Purpose

Cabinet approval was previously given to
authorise the award of a 5 plus 5-year contract to an external
education provider for Ofsted registered alternative provision at
The Northwood Centre. The tender process was unsuccessful and
latest needs analysis has determined that a special school
designation for the provision is now more appropriate than an
alternative provision designation. Therefore, cabinet is asked to
approve the change to allow delivery of places as a special school
satellite.

Content

Resolved:

 

That Cabinet:

 

Approves the proposal to complete a significant
change process to create high needs places at The Northwood Centre,
in line with the DfE ‘making significant changes
(‘prescribed alterations’) to maintained schools’
statutory guidance (2025), as set out at option C (Paragraph
48)

 

Delegates authority to the Director for Education
and Skills, after consultation with the Cabinet Member for
Children’s Services, SEND, Education and Skills, to take all
necessary steps to effect the decision to create high needs places
at the Northwood Centre including execution of all relevant
documents.

 
Reasons for Decision:
 
To ensure children and young people who are unable to
attend mainstream schools are provided with full-time equivalent
education in a local maintained special school. To ensure cost
effective placements for children and young people within buildings
owned by Wiltshire Council, reducing reliance on high-cost
independent non-maintained specialist provision.