Consultation

New Complex Needs School in King's Lynn

Your views are important.

We would like you to read this document and then complete and return the attached response form.

1. Why we are consulting?
   
   We want your views on a new 140-place complex special educational needs school we want to build in King's Lynn to replace the existing two special schools, Alderman Jackson and Ethel Tipple.
   
   We wish to find out from parents/carers, local partners and community groups what the new complex needs school should look like. This will help us as we go through the planning and design process for the new school, and make sure the best possible facilities are provided for the children and young people who will attend.
   
   
2. Background Information
   
   In January 2005 we consulted with lots of people about future arrangements for local area working in Norfolk. This area working is called Area Special Educational Needs (SEN) Partnerships and their job is to help improve provision for children and young people with special educational needs. There will be five Area SEN Partnerships in the Central, North, South, East and West Norfolk. This pattern is the same as the new local area working arrangements for all of Children's Services. The new complex needs school will provide places for the West area.
   
   Most children receiving SEN support go to inclusive mainstream schools but special schools have a vital role to play in making sure children and young people with the most complex difficulties have their needs met. This is in line with the Government's strategy for SEN as outlined the Government publication Removing Barriers to Achievement (2004).
   
   There are currently two special schools in King's Lynn - Alderman Jackson for children and young people with severe learning difficulties and Ethel Tipple for children and young people with moderate learning difficulties. An on-going review of SEN provision has identified a need for these two schools to be replaced by one new local complex needs school serving a similar number of children currently going to the two schools.
   
   Alderman Jackson and Ethel Tipple do not have the most suitable accommodation for effective and inclusive learning for children with SEN. Some of the buildings are very old and will require significant modernisation and expensive maintenance work in the coming years.
   
   The Department for Education and Skills has awarded Norfolk County Council Children's Services funding to create a new £10.2 million 140-place all-age complex needs school in King's Lynn so more children and young people can be taught in their local area, closer to their home. It will also provide a model for future state-of-the-art complex needs schools in Norfolk. The new school will work closely with other local schools.
   
   
3. What is a complex needs school?
   
   Most children with statements of SEN are successfully included in their local mainstream school. However, some children need the extra specialist support that they will receive in the new school.
   
   It is intended that the new complex needs school will:
   
   
   • Provide for children and young people between the ages of 3 and 19
   
   
   
   • Be a central part of the local learning community in West Norfolk
   
   
   
   • Help support the inclusion of more children and young people with SEN in mainstream schools giving them further opportunities to succeed through outreach services
   
   
   
   • Have extra facilities such as a resource base for teachers from mainstream schools and other Children's Services providers such as health and social care organisations
   
   
   
   • Make multi-agency services much more available, improving the support to children and young people with SEN in West Norfolk.
   
   
   
   We believe that every child or young person should have an equal opportunity to develop socially, to learn and to enjoy community life with their peers. The new school will help us to achieve this through working more closely with local mainstream schools. The design of the new school will mean it can adapt to the individual needs of children and young people with complex needs, and it will be as flexible as possible in its design to allow many different types of teaching to take place. The specialist accommodation will help to raise the achievement levels of children with complex difficulties and help them to realise their full potential for learning.
   
   
4. Who we are consulting?
   
   
   • Children and young people
   • Parents and carers
   • All staff at Alderman Jackson and Ethel Tipple Special Schools and their governing bodies
   • Local authorities which maintain statements of SEN for children attending Alderman Jackson and Ethel Tipple
   • Primary Care Trusts and NHS Trusts
   • Learning and Skills Council
   • Local mainstream schools
   • Voluntary and community groups
   • Connexions Service
   
   
   
5. How we are consulting?
   
   As well as formal written consultation, there will be:-
   
   
   • A consultation event on Tuesday 31 January 2006 from 10am until 9pm at West Norfolk Professional Development Centre, Kilham's Way, King's Lynn, PE30 2HH
     
     This event is for everyone who is interested. You can arrive any time between 10am and 9pm and you will be able to find out more information and talk to local authority officers about the new school. An independent parental supporter will also be available for you to speak to in confidence.
     
     
   • You can ring Michael Bateman or Suzy Ladd on 01603 638054 who can answer questions or record your views
   
   
   
   • You can complete the consultation via the website at Your Norfolk Your Say
   
   
   
   • You can email us your questions or views at westspecialschool@norfolk.gov.uk
   
   
   
6. When are we consulting?
   
   The consultation begins on 6 January and ends on 17 February 2006.
   
