Purpose

Officers to outline proposals to address Early
Years, Primary, Secondary and
Special Educational Needs and
Disability rising rolls – Update to Phase 5 expansion
Programme.
 
Cabinet to approve selected
proposals.

Decision

Cabinet:
 

1        
Agreed
 

1.1          
An increase in Early Years and Childcare Places
including
 

1.1.1             
Approval of the spend of the
£566,841 childcare capital expansion funding grant as set out
at para 2.4 of the Report.
 

1.2          
An increase in Primary Places including
implementation of:
 
1.2.1             
The establishment of one-off bulge classes as an interim measure to
increase primary places between 2024/25 and 2027/28.
1.2.2             
The permanent 1FE expansion of a primary school in
the Romford planning area.

 

1.3          
An increase in Secondary Places including
implementation of:
 
1.3.1             
One-off bulge classes as an interim measure to
increase secondary places to meet demand
1.3.2             
1 FE permanent expansion at one secondary school in
the Central planning area in 2026/27

 

1.4          
To increasing SEND Places
 
1.4.1             
Primary SEND places
 
·       
Approved SEND Units to be implemented for primary
children at the following schools:
 

School name

Number of places

SEND
need type

Due
to open

Harrow Lodge Primary
School

12

Communication and
Interaction (C&I)

2026/27

Harold Wood Primary
School

12

Communication and
Interaction (C&I)

2026/27

 
·       
To expand the existing SEND provision at RJ Mitchell Primary School
from 21 to 40 places.
 
1.4.2             
Secondary SEND places
 
Supported the implementation of temporary accommodation to
provide SEND unit places at Royal Liberty School from January 2025
- 12 places for pupils (11-16 years) with Communication and
Interaction needs.
 
Approved that the
SEND Unit to be implemented for secondary pupils at the following
school:
 

School name

Number of places

SEND
need type

Due
to open

The Brittons Academy

20

Communication and
Interaction (C&I)

2026/27

 
1.4.3             
Special Schools

 
Agreed the funding to be transferred to Lime Trust in order
to increase the capacity at Lime Academy Forest Approach so that
the school can increase their pupil numbers from 120 to 150.
END Capital Grant
Programme

 
Agreed to establish a SEND capital grants programme
allowing schools and settings to apply for part of the fund that
could be used to make adaptations to their building in order to
promote better outcomes for children and young people with
SEND.
 
1.4.4             
School Houses

 
Agreed that the net-capital receipts from the sale of the
school houses at Scotts Primary School and Newtons Primary School
be included in the capital programme to deliver the respective
school improvement projects.
 
 

1.5          
Increasing Alternative Provision (AP)
Places
 
1.5.1             
Agreed to implement a
primary AP provision, to operate from the site of and to be run by
Olive AP Academy Havering. 
 
2      
Delegated the power for Phase 5 of the Expansion
Programme to the Cabinet Member for Children & Young People
 
·       
To take further decisions regarding the implementation of these
projects and the approval of which schools/early years/childcare
settings should be expanded including any amendments to the
proposals above, such as a decision not to proceed or to expand a
different school/early years/childcare setting, in the light of
developing circumstances or the results of consultation (subject to
the appropriate statutory processes).
·       
To approve the Executive decision to award the contract to
construct and design the new special free school on Balgores
Fields.

 
3      
Delegated to the Assistant Director of Regeneration
& Place Shaping authority to:
·       
Submit planning applications after consultation with planning
officers, commission all associated surveys/investigations
(including transport assessment, soils survey, environmental check
etc.) and commence tender processes as required to support the
development of options appraisals to deliver Phase 5 expansions
required- noting that tender awards will remain the subject of
separate Executive Decision(s).

 
4      
Delegated to the Assistant Director of Education
authority to:
 
·       
Select proposers for new schools and make recommendations to the
Secretary of State for Education in respect of free school
processes.
·       
Apply for grant funding opportunities from the DfE
·       
Accept grant funding from the DfE on behalf of the Local
Authority
·       
Apply for free schools via future free school waves
·       
Determine that capital receipts from the future sale of school
houses be returned to the respective school with funds used to
enhance education provision at that school.
·       
To sign off any statutory proposals needed to implement the
projects.