Agenda item

School Organisation Proposals: Improving Provision for Children and Young People with Additional Learning Needs (ALN) 2018-22

Decision:

RESOLVED: that

1. the Cardiff ALN strategic priorities, 2018-22:

· Priority One: To improve outcomes for learners with additional needs by successfully implementing the ALN and Educational Tribunal Act

· Priority Two: To improve outcomes for learners with additional needs by strengthening our collective capacity to meet all needs

· Priority Three: To improve outcomes for learners with additional needs by ensuring sufficient, high quality additional learning provision

Be approved

2. Officers be authorised to consult on the following proposals:

a) To meet demand for primary and secondary special school places for learners with complex learning disabilities or autism spectrum conditions it is proposed to

· increase the designated number of Ty Gwyn places to 198;

· establish 3 extra classrooms by adapting the old Trelai Youth Centre building, which is situated to the rear of the school

b) To meet demand for primary and secondary special school places for learners with autism spectrum conditions it is proposed to:

· extend the age range of The Hollies School from 4-11, to 4-14

· increase the designated place number to 138

· provide additional accommodation by refurbishment of the school accommodation to be vacated by Ysgol Glan Morfa

c) To meet the need for post-16 places for emotional health and wellbeing needs it is proposed to

· extend the age range of Greenhill from 11-16 to 11-19 and

· increase the capacity of the school to allow for up to 64 places.

d) To meet demand for primary special school places for complex learning disabilities, it is proposed to

· change the designation of Meadowbank School from: ‘specific language impairments’, to: ‘speech language and communication needs and complex learning disabilities’

e) To meet the need for early intervention places for speech and language needs, it is proposed to

· Phase out the SRB at Allensbank School, closing the class in July 2020, or when all current pupils have completed their primary placement, if earlier.

· Open an 8-place early intervention class for children with speech and language needs at Allensbank School, admitting the first cohort in September 2019.

f) To meet the demand for primary specialist resource base places for complex learning disabilities, it is proposed to

· open a specialist resource base (SRB) at St Mary the Virgin CiW Primary School, for up to 20 places.

g) To meet the demand for primary SRB places for with complex learning disabilities and autism spectrum conditions in the Welsh medium sector, it is proposed to

· open a specialist resource base at Ysgol Pwll Coch, providing up to 10 places initially, but with scope to extend to 20 places in future, as demand grows.

h) To meet the demand for secondary SRB places for complex learning disabilities and autism spectrum conditions in the Welsh medium sector it is proposed to:

· extend the designated number at Ysgol Glantaf specialist resource base to up to 30 places

· extend and improve the current accommodation for the SRB

3. that officers bring a report on the outcome of the consultation to a future meeting to seek authorisation as to whether to proceed to publish proposals in accordance with section 48 of The School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013.

Minutes:

A report providing details of the implications of the Additional Learning Needs and Tribunal (Wales) Act was received together with a number of strategic priorities for Cardiff Additional Learning Needs. Details of the projected growth in demand for specialist resource base and special school provision was also outlined together with a range of proposals to extend and re-align special school and specialist resource base places.