Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

See guidance below.

There were none

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 24 February 2026 to be signed by the Chair as a correct record.

The Cabinet Member approved the minutes of the meeting held on 24 February 2026, as an accurate record of the proceedings

Any county councillor may, by giving notice to the Proper Officer by 9 am three working days before the meeting, ask a question on an item on the agenda.

The number of questions which may be asked by any councillor at any one meeting is limited to two (or one question with notice and a supplementary question at the meeting) and the time for questions will be limited to 30 minutes in total. As with questions at Council, any questions which remain unanswered at the end of this item will receive a written response.

Questions submitted prior to the agenda being despatched are shown below and will be the subject of a response from the appropriate Cabinet Member or such other councillor or officer as is determined by the Cabinet Member, and shall not be the subject of further debate at this meeting. Questions received after the despatch of the agenda, but before the deadline, will be shown on the Schedule of Addenda circulated at the meeting, together with any written response which is available at that time.

There were none received.

Members of the public who wish to speak on an item on the agenda at this meeting, or present a petition, can attend the meeting in person or ‘virtually’ through an online connection.

Requests to present a petition must be submitted no later than 9am ten working days before the meeting.

Requests to speak must be submitted no later than 9am three working days before the meeting.

Requests should be submitted to committeesdemocraticservices@oxfordshire.gov.uk

If you are speaking ‘virtually’, you may submit a written statement of your presentation to ensure that if the technology fails, then your views can still be taken into account. A written copy of your statement can be provided no later than 9am on the day of the meeting. Written submissions should be no longer than 1 A4 sheet.

There were no requests

Report by Director of Children’s Services (CMDCEYP5)

The Cabinet Member is RECOMMENDED to:

a.    Approve the proposed closure of The Ace Centre Maintained Nursery School.

The Cabinet Member considered a report which indicated that under Section 15 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006, a local authority could propose the closure of all categories of maintained school. In this regard it was proposed to close the Ace Centre Maintained Nursery School.

The Ace Centre Nursery School was located on the Burford Road in the centre of Chipping Norton and is one of 7 maintained nursery schools across Oxfordshire. The proposal followed significant challenges faced by the nursery including a sustained and substantial reduction in pupil numbers, which has affected its financial and educational viability. There had been significant changes in leadership over the past four years with a new Headteacher and Governing body. The Headteacher also resigned during the Autumn term of 2025 and left on 31st December 2025. 

The Council was also committed to ensuring that alternative early years’ provision remains available locally to minimise any impact on families and the wider community.

Resolved to:

a.    Approve the proposed closure of The Ace Centre Maintained Nursery School.

Report by Director of Children’s Services (CMDCEYP6)

The Cabinet Member is RECOMMENDED to:

a.    Approve the specification for the new special school serving the

 Didcot area, and for a competitive process to be launched to identify 

 an academy sponsor to run the school.

The Cabinet Member considered a report which indicated Oxfordshire’s Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) Sufficiency Delivery Strategy identified the need for two new special schools in the south-east of Oxfordshire, one for children with Social, Emotional & Mental Health and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder (SEMH/ASD) needs, and one for children with Profound & Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD) or Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD), and other associated needs.

Oxfordshire County Council would not run either of the new schools. The 2011 Education Act requires that all new schools are expected to be academies/free schools. This law meant that they are not run by the county council except in exceptional circumstances. Instead, academies were run by independent academy trusts.

Didcot currently had no special schools. The nearest maintained community special schools (primarily educating children with PMLD/SLD needs) were in Abingdon and Wantage. This meant children and young people with SEND faced long journeys to access suitable education provision.

Resolved to:

a.    Approve the specification for the new special school serving the

Didcot area, and for a competitive process to be launched to identify an  academy sponsor to run the school.

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