Bridgend County Borough Council
Proposal to establish a Learning Resource centre (LRC) at Llangewydd
Junior School for up to 8 (FTE) pupils (in Key Stage 2) for pupils with
communication difficulties.
Consultation Paper
The purpose of this consultation.
1. This consultation is to invite your views on the proposal to establish a
Learning Resource Centre(LRC) at Llangewydd Junior School for up to
8 (full-time equivalent) pupils with communication difficulties
2. If approved the proposal would come into effect on 1st September
2014.
3. Those being consulted are the pupils, parents, governors and staff of
Llangewydd Junior School.
4. The initial consultation period will take place from 12th November to
24th December 2013.
Why have the proposal?
5. In 2003, a unit was set up in Maes Yr Haul School for 8 pupils with
communication difficulties as an off-site provision of the Special School
at Ysgol Bryn Castell.
6. Since 2005, Bridgend County Borough Council has been working with
schools to implement two strategies:
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Learning Communities: School of the Future, and
Education Inclusion
7. An important principle adopted by the Council is that decision-making
should be as close to delivery as possible. This approach means that
decisions can be made more quickly and often with better information
than under an “arm’s length” arrangement. Also, performance
management is likely to be more effective.
8. Learning Communities: Schools of the future and the Education
Inclusion Strategy support the principles that, as far as possible,
children should be educated within a mainstream school environment
as near to their home as possible.
9. It is proposed to move the current satellite base to Llangewydd Junior
School where there are the facilities to accommodate the Learning
Resource Centre. The physical re-location of the class has occurred;
the pupils began at Llangewydd Junior School in September 2013 and
are thriving.
10. It is also proposed that Llangewydd Junior School should have full
responsibility for the special provision in their school. Llangewydd
Junior School is very committed to Inclusion and is very keen to
develop the provision further thus enabling pupils to achieve
exceptional outcomes.
What would the new provision look like and what are the implications for
pupils?
11. The YBC satellite provision at Maes Yr Haul Primary School currently
consists of 9.5 pupils at Key Stage 2. This would be replaced by a
Learning Resource Centre covering Key Stage 2 with 8 places based
at Llangewydd Junior School. The aim is to provide opportunity for
pupils identified with communication difficulties to access the usual
range of “mainstream” experiences within Llangewydd Junior School.
This will be achieved through the curriculum and the school as a
community, whilst maintaining the security of the specialist educational
input to meet their exceptional needs. Whilst the LRC will provide
specialist learning facilities within the school, it will also provide
curriculum expertise to mainstream class teachers.
12. Pupils currently in the satellite base on the roll of Ysgol Bryn Castell
would transfer to the roll of Llangewydd Junior School. New admissions
for the LRC will be agreed by a specialist panel and placed on the roll
of Llangewydd Junior School. Admissions would normally take place
each September for the start of year 3 though there may be occasions
when pupils would be admitted at other times, subject to places being
available.
13. From the pupils’ point of view, there has been a seamless transition in
the transfer of management form one school to another. Pupils will
continue to have access to individual, small group and whole class
experiences, as appropriate. Their progress will be closely monitored
and individual plans regularly reviewed. There will be no change to
pupil’s home to school transport arrangements as a result of this
proposal.
What are the advantages of the proposals?
14. The Learning Resource Centre would be an integrated part of the
mainstream school, providing an appropriate environment in which
pupils can develop and thrive within their peer group and have normal
access to the mainstream curriculum, where appropriate.
15. The overall aim of the Learning Resource Centre is to generate and
maximise opportunities for inclusion within the mainstream
environment, whilst meeting the individual learning, emotional and
social needs of the children and young people. This will be achieved
by:
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individual and group support by specialist staff within the
Learning Resource Centre;
supported opportunities to access the range of mainstream
experiences;
opportunities to extend self-confidence and self-esteem;
opportunities to develop independence skills;
access to appropriate specialist service from other agencies;
ensuring that all school staff have an understanding of, and
skills relating to, the learning requirements of children with
communication difficulties, primarily through a programme of
continuous professional development and, where appropriate
opportunities for accreditation with nationally recognised
qualifications;
where possible in conjunction with other specialist staff/teams,
the LRC providing consultancy, outreach support and a resource
base for staff and parents.
