Public Consultation

January 2018

To Parents/Carers, Staff and Other Interested Parties,

Proposed changes to The Marsh Academy

The Governors of The Marsh Academy, with the support of Kent County Council (KCC),are proposing to addSpecialist Resource Provision (SRP)forchildren with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The intention is that the SRP will open from September 2018 and will over time provide a maximum of 24 places. Initially, the commissioned number of places for 2018/19 will be 8. These places will be in addition to the Published Admissions Number, so will not impact on the number of pupils admitted to the mainstream school.

In bringing forward this proposal, the Governors are convinced that:

  • It will provide a much needed resource to provide a tailored education to the growing number of pupils with ASD in Shepway;
  • It will build on the expertise our staff already have in educating children with ASD;
  • The SRP will have a positive impact on the education of other pupils;
  • The Local Authority will provide the additional funding needed for the Academy to run the SRP;
  • The additional numbers will not affect the admission arrangements for other pupils.

Taking this step is consistent with the school's aim to serve the community and to offer the best possible education for every local child."

Background information

Some pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) for ASD, need specialist support that cannot be provided within the mainstream schools in spite of the resources that can be accessed via High Needs Funding. For these pupils a place in a Special school or an SRP will be required.

An SRP is a provision within a mainstream school. An SRP has dedicated teaching spaces and resources to support the pupils based there. It is led by staff that have the appropriate experience and/or specialist qualifications needed to support the pupils. Pupils are integrated into mainstream classes when appropriate for them.This enables pupils within the SRP to benefit from as much of a mainstream education as possible, while ensuring that other pupils continue to benefit from a calm and orderly learning environment.In order to access a place within an SRP a specialist assessment of the pupil must identify that their needs can be met in an SRP within a mainstream school.

Information from KCC demonstrates that in the last five years there has been a 5.4%increase in the numbers of pupils with an EHCP for ASD. In the academic year 2016-17 there were 3,486 such pupils across the county.

As of September 2017, in Shepway there were 135 pupils in Year 7-11 who have an EHCP for ASD. 90 of these pupils (67%) required access to specialist provisions either in a special school or an SRP. Shepway has one Special school, The Beacon, which caters for a variety of need types including ASD, but there is no secondary SRP. Currently 58 of the 90 Shepway resident pupils accessing specialist provision have to travel out of the District to access an appropriate school place. As demand continues to rise, this situation will become worse. We believe that an SRP at The Marsh Academy will go some way to addressing this issue.

Why the Marsh?

The Marsh Academy is a mainstream school for 900 students between the ages of 11 and 16 and has a sixth form with an admissions number of 120. It is a Good school. OFSTED in March 2017 reported that pupils participated positively in their lessons, behaviour around the school created a calm and purposeful atmosphere, the school promotes an inclusive environment that encourages pupils to be respectful and to have positive attitudes. The Marsh Academy will provide the SRP with its own base within the Academy where children can receive some individual and small group teaching and help. The Governors will appoint a leader of the SRP who will report to the Principal. We will also appoint dedicated support staff who will support the SRP pupils when working within the SRP or the main school as appropriate.

Reasons for this proposal

Staff at this school already have a high degree of skill and experience at supporting children who have ASD, and we believe they are well placed to develop further from this high starting point.

The staff andGovernors at The Marsh Academy see this proposal as an excellent opportunity for the school staff to use their knowledge and expertise to the full by accommodating children with ASD in an inclusive, caring, nurturing environment, both within the SRP and the Academy as a whole.

We also believe that the SRP will develop the present staff body enabling them to support not just the pupils within the SRP, but pupils across the school who may have ASD to a lesser extent. We further believe that the SRP will have a positive impact on the education of other pupils. Byincluding children with ASD, other pupils will learn to appreciate the needs of others in the tolerant and caring community of The Marsh Academy.

The Governors are aware of the need for additional ASD provision in Shepway and firmly believe that this development would build upon the already effective work taking place within the school to deliver very good outcomes for every student. This would be through:

  • Providing consistent and sustained high quality leadership within the SRP by using the expertise available from within The Marsh Academy.
  • Providing enhanced opportunities for The Marsh Academy students to have, as appropriate, access to educational opportunities available through a mainstream learning environment.
  • Delivery of an enhanced transition process at the end of Year 6 for students moving into the SRP within The Marsh Academy. This will reduce anxiety for students and concerns of their parents / carers.
  • Providing access for staff across the academy to the best educational practice and training which will significantly benefit all students.
  • Improving access to advice, guidance and support for students, parents and staff from specialist support services.
  • Providing access to enhanced career opportunities for teachers and teaching assistants.

Admission Arrangements

From the start of term, September 2018, the school would incrementally admit up to 8 students with an EHCPfor ASD. Admissions to the SRP will be determined by the Local Authority in consultation with the Governing Body and the Principal. Pupils presently attending The Marsh Academy who may benefit from being taught in the SRP will be assessed in the same way. This would be in consultation with parents. The specialist skills present in the SRP will be used to train all staff in supporting pupils with ASD.

This proposal is that the number of students on the roll of the SRP at The Marsh Academy will increase up to a maximum of 24, over an initial three year period. At the same time the roll at The Marsh Academy would increase by the same number so that the SRP will not affect the admissions arrangements for other pupils.

Funding

The Local Authority provides the additional funding needed for the School to run the SRP. This is presently at a rate of £10,000 per commissioned place. Further ‘top up’ funding is calculated per pupil on roll in the SRP.

Timeline:

How can I give my views?

There are a number of ways to give us your views on this proposal:

  • Attend the Public Meeting at the School on 31 January 2018, where you will have the opportunity to ask questions and complete a response form.
  • You can hand in or send the response form to The Marsh Academy,Station Road, New Romney TN28 8BB. All written responses need to be received by 16 February 2018.
  • By emailing:

The consultation process – indicative timeline

Date / Activity
8 January 2018 to 16 February 2018 / Public Consultation Period
31 January 2018 at 6pm / Meeting at the Marsh Academy for parents/carers and any other interested parties.
February 2018 / A report following the consultation is received by the Governors.
March 2018 / A business case is submitted to the DfE for the change of designation
September 2018 / SRP open for pupils

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Marsh Academy is a data controller under the Data Protection Act 1998 and will comply with the requirements of the Act at all times, ensuring that your personal information is processed fairly and lawfully and in this instance used only for the purpose of validation, which will enable a fair and just consultation.

We have completed an Equality Impact Assessment to see if the proposal could affect anyone unfairly. We welcome your views on the assumptions we have made and the conclusions we have drawn. To view the document, go to
RESPONSE FORM – The Marsh Academy

Please complete this response form and hand it in to the school reception or post it to The Marsh Academy, Station Road, New Romney TN28 8BB

Question 1: Do you agree with the plan to add a Specialist Resource Provision for pupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorder at The Marsh Academy?
Yes / No / Undecided
Comments
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