​SEND Resource Provision - Statutory Consultation 2023​​​​

On the 15^th June 2023, following a statutory consultation, approval was given from the Council’s Chief Executive on behalf of the Executive Board (supported by the Leader of the Council, Portfolio Holder for Children and Families, and senior Finance and Legal officers within the Council) to progress with the capital works to support the provision of new places or to expand existing provision for pupils and students with high needs as follows: 

• Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 Social, Emotional and Mental Health Resource Bases are developed at Astmoor Primary School 

• Early Years Foundation Stage Assessment provision and Early Years Foundation Stage/Key Stage 1 Resource Base provision is developed at St Basil’s Catholic Primary School 

• Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 Autistic Spectrum Condition Units are developed at Saints Peter & Paul Catholic High School 

• Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 Social, Emotional and Mental Health Resource Bases are developed at Victoria Road Primary School 

• Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 Speech, Language and Communication Needs Resource Bases are developed at Westfield Primary School 

The responses to the consultation for each school were overwhelmingly in support of the proposals. 

The decision has been made to proceed with the expansion of provision to ensure that wherever possible children and young people can be educated in local specialist educational provision within Halton which in turn helps to reduce expensive out-borough placement and transport costs, and meet specialist need more locally within Halton. 

The programme of works and expansion of provision will also support the SEND strategic plan to increase sufficiency of inclusive, educational provision in borough. Expanding the in borough offer will also support children and young people with SEND to achieve their aspirations and achieve strong outcomes, fulfilling their potential. 

High Needs Provision Capital funding will be used to provide the facilities required for the new provision and the revenue costs of the new provision will be met from the High Needs budget. 

Development will now begin so that the new bases will begin to open within the 2023/24 Academic Year.

STATUTORY CONSULTATION PROPOSAL FOR PRESCRIBED ALTERATIONS TO PROVIDE SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS PROVISION IN A MAINSTREAM SCHOOL

Key Stage 1 & Key Stage 2 Social, Emotional and Mental Health Resource Bases at Astmoor Primary School, Runcorn and Victoria Road Primary School, Runcorn.

Early Years Foundation Stage Assessment provision and Early Years Foundation Stage /Key Stage 1 SEN Resource Base at St Basil’s Catholic Primary School, Widnes.

Key Stage 1 & Key Stage 2 Speech Language and Communication Needs Resource Bases at Westfield Primary School, Runcorn.

Key Stage 3 & Key Stage 4 Autistic Spectrum Condition Units at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic High School, Widnes 

In March 2022 the Council received notification from the Department for Education that it would be allocated £3.3M of capital funding (High Needs Provision Capital Allocation) over two years to support the provision of new places or to expand existing provision for pupils and students with high needs. 

In the autumn term 2022, The Local Authority wrote to all schools to seek expressions of interest from them in offering new or additional SEND provision at their school, based against the required need. 

Seven expressions of interest were identified for progression to feasibility stage as they met the identified need.  Based upon the seven expressions of interest proposed to be taken forward, up to 107 additional SEND places will be provided within Halton at existing mainstream schools, thereby supporting the Council’s Inclusion Agenda.  Officers have undertaken visits to those schools to establish their requirements in terms of capital investment with a view to progressing to feasibility stage with those proposals.

For five schools, the offer would be a completely new provision and would require the publication of a statutory notice, in accordance with the Making Significant Changes (“Prescribed Alterations”) to Maintained Schools 2023 guidance, set against the School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2013.  This is the purpose of this consultation.

The remaining two schools (Oakfield Primary School and Woodside Primary School) already have existing SEND provision and will be expanding their current offer, therefore do not require the publication of a statutory notice. 

On the 20^th April 2023, the Executive Board at Halton Borough Council approved progression to a Statutory Consultation, which is being held from 10^th May 2023 – 7^th June 2023. 

The five schools requiring a Statutory Notice are as follows:

Astmoor Primary School

Key Stage 1 (up to 8 places) & Key Stage 2 (up to 8 places) Social Emotional and Mental Health Resource Bases 

Please view the Statutory Notice for Astmoor Primary School, Kingshead Close, Runcorn WA7 2JE. 

A public meeting will be held at Astmoor Primary School on Wednesday 17^th May 2023 at 5pm. 

If you wish to respond to the consultation to create two Social, Emotional and Mental Health Resource Bases at Astmoor Primary School please access the following link  -https://online1.snapsurveys.com/HBCprovastmoor

St Basil’s Catholic Primary School

Early Years Foundation Stage Assessment Provision (up to 8 places) and Early Years Foundation Stage /Key Stage 1 (up to 8 places) SEN Resource Base 

Please view the Statutory Notice for St Basil’s Catholic Primary School, Hough Green Road, Widnes WA8 4SZ. 

A public meeting will be held at St Basil’s Catholic Primary School on Thursday 18^th May 2023 at 5pm. 

If you wish to respond to the consultation to create an Early Years Foundation Stage Assessment Provision and Early Years Foundation Stage /Key Stage 1 SEN Resource Base at St Basil’s Catholic Primary School please access the following link - https://online1.snapsurveys.com/HBCprovstbas

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic High School

Key Stage 3 (up to 8 places) & Key Stage 4 (up to 8 places) Autistic Spectrum Condition Units. 

Please view the Statutory Notice for Saints Peter and Paul Catholic High School, Highfield Road, Widnes WA8 7DW. 

A public meeting will be held at Saints Peter and Paul High School on Monday 5^th June 2023 at 5pm. 

If you wish to respond to the consultation to create two Autistic Spectrum Condition Units at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic High School please access the following link -​ ​https://online1.snapsurveys.com/HBCprovpp

Victoria Road Primary School

Key Stage 1 (up to 8 places) & Key Stage 2 (up to 8 places) Social Emotional and Mental Health Resource Bases. 

Please view the Statutory Notice for Victoria Road Primary School, Victoria Road, Runcorn WA7 5BN. 

A public meeting will be held at Victoria Road Primary School on Monday 15^th May 2023 at 5pm. 

If you wish to respond to the consultation to create two Social, Emotional and Mental Health Resource Bases at Victoria Road Primary School please access the following link - ​https://online1.snapsurveys.com/HBCprovvictoria​​

Westfield Primary School

Key Stage 1 (up to 8 places) & Key Stage 2 (up to 8 places) Speech Language and Communication Needs Resource Bases 

Please view the Statutory Notice for Westfield Primary School, Clayton Crescent, Runcorn WA7 4TR. 

A public meeting will be held at Westfield Primary School on Monday 22^nd May 2023 at 5pm. 

If you wish to respond to the consultation to create two Speech Language and Communication Needs Resource Bases at Westfield Primary School please access the following link - ​https://online1.snapsurveys.com/HBCprovwestfield

Alternatively, objections or comments to the consultations listed above can be put in writing to Mr M Reaney, Operational Director Legal and Democratic Services, Municipal Building, Kingsway, Widnes WA8 7QF.    Paper copies of the Statutory Notice can also be requested using this address. 

All responses to the consultation must be received by Wednesday 7^th June 2023.  You will not receive an individual response to any comment submitted.  Following closure of the consultation, the Local Authority will review the responses and report back to the Council’s Executive Board.