Issue - meetings

Report ED13076

Following consideration of a report on the development of autism spectrum disorder secondary provision at the Glebe Foundation School at the meeting of the Council’s Executive on 25^th July 2012, the Council’s Executive authorised the Director of Education and Care Services to undertake consultation with schools and other key agencies around the proposal to expand The Glebe School to admit 16 additional children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at Year 7 each year from September 2014.

The consultation for the proposed permanent expansion of the school had run from 11^th January to 15^th February 2013, and produced 36 responses which were largely supportive of the proposals.  The Governing Body also supported the proposed changes to school organisation, as did the School Council, which accepted the reasons for expansion and the subsequent increased student numbers but expressed a number of concerns that would be addressed by the school on an ongoing basis.  In consideration of this, the Portfolio Holder for Education had resolved to proceed with formal statutory proposals to implement the permanent expansion of the Glebe Foundation School from September 2014. 

On 12^th June 2013 a statutory notice was published in the News Shopper, inviting comments or objections to the proposal to enlarge the school by 16 places per year from September 2014. This was displayed as required on the school gates, in local libraries and circulated to all interested parties, as well as published on the Bromley Council website, for a six week period ending 24^th July 2013.  No objections to the proposals had been received.

In considering the proposal, the Chairman highlighted the need reduce the number of out of Borough placements for young people with ASD and support them to be educated within their local community.  The proposed expansion of The Glebe Foundation School was significant as it would give young people with ASD the opportunity to study towards recognised qualifications where appropriate.

The Chairman advised Members that he was minded to request the Council’s Executive to approve the creation of an earmarked reserve from the underspend of Dedicated Schools Grant carried forward from 2012/13 to fund the proposed expansion.  This was in place of a proposed drawdown of a £4.8M loan from the Council’s reserves to be repaid from the Dedicated Schools Grant.

RESOLVED that:

1)  The expansion of the Glebe Foundation School with effect from 1^st September 2014 be approved as set out in the statutory notice; and,

2)  The Executive be requested to approve the creation of an earmarked reserve from the underspend of Dedicated Schools Grant carried forward from 2012/13 to fund the expansion of the Glebe Foundation School.