A report from the Executive Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services and the Executive Director of Children’s Services is attached. (Key decision – reference number 4594)

(Report No.165)

(8.30 – 8.35 pm)

Councillor Ayfer Orhan (Cabinet Member for Education, Children’s Services and Protection) introduced the report of the Executive Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services and the Executive Director of Children’s Services (No.165) setting out the approach to the provision of school places for Enfield residents and updating the strategy for the provision of places.

NOTED

1.    The Council had planned and had successfully delivered additional school places to meet demand, and would continue to deliver.

2.    The strategy had been highly successful, and mitigated against uncertain conditions.

3.    There was no child without the offer of a school place in Enfield.

4.    Eventualities had been planned for and officers made alternative arrangements with existing schools to meet demand.

5.    More places were being delivered for special need provision, to meet increased demand.

6.    A report would be brought forward should there be a change required in School Expansion Programme capital budgets for 2017/18 to 2018/19.

7.    There were a number of demographic changes in the borough and a constant watch would be kept to ensure that Enfield’s policies met demand and that school places were accurately delivered.

8.    In response to Members’ queries, the legislation relating to new school building and the limits on local authorities’ powers were confirmed.

9.    In respect of every child getting a place of their choice, it was advised that c.90% gained one of their first three choice schools in Enfield, but it was also important that parents understood the principles around selection of schools, and that school provision in Enfield was good.

10.Councillor Orhan expressed her gratitude and sincere thanks to Tony Theodoulou (Executive Director of Children’s Services) and Keith Rowley (Director of School Expansions and Asset Management Support) and all the officers in the team for their excellent work and making sure there were effective plans in place.

Alternative Options Considered: NOTED that Enfield Council had a statutory responsibility to provide the necessary school places. The School Expansion Programme (SEP) creates a mechanism to assist with the delivery of extra capacity required. Failure to provide enough school places was not an option. The following proposals had been considered but rejected:

·         Complete reliance on additional capacity from new free schools or existing free school/academy expansions. There was no guarantee that high quality providers would come forward with proposals for new schools that the ESFA would then accept and then deliver, this was particularly true for Special Schools. The Council would continue to work with the ESFA and current providers that provide high quality services and contribute to the wider education community in the borough to assess potential expansion opportunities.

DECISION: The Cabinet

1.            Agreed the continuation of the school expansion programme, with the focus on special provision and high needs pupil places in both primary and secondary phases.

2.            Agreed the increase capacity in special schools and establishments that provide education services for some of the most acute special need categories subject to further approval for the manner in which this was to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8