- DESCRIPTION
OF PROJECT
This
project involves the full refurbishment and conversion of the premises
currently occupied by Orchard Meadow Primary School. The scheme will
be designed to meet the special needs of pupils with severe learning
difficulties and will provide 5 classrooms with en-suite time-out space,
kitchen and store, appropriate toilet, changing and showering facilities,
storage, activity hall, library, and specialist facilities for speech
therapy, hydrotherapy, soft play, sensory and quiet spaces together
with entrance/reception, staff and administration facilities. A new
vehicle and pedestrian access will be provided off Cuddesdon Way to
facilitate a safe and efficient drop-off and collection for the special
schools minibus service, taxis and other vehicles. Other external works
will provide fenced and secure external play and recreation areas.
- JUSTIFICATION
AND ASSESSMENT OF NEED
Upon
completion, the authority will be able to secure for families living
in Oxford City and surrounding areas the necessary amount of specialist
facilities adjacent to a mainstream school site for children with severe
learning difficulties. This will provide integration opportunities for
all these children in line with the requirements of the 1993 Education
Act, subsequent legislation and the LEA’s policy on inclusion in mainstream
schools of pupils with special educational needs. This approach allows
total flexibility in allowing the appropriate level of integration according
to the individual child’s needs.
The
current facilities at Mabel Prichard School at St Nicholas Road, Littlemore
are inappropriate for meeting the needs of a wide range of children
with profound, severe and multiple learning difficulties. These suitability
needs are identified in the Asset Management Plan. The former site provides
no opportunities for integration with pupils in mainstream education.
The
condition of the existing building reflects its age and has a growing
repairs and maintenance liability as identified in the Assessed Need
Report. The total cost of assessed needs for both delegated and non-delegated
work was £320,000 in 2003/04. This scheme offers the opportunity to
carry out a major refurbishment and upgrade of the major elements of
a building whilst it is unoccupied. There will be some revenue savings
due to the school using newly refurbished buildings and there will be
a reduction in repairs and maintenance liabilities.
- OPTIONS
- The option
to replace the existing accommodation with new build on the Orchard
Meadow site or an alternative school site would cost in the region
of £2.5 million notwithstanding any site acquisition and other
site specific costs. This option was dismissed due to the funding
shortfall of over £1 million.
- The option
to refurbish the existing building was dismissed as it would not
meet the LEA’s policy on inclusion and relationship to an adjacent
mainstream school site. In addition, no funding stream could be
identified for this option.
- The only
other option is to do nothing and leave the school with accommodation
that will continue to have suitability needs as identified in
the AMP and condition issues.
The
last two options would mean that the majority of Mabel Prichard pupils
would not be accommodated in an integrated setting with mainstream pupils
of a similar age. It may be possible for a small number of children
to be integrated on a mainstream school site on an individual basis
but this would be expensive in terms of individual pupil support, and
complex in terms of administrative arrangements which would need to
be set up to oversee the placements of children.
- FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
(see accompanying [exempt] resource appraisal)
The
attached appraisal should be considered in exempt session because its
discussion in public might lead to the disclosure to members of the
public present of any terms proposed or to be proposed by or to the
authority in the course of negotiations for a contract for the acquisition
or disposal of property or the supply of goods or services.
- Capital
The
estimated cost of the project inclusive of fees is £1,442,000.
This
cost of this work will be met from capital receipts raised from
the sale of Mabel Prichard School buildings and site (less funding
already used towards the cost of the previous phases of work at
Peers and Orchard Meadow Schools).
The
balance will be met from government loan sanction provided as
part of Oxfordshire’s Supported Capital Expenditure allocation.
This
scheme is identified in the Capital Programme Forward Plan.
- Revenue
The
school will meet day-to-day repair and maintenance costs and structural
repairs as part of the Council’s Fair Funding arrangements. It will
receive an additional allocation through the LMS formula to recognise
the additional costs of operating on separate co-located primary and
secondary sites.
- STAFF IMPLICATIONS
Upon
completion of the work, all teaching and non-teaching staff will transfer,
either to the new Primary School base at Orchard Meadow or to the Secondary
School base at Peers School.
- ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPLICATIONS