SEND resource bases in Shirehampton and Glenfrome Primary Schools

This consultation was open from 15 May 2023 until 11 June 2023. The consultation feedback and decision can be found here: Consultation feedback | SEND resource bases in Shirehampton and Glenfrome Primary Schools | Ask Bristol Consultation and Engagement Hub.

Background details to the consultation can be viewed below:

Why are we consulting? 

Bristol City Council proposes to establish two resource bases (Special Educational Needs (SEN) provisions) in the city. This proposal has been developed in response to the demand for special educational needs provision in Bristol.

Should the proposal be agreed, the council and the schools will work together to ensure that all admissions are handled effectively and efficiently.

The Proposals

In accordance with Section 19(1) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 (as amended by the Education Act 2011) and the School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2013, Bristol City Council are proposing changes to:

• Shirehampton Primary School, to establish a 16-place resource base for children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs (SEMH) and register it with the Department for Education (DfE).
• Glenfrome Primary School, to establish a 12-place resource base for children with Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) and register it with the Department for Education (DfE).

The SEN designation of the provisions will be inclusive of children with Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC), Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) Needs and Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) to support the needs of children who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). The resource bases will receive children with SEN from the local area, not limited to the school’s mainstream catchment.

Shirehampton resource base opened in November 2021 and Glenfrome resource base opened on 17^th April 2023. The provisions will increase capacity in the city by 28 places, with the expectation that the provisions will increase the number of places available as appropriate. The Published Admissions Number of the mainstream schools will remain the same and not be impacted by this proposal.

Bristol City Council are making this proposal to meet the needs of the growing number of children with SEND.

The case for establishing each SEND provision

Bristol City Council has a statutory duty to secure sufficient school places for pupils with special education needs (Children and Families Act 2014) and to ensure that these places provide both high quality provision and value for money.

The establishment of a resource base at Shirehampton Primary School has been proposed for the following reasons:

• Bristol City Council has identified a demand for resource base provision in the North of the City
• Shirehampton Primary School was judged to be a good school by Ofsted at their last inspection in November 2017
• Shirehampton Primary School are committed to inclusion and delivering a high-quality SEN provision. In particular they are committed to supporting pupils with SEMH
• Existing, suitable indoor and outdoor space at the school had been identified for the resource base
• Shirehampton Primary School were fully supportive of the proposal

The establishment of a resource base at Glenfrome Primary School is being proposed for the following reasons:

• Bristol City Council has identified a demand for resource base provision in the East of the City
• Glenfrome Primary School was judged to be a good school by Ofsted at their last inspection in July 2021
• Glenfrome Primary School are committed to inclusion and delivering a high-quality SEN provision. In particular they are committed to supporting pupils with ASC
• Existing, suitable indoor and outdoor space at the school has been identified for the resource base
• Glenfrome Primary School were fully supportive of the proposal

The Outcomes of the Proposal

Bristol City Council is proposing to establish two SEND provisions.

We believe that this will:

• Provide additional capacity to manage demand for SEN school places in Bristol where demand is high

• Support improved educational outcomes for children with SEN

This proposal is not expected to have any limiting impact on other local provision including local schools but will contribute towards parental choice.

Implementation

The Local Authority is working in partnership with the schools who will operate the Resource Bases. Following consultation, the local authority and schools will work together to ensure that all admissions are handled effectively and efficiently.

These projects are part of a wider plan of increased SEN school place capacity across Bristol to ensure citywide SEN school place sufficiency and improve the outcomes of children and young people with SEND.

Costs and Expenditure

These proposals were part of the Special Educational Needs and/or Disability Sufficiency and Capital Proposals paper in the September 2020 cabinet report pack. The capital funding for these proposals form part of the agreed £3.41m spend for SEND minor works in September 2020. This funding is met from High Needs grant allocations provided by the DfE and will provide long-term value for money as less children will have to travel out of their local communities to attend school.

All provisions will receive SEN place funding for each place at the provision and top up funding for each child which will vary according to the child’s needs identified in their EHCP. The school will be responsible for staffing and resources, and the local authority and the schools have worked together to financially model the provisions to ensure it is affordable and will not impact upon any other budgets.

All statutory consultation requirements relating to these proposals have been complied with.