Issue - meetings

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, People, on the application process for a special free school for pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs (SEMH).

It was reported that in July 2018, the Department for Education invited local authorities to make application to establish special or alternative provision for free schools in their borough. To give a regional footprint to specialist provision, guidance encouraged authorities to seek partners in neighbouring authorities as part of the bid.

The Board was advised that local authorities were responsible for securing provision for children and young people with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHC), funded from their high needs budget. Halton and St Helens Councils had identified insufficient provision for pupils with SEMH issues and as a result, had placed pupils in expensive independent provision. This meant that many pupils were educated away from their local community, travelling long distances to school, which in turn impacted on their ability to develop friendships; it also reduced the opportunity for transition back into mainstream education.

It was therefore proposed that Halton and St Helens Councils submit a bid to open a co-educational, special free school which would offer a quality educational experience for fifty pupils with SEMH, as well as catering for a range of other issues including Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Reason(s) for Decision

To provide a more inclusive offer for pupils with SEMH, giving them the opportunity to be educated with support alongside their peers.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not submitting an application for a joint free school. However, lack of provision had an impact on the educational outcomes of pupils that need the support.

Implementation Date

Notification as to whether the bid had been successful would be announced by the DfE in Spring 2019.

RESOLVED: That the Board

1)    approve an application to establish a new joint special free school in Halton shared with St Helens Borough Council; and

2)    agree the location of the school within Halton.