sponsor engagement event 8 may 2019 - open objects · • we predict growth across all types of...

An SEMH Free School for North Somerset

Sponsor Engagement Event

8 May 2019

Welcome to North Somerset

Sheila Smith, Director – People & Communities

About North Somerset

• The population of North Somerset is projected to grow significantly over the next two decades, from around 210,000 people in 2015 to 243,000 by 2031.

• North Somerset’s population is expected to grow faster than the national or regional average.

• There is growth at both ends of the age spectrum, so there will be more older people and more children than at present.

• Increasing population puts pressure on infrastructure including roads and school places and demand for services, such as social care for both older people and children.

• North Somerset is strategically placed, close to the major cities of Bristol and Cardiff and with excellent transport links.

• North Somerset is classified as ‘urban with significant rural’ by the ONS, with almost 40% of residents living in rural communities or ‘rural hub towns’ which include Clevedon and Nailsea.

• Weston-super-Mare is already the third largest settlement in the West of England with significant expansion planned.



SEND need in North Somerset

• Around 900 students have Education, Health and Care Plans

• An additional 3,330 students are at a School Support level.

• We predict growth across all types of need, but particularly in terms of ASD and SEMH.

• The area is served by 75 mainstream primary and secondary schools, and 3 special schools

• We also operate a hub for alternative provision: the Voyage Learning Campus

• Many children with SEND currently travel to schools outside the North Somerset local area: 181 students currently attend schools in other LAs, creating significant cost pressures for the local authority



SEND Provision in North Somerset

• In 2018 we conducted an in-depth review of local SEND and Alternative Education provision for the first time.

• We found evidence of growing need as the population in North Somerset grew and changed.

• We also found areas where we were not meeting existing needs in the way we would wish.

• SEMH provision is a key need in North Somerset – too many children are using our PRU when they should be supported in a school environment.

• This school is part of an ambitious programme of new and improved provision to meet our aspiration to provide a local school place for every child which needs one.

Why do we need a new SEMH school?

Liz Kelly – Bridging The Gap Together

Lack of Identification, assessment and support

• Parents tell us that they are not being listened to over concerns about their SEMH needs

• Schools lack the understanding or access to specialist advice to identify needs early enough.

• Lack of short term intervention so parents decide to either educate at home or risk exclusion!

• Thresholds are high and waiting times are long for specialist interventions and diagnosis (Autism and CAMHS)

What would we like the school to offer?

Liz Kelly – Bridging The Gap Together

Identification, assessment and support

• A joined up approach between the school, local services and the family to assess the needs of the child or young person and provide appropriate and timely levels of intervention.

• Specialist outreach service to deliver training and support mainstream schools locally.

• Support for families and the wider community.

• Local long term education for those with the most complex SEMH needs to enable them to engage with their local community and peer groups.

SEND Provision in North SomersetThe wider strategic picture...

Sally Varley – Service Lead, Strategic Planning & Governance

Our SpecificationSally Varley – Service Lead, Strategic Planning & Governance

Wendy Packer – Education Inclusion Service Leader

Katherine Sokol – Finance Business Partner

We need an SEMH School that will:

• promote independence for those students who require specialist support to prepare them for the next stage of their education and into adulthood

• be our local specialist, improving early and accurate identification of need and providing appropriate support and intervention to help individuals to develop socially and emotionally

• provide a quality educational experience and, where relevant, qualifications to enable them to contribute to the working community once leaving school and preparing for adulthood

• be committed to enable a closer partnership between education, social care and health in supporting these young people and their families, allowing professionals to work together effectively, providing families with easier access to support

• offer standards that are rated by Ofsted as, at least, good and preferably outstanding




Expected outcomes - the new provision will:

• reduce the number of children and young people missing education and improve provision for students with SEMH

• increase current attainment levels of SEMH pupils in North Somerset especially as reduced journey times to and from school will mean pupils are ready to learn from the start of the day

