Purpose

Governance approval for post public consultation update and approval of new Education Sufficiency Strategy 2026-2031

Decision

RESOLVED that the Cabinet:

·       APPROVES the final version and implementation of the Education Sufficiency Strategy - The right place for every child: 2026-31 for Bracknell Forest following a period of public consultation.

·       DELEGATES minor amendments as required to the strategy to the Executive Director: People through the annual review cycle as detailed in 3.3.

Reasons for the decision

The new strategy aims to replace the previous document, ‘School Places Plan and Capacity Strategy; 2023-2028’. Although this strategy remains current, there is a need to revisit and revise the document considering the findings in the 2025 Ofsted local area SEND inspection and legislative reform changes.

The new strategy takes a differing approach and moves away from a data-focused place count and forecast to a more holistic, innovative and adaptable view looking at the borough needs to support the continued legislative and demographics changes seen.

A key focus of the strategy is to prioritise alignment with the national and our local SEND reforms alongside the Priority Action Plan (PAP) to increase local SEND provision. Through collaborative working, expansion in local provision will be explored, offering some of our more vulnerable learners an opportunity to be educated closer to home, in borough, with the ‘right place at the right time’ via a suitable provision with a ‘needs-led’ approach.

The initial draft strategy was shaped through co-production and consultation with key stakeholders;

·       Place Planning Group meetings on 26 September 2025 & 6 November 2025.

o   Drafts circulated and amended by Headteachers and BPCF Colleagues

o   Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) approval for the activity

o   Vision discussed and agreed

·       Headteacher survey (November 2025)

·       SENDCo Survey (November 2025)

·       SENDCo forum discussion

·       BPCF coffee morning attendance to meet parent carers

·       Attendance at the Preparing for Adulthood Roadshow on 14th January 2026

·       Crown Wood SEND parent carer coffee morning on 15th January 2026

·       Place Planning Group drop-in session on 22nd January 2026

·       Garth Hill College SEND parent carer coffee morning on 02nd February 2026.

Following the development of the draft strategy, a further wide-ranging, multi?phase consultation process was used to gather stakeholder feedback on the draft strategy between 01st May 2026 to the 24th July 2026 (See Full Consultation and engagement report). This included publishing the full strategy and a short summary on the council website withan onlinesurvey togather views,alongside targetedworkshops withchildren and young people. Ongoing feedback has resulted in minor amendments to the strategy (See revised strategy)

Alternative options considered

Whilst the current School Place Plan and Capacity Strategy remains in place until 2028, it is appropriate to review and refresh the wider strategic vision for education in Bracknell Forest to ensure alignment with emerging national and local priorities. Significant legislative and policy developments, including the proposed national SEND reforms and the Children and Wellbeing Act, together with the findings and improvement requirements arising from the local authority's Ofsted Priority Action Plan, necessitate a renewed strategic approach. In addition, changes in the borough's demographics, patterns of need, and community expectations require a more responsive and forward-looking education strategy.