Wednesday, 15 October 2008
Our vision is that every child with the support of parents or carer, will choose to attend his or her local mainstream school, where they will feel valued and able to contribute as a member of that community, benefitting fully from the learning opportunities and social experiences available.
The Local Authority has consulted extensively over the last five years about a new model of educational provision for its most vulnerable learners. The existing pattern of seven special schools (see the table - Current Special Schools) has not been significantly reviewed since the initiation of the Borough in 1974. At present over one third of the available places in the special schools are vacant as parents exercise their right for a mainstream school place for their child with special educational needs.
The fabric and curriculum facilities in the existing special schools are in need of modernisation and the majority of children and young people with special educational needs are successfully educated alongside their peers in a local mainstream school. However, the Local Authority recognises that, for some children, a specialist environment with experienced and expert staff provides the best opportunity for some of the most vulnerable children to achieve their potential.
The Local Authority has, therefore, proposed an exciting and ambitious model of five new outward-facing special schools (see the table - Planned New Special Schools September 2008), including two brand new build schools and the extensive refurbishment/extension of three existing special school buildings. Each new special school will provide high quality education for a group of pupils with specified needs and will provide outreach support and advice to mainstream school colleagues.
The Local Authority published a Statutory Notice in January 2006 proposing to close the existing seven special schools on 31 August 2008 and open the five new schools on 1 September 2008. The Notice invited comments and objections to the proposals in accordance with the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. The Doncaster School Organisation Committee considered the proposals, together with the comments and objections, at its meeting on 11 May 2006 and unanimously approved the proposal subject to the necessary planning permissions being secured by 30 April 2007.
The Local Authority has assured parents that a place will be available at one of the new special schools for every child who will still be on the roll of the existing special schools when they close in 2008, if this is what their parents and/or carers want. Officers from the Local Authority’s Special Educational Needs Team will begin discussions with the current special school Headteachers, staff and parents early in 2007 to determine the most appropriate new school placement for each child.
The Authority is in the process of establishing five temporary governing bodies to oversee staffing, revenue and other matters relating to the new schools. The temporary governing bodies will have representatives from parents and staff of the closing special schools as well as Local Authority and community representatives. The Headteachers of the existing special schools are liaising with the Project Manager to ensure the design of the new and refurbished schools fully meet the needs of the pupils. We recognise and greatly value the experience and expertise of all our existing special schools staff and officers are working closely with the professional associations and trade unions to ensure the transfer of staff to the new schools is as smooth as possible.
The Strategic Communications Team has developed a protocol to ensure that all pupils, parents, staff, governors and outside partners are kept actively informed of developments as the project progresses and regular updates will be added to this site.
| School Name | Address | Designation/Age Range | No. Funded places | Pupils on roll January 2006 |
| Anchorage | Lower School, Cusworth Lane, Upper School, Barnsley Road, Scawsby | Moderate Learning Difficulties Ages 5-16 yrs | 178 | 101 |
| Athelstane | Old Road, Conisbrough | Moderate Learning Difficulties Ages 5-16 yrs | 130 | 94 |
| Cedar | Cedar Road, Balby | Severe Learning Difficulties Ages 3-19 yrs | 84 | 64 |
| Chase | Ash Hill, Hatfield | Severe Learning Difficulties Ages 2-18 yrs (also has 19 yr olds on roll) | 106 | 83 |
| Fernbank | Village Street, Adwick-Le-Street | Severe Learning Difficulties Ages 3-18 yrs (also has 19 yr olds on roll) | 75 | 56 |
| Rossington Hall | Great North Rd, Rossington | Moderate Learning Difficulties Ages 5-16 yrs (also has 3 and 4 yr olds on roll) | 151 | 93 |
| Sandall Wood | Leger Way, Doncaster | Physically disabled Ages 2-18 yrs (also has 19 yr olds on roll) | 101 | 46 |
| Address | Site | Designation | No. places |
| Old Road, Conisbrough | Site of former Athelstane School suitably extended and refurbished | Moderate Learning Difficulties and Additional Needs Ages 7-16 yrs | 110 |
| Barnsley Road, Scawsby | New build on site of former Anchorage Upper School | Moderate Learning Difficulties and Additional Needs Ages 7-16 yrs | 110 |
| Windmill Balk Lane,Woodlands | New build on site of North Doncaster Technology College | Severe Learning Difficulties Ages 3-19 yrs | 102 |
| Ash Hill, Hatfield | Site of former Chase School suitably refurbished | Severe learning Difficulties and Autism/Challenging Behaviours Ages 3-19yrs | 102 |
| Leger Way, Doncaster | Site of former Sandall Wood School suitably refurbished | Severe Learning Difficulties and Complex Medical/Physical Needs Ages 3-19 yrs | 80 |