• contribute towards a reduction in anti-social behaviour through the ability to provide full-time provision for all pupils with SEMH needs

• support re-integration into mainstream school wherever possible

• will facilitate closer partnership working between Education, Health and Social Care in the development of “wrap around care”




Other key qualities we are looking for in a sponsor. The proven ability to :

• to work in collaboration with the Local Authority and education settings within North Somerset

• provide outreach support back into mainstream schools for students able to re-integrate

• provide training for schools around supporting students with SEMH within a mainstream setting

• The option for schools to buy in specialised professional support and training

• collaborate with mainstream schools and other special schools across North Somerset to provide local support for local children

• participate in joined up work and outreach with health and social care with providing wrap around support for families, including opportunities for the school to work closely with our High Impact Families team (our local response to Troubled Families)

Pupil ProjectionsWendy Packer – Education Inclusion Service Leader

Anthony Webster – SEND Manager

Currently 47 students are placed in SEMH provisions outside of North Somerset. Our intention is is to use key transfer stages to bring appropriate students back to North Somerset and our new SEMH provision.

The number of students requiring a SEMH provision on an annual basis and currently placed out of area this academic year is 17.

It is intended that the majority of placements initially will be for younger students to enable them to benefit from a longer term intervention and re-integration, where appropriate, into mainstream schools

The numbers identified have been to ensure the creation of a nurturing environment taking into account gender balance, groups size and required levels of support

Year of

opening+1 +2 +3 +4 +5 +6

Key stage 1

(Y1-2)5 8 10 10 10 10 10

Key stage 2

(Y3-6)5 10 15 15 15 15 15

Key stage 3

(Y7-9)15 15 20 20 20 20 20

Key stage 4

(Y10-11)15 15 20 20 20 20 20

Totals 40 48 65 65 65 65 65

Financial ProjectionsKatherine Sokol – Finance Business Partner

Draft illustrative funding arrangements:

• Place funding from ESFA @ £10k per pupil

• SEND Top-Up Funding from NS (figures based on assumption of 50% at C3 and 50% at C4)

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3

2021/22 2022/23 2023/24

Total place numbers 40 48 65

Place Funding £400,000 £480,000 £650,000

Top Up Funding £774,660 £929,592 £1,258,823

Total Funding £1,174,660 £1,409,592 £1,908,823

Any questions for the panel?


8 May 2019

The proposed site

Connectivity in a growing district

• Bristol South West Economic Link (BSWELL)

• Enabling Infrastructure to promote and accelerate housing development

• Total package, working with West of England Partners of £500m plus

• Linked to key corridor and Strategic Development Land (SDL) sites

Jonathan Kirby – Head of Major Projects

The proposed site


The proposed site


Location of the proposed site

• Circa one hectare site

• Owned by the council

• Currently leased on short hold tenancy

• Accepted as development site

with planning policy colleagues

• Major Projects team have delivered numerous

sites of similar setting

• NSC able to assist with enabling delivery or

lead on direct delivery

The proposed site

The proposed site

Site condition and planning

• Largely level, clear and regular shaped site

• Adjacent to existing development and proposed SDL site

• Ground conditions ‘normal’ for the area

• Wider area ecology studies taking place, bat surveys etc which will help inform any planning application

• Opportunity for maximising natural setting and curriculum links through creative design


Any questions for the panel?


8 May 2019

Special School CompetitionsTim Johnson, New Schools Network

Agenda

• Introductions

• About New Schools Network

• Special free schools: the basics

• The special free school application process

• How New Schools Network can help you

• Questions

About New Schools Network

• Independent charity, founded in 2009

• Supports free school applicants and open/approved free schools

• Advocates for free school policy

• Worked with around 70% open/approved free schools

• Free services

Free schools: the basics

How are the funded?

What are they? Who sets them up?

