The Cabinet Member for Education and Skills approved the allocation of £1,409,507 for pre-construction design activities and authorised the initiation of the presumption process for a new primary school in Paddock Wood on 29 May 2026. Authority was delegated to the Director of Infrastructure, in consultation with the Director of Education and SEND and the Head of Law, to manage the pre-construction phase, including contract negotiations and finalisation. The Director of Infrastructure was also appointed as the Authority Representative with authority to approve contract variations up to 10% above the agreed capital funding without a new decision record.