS/Schools in BANES were approached to ascertain if they were interested in opening RB provision for SEND children on the role of mainstream schools both primary and secondary. The MATS/Schools had to submit a "vision" of the type of base, build v adaptation and how the base would be run. The "visions" were then considered jointly between the LA, Bath Parent Carer Forum and the MATS/schools. From the submissions received, feasibility and development work has been carried out. Westfield Primary School has school accommodation available which can be adapted to open a speech and language RB.