Questions Submitted Under Council Procedure Rule 10
(i) Councillor Temperton to Councillor Dr Barnard, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Learning
In the last two budgets, money has been allocated to develop a school of 50 places in Bracknell Forest to support our children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health issues. When will this project be realised and the school opened?
(ii) Councillor L Gibson to Councillor Dr Barnard, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Learning
What schemes does this council currently have in place to support levelling up the life chances of Children looked after, and Young carers registered with the borough?
Minutes:
Councillor Temperton asked Councillor Dr Barnard, Executive Member for
Children, Young People and Learning the following published question:
In the last two budgets, money has been allocated to develop a school of 50 places in Bracknell Forest to support our children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health issues. When will this project be realised and the school opened?
Councillor Dr Barnard replied that a feasibility study has been undertaken for the provision of a Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) hub that the council is seeking to put forward. The emerging evidence is that there is a need for both primary and secondary school provision. He advised that this changed the shape and nature of the project to be taken forward. He confirmed the report containing all the options being considered would be shared with Councillor Mrs Temperton following the meeting.
Consultation work with schools would continue in the autumn term as part of the wider reshaping of the high need and SEND funding provision which would include all schools and College Hall, Kennel Lane School and Manor Green School as links closely with provision for Bracknell Forest residents. He added that the next stage of the process was to look at local provision and service level agreements, see what resources and facilities were available and bring forward capital proposals for 2022-23. He understood that the earliest date the facility could be open would be September 2023. Considerable work was ongoing with commissioning of SEND provision following the updating of SEND propels and plans. He acknowledged that this project was taking longer than expected but this was due to the changing requirements from 50 place primary provision to all through provision for 70 – 120 places. He concluded that this change had consequences on the building which could be used or converted to provide this.
Councillor Temperton thanked Councillor Dr Barnard for sharing the options report, noted the reasons for the delay but also that this proposal was necessary to reduce the high needs budget so it would be better for residents to have a local provision in place as soon as possible.
Councillor Dr Barnard agreed that this would be good for residents and that the Council would continue to support families to ensure that the best use of high needs block funding was made.
Councillor L Gibson asked Councillor Dr Barnard, Executive Member for
Children, Young People and Learning the following published question:
What schemes does this council currently have in place to support levelling up the life chances of Children looked after, and Young carers registered with the borough?
Councillor Dr Barnard replied that young carers were not recognised in the same way that children looked after were but additional support was offered through schools to help with school / home life balance due to their caring responsibilities at home. He explained that youth work and youth clubs which were being built up again following the pandemic which aimed to help build resilience as well as signpost ... view the full minutes text for item 13