PROPOSALS FOR PRESCRIBED ALTERATIONS OTHER THAN FOUNDATION PROPOSALS: Information to be included in a complete proposal In respect of a Governing Body Proposal: School and governing body’s details 1. The name, address and category of the school for which the governing body are publishing the proposals. N/A In respect of a LA Proposal: School and local authority details 1. The name, address and category of the school. The Primary Support Base (PSB) at Highwood Primary School, Bushey Mill Lane, Bushey, Hertfordshire, WD23 2AW, a community school. The Local Authority is Hertfordshire County Council, County Hall, Pegs Lane, Hertford, SG13 8DF Implementation and any proposed stages for implementation 2. The date on which the proposals are planned to be implemented, and if they are to be implemented in stages, a description of what is planned for each stage, and the number of stages intended and the dates of each stage. The planned date for the proposals to be implemented in full is 31 March 2016. Objections and comments 3. A statement explaining the procedure for making representations, including — (a) the date prescribed in accordance with paragraph 2 of Schedule 3 The School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2013, by which objections or comments should be sent to the local authority; and (b) the address of the authority to which objections or comments should be sent. Comments or objections need to be received by 3 February 2016 by sending them by post, marked for the attention of Highwood Primary School, to: Freepost RTHH-LXSL- BYYR, Hertfordshire County Council, Education Department, County Hall, Hertford, SG13 8DF, or by email to: [email protected] 1 Alteration description 4. A description of the proposed alteration and in the case of special school proposals, a description of the current special needs provision. The Primary Support Base (PSB) is currently based at Highwood Primary School and can accommodate up to 6 children of primary age with significant social, emotional and behavioural difficulties, along with a small number of specialist staff and an outreach service. The base currently serves schools in the area covered by the District councils of Watford and Three Rivers and the towns of Bushey and Radlett in the Hertsmere District This includes a total of 10 infant and 58 primary/JMI schools Hertfordshire County Council is proposing to close this base after a review of the Council’s Behaviour and Attendance strategy indicated the need for greater involvement of mainstream schools in the commissioning and development of local provision for pupils with significant social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. This coincides with Highwood School being in the process of converting to academy status, and having considered the local need for full time educational provision for children who have been permanently excluded, in addition to those considered to be at risk of permanent exclusion, the Governing Body has decided that it is unable to offer this provision once it converts into an Academy and agreement has been reached with the Local Authority to consult on the closure of the PSB at Highwood School. There are currently no children on roll at the PSB at Highwood, but the PSB offers outreach support to schools in the area. This offers the opportunity for the County Council to look at ways of enabling and strengthening the commissioning role of mainstream schools so that schools are responsible for, and have a greater role in planning and overseeing behaviour support and alternative provision that best meets the needs of pupils at a local level. This has been done in partnership with Headteachers and within the framework of Delivering Special Provision Locally 9 (DSPL 9) Further information about the HCC SEND strategy and Delivering Special Provision Locally and Area 9 DSPL is available at: http://www.hertsdirect.org/services/healthsoc/childfam/dspl/ and www.dsplarea9.org.uk Under the proposals responsibility for meeting the needs of primary aged pupils with social, emotional and behaviour difficulties who are at risk of exclusion or who have been excluded from school will become the responsibility of DSPL9 and support and provision will be made through the DSPL9 Primary Behaviour Partnership. It is proposed that, as is the case now, most pupils with social, emotional and behavioural needs will remain in their current school with a clear focus on providing support within the mainstream stetting This is referred to as Tier One support. This will be enhanced by Tier Two support which is being developed through four Behaviour Hub Schools based in each of the geographical areas covered by DSPL9. Tier three will provide outreach support for pupils whose level of difficulty is impacting on their own learning and that of others. Tier four will offer respite provision for children who are at high risk of permanent exclusion and Tier five will be responsible for the provision for pupils who have been permanently excluded. Tiers four and five will comprise alternative provision based at the Lincolnsfield Centre in Bushey which will be managed on behalf of the Primary Behaviour Partnership by a local head teacher and will employ qualified teaching and trained support staff. The provision is to be known as The Acorn Centre. 2 School capacity 5.—(1) Where the alteration is an alteration falling within any of paragraphs 1 to 4,and 12- 14 of Schedule 2 to The School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2013, the proposals must also include — (a) details of the current capacity of the school and, where the proposals will alter the capacity of the school, the proposed capacity of the school after the alteration; N/A (b) details of the current number of pupils admitted to the school in each relevant age group, and where this number is to change, the proposed number of pupils to be admitted in each relevant age group in the first school year in which the proposals will have been implemented; N/A (c) where it is intended that proposals should be implemented in stages, the number of pupils to be admitted to the school in the first school year in which each stage will have been implemented; N/A (d) where the number of pupils in any relevant age group is lower than the indicated admission number for that relevant age group a statement to this effect and details of the indicated admission number in question. N/A (2) Where the alteration is an alteration falling within any of paragraphs 1,and 14 of Schedule 2 to The School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2013, a statement of the number of pupils at the school at the time of the publication of the proposals. N/A Implementation 6. Where the proposals relate to a foundation or voluntary controlled school a statement as to whether the proposals are to be implemented by the local authority or by the governing 3 body, and, if the proposals are to be implemented by both, a statement as to the extent to which they are to be implemented by each body. N/A Additional Site 7.—(1) A statement as to whether any new or additional site will be required if proposals are implemented and if so the location of the site if the school is to occupy a split site. N/A (2) Where proposals relate to a foundation or voluntary school a statement as to who will provide any additional site required, together with details of the tenure (freehold or leasehold) on which the site of the school will be held, and if the site is to be held on a lease, details of the proposed lease. N/A Changes in boarding arrangements 8.—(1) Where the proposals are for the introduction or removal of boarding provision, or the alteration of existing boarding provision such as is mentioned in paragraph 12 or 13 of Schedule 2 to The School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2013 — (a) the number of pupils for whom it is intended that boarding provision will be made if the proposals are approved; N/A (b) the arrangements for safeguarding the welfare of children at the school; N/A (c) the current number of pupils for whom boarding provision can be made and a description of the boarding provision; and N/A (d) except where the proposals are to introduce boarding provision, a description of the existing boarding provision. 4 N/A (2) Where the proposals are for the removal of boarding provisions or an alteration to reduce boarding provision such as is mentioned in paragraph 12 or 13 of Schedule 2 to The School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2013 — (a) the number of pupils for whom boarding provision will be removed if the proposals are approved; and N/A (b) a statement as to the use to which the former boarding accommodation will be put if the proposals are approved. N/A Transfer to new site 9. Where the proposals are to transfer a school to a new site the following information— (a) the location of the proposed site (including details of whether the school is to occupy a single or split site), and including where appropriate the postal address; N/A (b) the distance between the proposed and current site; N/A (c) the reason for the choice of proposed site; N/A (d) the accessibility of the proposed site or sites; N/A 5 (e) the proposed arrangements for transport of pupils to the school on its new site; and N/A (f) a statement about other sustainable transport alternatives where pupils are not using transport provided, and how car use in the school area will be discouraged.