Purpose

This report seeks approval to allocate up to £0.38m of High Needs Capital Funding to Endeavour Primary School for the creation of a SEND unit The project will provide an additional 12 places.

Decision

(i)                  Approval was granted to allocate £0.380m in High Needs capital funding to fund the creation of 12 addition resource base places at Endeavour Primary School.

(ii)               Approval was given for the council to enter into a grant agreement with Enquire Learning trust/Endeavour Primary School to enable the delivery of the works.

(iii)             The works are to be delivered by the school under the oversight of the Education Capital Project Team, with costs monitored to ensure best value. 

Reasons for the decision

The proposed works are essential to meet the care and accessibility needs of the pupils with special educational needs in a Mainstream School setting.  The investment supports inclusive education, promotes dignity and independence, and aligns with the council’s statutory responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 and the SEND Code of Practice.

The facility will also ensure future readiness to accommodate other pupils with similar needs, contributing to long-term sufficiency and reducing reliance on out-of-borough placements, the plan also offers a reduction in SEND transport costs to these out-of-borough placements.

Alternative options considered

The option to continue to place students with SEND to another out-of-borough site was rejected due to a strong preference for local provision, ensuring continuity and accessibility for the student and their family, in line with the SEND sufficiency strategy ‘we are investing in local provision so that children can thrive in their own communities, close to home’.