Freedoms

Free schools: the basics

Do…

Be open to all pupils, regardless of their faith,

ability or social background

Held accountable through Ofsted inspections and

exam results

Offer education for pupils aged 4 - 19

Do not…

Get set up by ‘anybody’

Receive more funding than other state schools

Special and AP free schools: the basics

• There are 34 open special free schools in England

• There are 53 that have been approved to open

• Only 19 have been inspected by Ofsted: 17 of which are Good or Outstanding

• There are 42 open AP free schools in England

• There are 16 that have been approved to open

• Only 31 have been inspected by Ofsted: 25 of which are Good or Outstanding

Special free school application process

Special and AP application process

Bid

The LA• Determines key

features• Prepares

evidence of need• Identifies

potential site• Submits a bid to

the DfE

The DfE: • Approves LAs bid

documents• Publishes

specification and application criteria

Pre-opening phase

• Enrol on to NSN Delivery Programme

• Recruit staff, develop policies and curriculum, recruit pupils

• Support and funding from DfE

• Sign funding agreement

Open phase

• Continue relationship with NSN

• Build up to capacity

• Ofsted inspection with three years

Application

• Prepare an application with free support from NSN

• Submit application to the LA and DfE

• Attend an interview with the LA and DfE

• Approval from the DfE

Application timeline

Pre-opening phase

― Recruit staff, develop

policies and curriculum,

recruit pupils

― Secure a site

― Enrol onto NSN Pre-

opening Programme

― Support ad funding from

DfE

― Sign funding agreement

Lessons learnt

Developing a vision

A clear vision will act as the basis for all other activities related to your free school:

Vision Application development

Building a team

Engaging the community

Presenting your vision

The DfE states that all applicants must:

• explain your own vision for the proposed school, and how it will deliver the local authority’s specification;

• explain how that vision comes across in your curriculum approach and approaches to meeting pupils’ special educational needs; and

• ensure that your vision is evidence-based and consistent with the rest of your application – your overall application should clearly show the plan for implementing your vision.

The vision

Developing a clear vision involves thinking about these key elements:

North Somerset specification

School ethos and key features

Outcomes

Importance of a strong team

Applying for, setting up and opening a free school is an extremely demanding process. It’s essential that you have a strong, committed team with a wide range of skills working on the project.

Some of the challenges your team will face include:

Engaging with stakeholders and commissioners

Building a financial plan for the school

Managing the project as a whole

Designing a curriculum

Establishing your team

You must have the following:• Education expertise relevant to the

type of school you want to set up• Finance expertise• Governance expertise

You should have the following:• Project management expertise• Marketing/communications expertise

Necessary for pre-opening:• HR expertise• ICT expertise• Buildings and sites• Legal expertise• Business/start up experience

Lead proposer

Additional advisers

Steering group

How New Schools Network can help you

NSN Development Programme

Feedback we have had from groups who have been on the programme has been overwhelmingly positive, and approval rates for groups on the programme shows its success.

100% of those who have received this additional

support in the past said it was helpful

You are 50% more likely to be invited to interview.

11 of the 14 successful free schools from the local

authority-led special free school round wave 1

received NSN support.

“The Development Programme was excellent and offered appropriate support, challenges and

rigour.”

“We couldn’t have done it without you! Thank you so

much for keeping us on track and motivated.”

How NSN can help you

Development Programme

A combination of the following:

• A named personal NSN Adviser• A personalised support plan• Written feedback on draft

applications• Specialist meetings• Networking with other free

schools• Help marketing your school

Support for all groups

• Our series of training events• An hour long 1-1 meeting with

one of our Advisers• Advice from the team via

phone and email• A wide range of resources on

our website.

Enrolling onto the DP

• Book a 1-1 meeting with an adviser through our website.

• Submit an enrolment form through our website

Questions?

Final questions?Thank you for your attendance

Colleagues will be available for informal discussions until 5pm

More information: www.n-somerset.gov.uk/specialfreeschool

sponsor engagement event 8 may 2019 - open objects · • we predict growth across all types of...

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