Agenda item - Proposal to expand Hill Park Special School by establishing a satellite site at the Cedar Centre

Report of the Executive Director Families Children & Learning

RESOLVED: That Committee agreed to confirm the proposal contained in the Statutory Notice that Hill Park School should expand by establishing a satellite site at the former Cedar Centre with effect from September 2023.

11.1    The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Families Children & Learning which provided feedback from the recent formal representation period following the issue of Statutory Notices in respect of the proposal to expand Hill Park.

11.2    Cllr O’Quinn asked what the impact of the Hill Park expansion would be in terms of reducing the budget for children having to go out of the city for specialist placements. The Assistant Director Health, SEN & Disability Services confirmed the proposal should have a positive impact on this spend since this type of provision has been targeted as it covers the profile of need that is going out of the city the most.

11.3    Given current waiting times, Cllr Nield raised concerns regarding the admissions criteria requiring an autism diagnosis and an EHCP to be in place and asked how the wait is being reduced. The Assistant Director Health, SEN & Disability Services advised CAMHS have commissioned an external agency to undertake assessments, which has significantly reduced the waiting time. The Executive Director Families Children & Learning also revealed NHS Sussex has put additional funding in place to address difficulties in the neurodevelopmental pathway.

11.4    Cllr Meadows wondered what the expected savings of the provision would be, which the Assistant Director Health, SEN & Disability Services estimated to be significant, saving around £10,000 per placement, with fewer high-cost placements required due to earlier intervention, and reduced transport costs due to local provisions.

11.5    Ms Boyd queried details of plans for SEND children with social, emotional, and mental health difficulties, who are not eligible for a place at Hill Park and whose needs cannot be met at Homewood, and other cohorts where provision is lacking including post-16 with learning difficulties. The Assistant Director Health, SEN & Disability Services confirmed social, emotional, and mental health provision is the focus for this autumn, with data analysis underway and a presentation scheduled for this week’s SEND Partnership Board to determine the next steps in the development of this form of provision.

11.6    RESOLVED: That Committee agreed to confirm the proposal contained in the Statutory Notice that Hill Park School should expand by establishing a satellite site at the former Cedar Centre with effect from September 2023.