9/7/2021

Proposals to increase provision for children and young people with Additional Learning Needs (ALN) will go to Cardiff Council's Cabinet when it meets on Thursday July 15.

Subject to public consultation, the city-wide plan sets out two schemes to address the increase in demand for ALN provision across both primary and secondary sectors, expanding provision forlearners with emotional health & wellbeing needs and Complex Learning Needs (CLN).

The report makes recommendations that public consultations are carried out for the following proposals;

-         Increase capacity at The Court Special School from 42 to 72 places and transfer the school to new build accommodation across two sites; land at Fairwater Primary School and utilising the current St Mellons, Church in Wales Primary School site in Llanrumney, following the transferral of the school to new build accommodation on the St Edeyrn's development.

-         Establish a Specialist Resource Base (SRB) for up to 20 primary aged children with Complex Learning Needs (CLN) at Moorland Primary School.

If progressed, the proposals could also see the replacement and expansion of The Court School, which has been identified as poor or unsuitable condition, with new build accommodation underBand B of Cardiff's 21st Century Schools Programme.This is in addition to new build schemes for Woodlands and Riverbank Special Schools, which are already underway and have already been agreed by the Welsh Minister in July 2020.

Currently Cardiff has seven Special Schools, five primary wellbeing classes, a specialist Pupil Referral Unit and a primary speech and language class. There are also 17 Specialist Resources Bases (SRB) hosted at primary and secondary schools across the city which enable pupils with Complex Learning Needs (CLN) to succeed in a mainstreamschool environment.

However, pupil population growth and the increased complexity of needs of some learners, has meant that the requirement for specialist provision is greater. Improved survival rates for children born with significant disabilities resulting in severe and complex disabilities has also increased, meaning that the number of pupils requiring a place in a special school or Specialist Resource Base has continued to grow.
 

The proposals would alsoimprove access to resource base places forchildren living in the central south areas of the city by the establishment of a Specialist Resource Base at Moorland Primary School.
 

Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills, Cllr Sarah Merry said: "Over recent years the range of expertise, specialist support and facilities available in Cardiff schools has ensured that they are inclusive, and the extent to which pupils' additional learning needs can be met in their local schools has increased.

"We have significantly increased the number of Specialist Resource Bases and expansion and rebuild plans for Riverbank and Woodlands Special Schools are progressing. But we recognise that demand is growing and if progressed, these plans could help Cardiffincrease the rangeof options for learners whilsthelping to ensure that our most vulnerable learners can access specialist environments and expertise, so that they can thrive in Cardiff and fulfil their potential for the future.

"The views of residents, pupils, schools and their communities will all play a big part in how the plans are progressed."