   This consultation will be closely linked to the on-going SEN Review work as well as the planned future SEN Review consultations.
   
   
7. What is already decided?
   
   
   • That the location of the proposed new school will be on the site of Ethel Tipple School.
   
   
   
   • That the proposed school will have 140 places for children with complex special needs between the ages of 3 and 19 years.
   
   
   
   • That the new school is expected to be built and open by September 2008.
   
   
   
   • That children already attending Alderman Jackson and Ethel Tipple schools in July 2008 will continue their education at the new school.
   
   
   
8. What we want to find out?
   
   We are at the very beginning of this exciting project and we want your views on the complex needs school model outlined in section 3. A questionnaire is included at the end of this document.
   
   We would like your views on:-
   
   
   • Our proposal to close two existing special schools and build a new complex needs school.
   
   
   
   • How you think our proposal might impact on the local community in King's Lynn and West Norfolk.
   
   
   
   • The services that you think the new school should provide. This might include health and social care services or other community resources for instance.
   
   
   
   • What you think about the school supporting other children and young people with SEN who go to mainstream schools within the West Area SEN Partnership and how you think this might work.
   
   
   
9. How does the new complex needs school fit into the SEN Review?
   
   The SEN Review began in January 2005 and is looking at:
   
   
   • Future role and function of special schools across Norfolk.
   
   
   
   • What special educational needs provision we need to develop in mainstream schools.
   
   
   
   • How we will deliver support within the Area SEN Partnerships.
   
   
   The outcomes of the on-going SEN Review will be included in the design of the new school, if this is approved, as they emerge and where this is appropriate.
   
   
10. How can I respond to the consultation?
    
    You can respond to this consultation online at Your Norfolk Your Say
    
    Response form
    
    Or you can fill in the consultation response form attached to this document and post it to us at the address below:
    
    New Complex Needs School in Kings Lynn
    Consultation Response
    Norfolk County Council
    Room 24, Children's Services
    Martineau Lane
    Norwich, NR1 2DL
    
    Or you can email your comments and suggestions to: westspecialschool@norfolk.gov.uk
    
    
11. Where can I go to for more information?
    
    If you would like further information about any aspect of this consultation please contact: Michael Bateman or Suzy Ladd by email to: westspecialschool@norfolk.gov.uk
    
    Or by telephone: 01603 638054
    
    Alternatively you can write to us at:
    
    New Complex Needs School in Kings Lynn
    Consultation Response
    Norfolk County Council
    Room 24, Children's Services
    Martineau Lane
    Norwich, NR1 2DL
    
    If you are a parent or carer and wish to speak to an independent parental supporter in confidence you can speak Sarah Merrick or Jan Eastwood at Parent Partnership on 01603 704070.
    
    Or you could attend the consultation event on Tuesday 31 January 2006 any time between 10am and 9pm at the West Norfolk Professional Development Centre, where you will be able to find out more information and speak to local authority officers or a parent representative.
    
    
12. How will we feedback to you?
    
    Your views and suggestions will help the County Council's Cabinet, when it meets in March 2006, to make the decision about whether to build a new complex needs school and close the existing two schools. These views will also inform the development of the new school during the design and planning stages. All written responses will be available for County Councillors to read and we will prepare a summary of the key issues raised.
    
    All staff at the two schools along with parents and carers will be informed of the Cabinet's decisions in March and details will be posted on the internet at Your Norfolk Your Say
    
    We will also put the results on our website www.norfolk.gov.uk and inform the local media and encourage them to report the results of the consultation.
    
    
13. Who will be making the decision, how will we be making the decision and when?
    
    

Consultation starts on 6 January and ends on 17 February 2006.

On 1 March 2006, the County Council Children's Services Review Panel will receive a report detailing a summary of the key themes from the responses. Members of the County Council will have access to copies of all written responses.

On 6 March 2006, the County Council Cabinet will receive a report detailing a summary of the key themes from the responses to the consultation and will make a decision on whether to close Ethel Tipple and Alderman Jackson schools and build a new school. It will also approve the next stage of the consultation process.

If the County Council Cabinet agree, the next stage of the consultation will begin with public notices being published on 10 March 2006 to let the local community know of plans to close the two special schools and build a new complex needs school. This stage will last for two months until 10 May 2006. Details of where to write to respond will be given on the public notice.

On 6 June 2006, if there are no objections, the County Council Cabinet will receive a report detailing any response to the public notice process and will make a decision. If there are objections then the matter will be determined by the School Organisation Committee. Once this has happened, a formal application for planning permission will take place.