16. The projected need is for 8 full-time equivalent places at Key Stage 2.
In addition, there should also be greater flexibility in terms of
complexity and range of needs supported as the Learning Resource
Centre will also be able to call on other specialist outreach staff.
17. Other mainstream pupils in Llangewydd Junior School with
communication difficulties would also benefit from this proposal as it
seeks to widen the specialist learning facilities within the school and
provide expertise and advice to all staff.
18. Parents will only need to deal with one head teacher, one group of staff
and one site. Pupils and parents will be full members of the school
community at the location at which their child is at school.
What are the disadvantages of the proposals?
19. The initial disruption caused by the transfer of pupils currently in years
3,4,5 at Maes yr Haul Primary School.
20. Any such changes can cause anxiety for some people, especially
where they are happy with the current arrangements. There may also
be confusion about how these proposals sit alongside other changes,
for instance, those related to the “Statementing or something better
pilots” and forthcoming legislation.
What are the next steps?
21. Feedback from initial discussions with the governing bodies of 3
schools, staff, parents, and pupils have been reported to Cabinet.
Cabinet has decided to proceed with the proposals and the next step is
to undertake a formal consultation. This means that the Council would
publish a statutory notice during the Autumn Term 2013 setting out the
proposals. This would provide 42 days during which any formal
objections to the proposals could be lodged.
22. If there are objections, the Local Determination Panel would need to
make a decision on the proposals and could subsequently accept, LRC
would formally become part of the Llangewydd Junior School provision.
A Service Level Agreement and funding for the LRC would be agreed
between Bridgend County Borough Council and Llangewydd Junior
School.
23. If they agree, we would like to introduce the new arrangements on 1st
April 2014. As they involve changes to local management
arrangements, the proposals would also require a change to the school
funding formula and the LMS Scheme of Delegation, so, alongside the
consultation, we will also need to consult with the school governing
body on the financial aspects.
Staffing and resources.
24. It is intended that Ysgol Bryn Castell staff working in the satellite
provisions at Maes Yr Haul at the time of the implementation date will
transfer to Llangewydd Junior School. Llangewydd Junior School
governing body may need to review its staffing structure in the light of
the new provision.
25. The Learning Resource Centre would be funded through the ageweighted pupil unit (AWPU) element of the school funding formula plus
a per place factor. The number of places would be reviewed every
three years and schools would be given at least 6 months’ notice of
any changes. Funding levels would be derived from notional staffing
needs.
Equalities impact assessment.
26. As part of the overall process, the Council has a duty to consider the
implications of any proposal on all members of the local community
who may be affected unfairly as a result of the proposal being carried
out. An initial assessment has been made of the potential for inequality
of opportunity arising from these proposals and a full equalities impact
assessment will be undertaken in parallel with the consultation
process. The outcomes and actions identified by the assessment will
be included in a report to cabinet on the consultation process. If you
have any views on the potential of this proposal to affect any groups or
individuals either positively or adversely, we would welcome your views
as part of this consultation.
What do you now have to consider?
27. We would like your views as to whether or not you support the
Council’s proposal to establish a Learning Resource Centre for pupils
with communication difficulties at Llangewydd Junior School.
28. The provisional timetable and procedure are as follows:
12th November 2013 to
24th December 2013
Consultation period where we welcome
your views and observations on the
proposal. Please note that responses to
consultation will not be counted as
objections to the proposal and that
objections can only be registered
following publication of the Public Notice.
31st December 2013
Publish Consultation Report on BCBC
website; hard copies of the report will be
available on request.
7th January 2014
Consultation Report to Cabinet on the
outcomes of the consultation.
15th January 2014
If agreed by the Cabinet of Bridgend
County Borough Council, a Public Notice
will be published and there will be a
period of 28 days in which to submit any
objections to the proposal in writing.
12th February 2014
End of Public Notice period. If there are
no objections, Cabinet can immediately
decide whether to proceed or not. If
there are any objections, an Objections
Report will be published by 4th March
2014 and forwarded to Cabinet for their
consideration and subsequent
determination.
29. You are welcome to put your views in writing to:
Mrs. Deborah McMillan
Corporate Director-Children
Children’s Directorate.
Sunnyside.
Bridgend.
CF31 4AR.
Please mark for the attention of Ellen Franks or email
ellen.franks@bridgend.gov.uk
All views must be received no later than 24th December 2013.