Significant Change Consultation
Christ the King Catholic School, a member of the Dunstan Catholic Educational Trust (DCET), in response to discussions with Wiltshire Council, proposes to expand its resource base (a Special Educational Needs (SEND) provision). The proposal has been developed in response to an increased demand for special educational needs provision in the Amesbury area. The expansion of the resource base at Christ the King Catholic School is part of a wider plan of increased SEND school place capacity across Wiltshire to ensure countywide SEND school place sufficiency.
The Proposal
The resource base, which has been established at the school for over 6 years, currently has 18 places. Over the last 3 years there has been an intake of additional children, and we receive regular consultations. The base has a designation of speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) and supports the needs of children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). Under the proposal the base would expand from 18 places to 24 places across the two classrooms. As is already the case, the resource base would receive children with appropriate special educational needs from the local area, not limited to the school’s mainstream catchment. The expanded resource base would provisionally plan to open during the academic year 2023-24, filling the additional places at a level and rate to ensure its continued quality and success. The Published Admission Number of the school will remain the same and not be impacted by this proposal.
The case for expanding the resource base at Christ the King Catholic School
Wiltshire Council has a statutory duty to secure sufficient school places for pupils with special education needs (Children and Families Act 2014) and to ensure that these places provide both high quality provision and value for money. The council believes additional places at Christ the King Catholic School will support this aim in being fulfilled within the Amesbury area and this is supported in principle by the School, the Members and the Directors at DCET. The expansion of the resource base at Christ the King Catholic School is being proposed for the following reasons:
- Wiltshire Council has identified a demand for increased resource base provision in the Amesbury area
- Christ the King Catholic School is committed to inclusion and delivering a high-quality SEND provision
- The resource base provision has supported numerous children over a number of years and this would be an opportunity to provide this provision for more
- Existing, suitable indoor and outdoor space at the school has been identified for the resource base with accommodation being adapted to be fit-for-purpose as part of the proposal
Implementation
Following consultation, should the decision be taken to proceed, Christ the King Catholic school will work with the local authority to ensure that all admissions are handled effectively and efficiently. Additional pupils will provisionally start at the resource base during the academic year 2023-24.
Supporting Documents
Significant Change Consultation Letter
Link to Teams Meeting (17th July, 4pm)
Resource Base
I am delighted to welcome you to The Resource Base (The Orchard) at Christ the King School. The Orchard will welcome young people aged 5-11 from across Wiltshire with communication and interaction difficulties enabling them to thrive and gain the skills and knowledge they need to progress into positive further education.
Pupils have class teachers who are supported by a team of teaching assistants within the classroom. In addition, there are a range of staff who deliver bespoke programmes of support outside the classroom to support children in achieving their EHCP targets. The aim of the Resource Base is to integrate and include the children with peers of the same/similar age as much as possible in the mainstream part of the school.
The redesigned curriculum has a topic based approach where all subjects are taught around a learning focus each half term. We aim to provide a practical curriculum that both inspires and challenges them to reach their potential. We ensure pupils can access the topics but also bring their learning to life through a variety of activities that are delivered in and out of the classroom environment. All pupils have high levels of speech and language support to ensure they access all areas of the curriculum.
Supporting Your Child
"All teachers are teachers of special needs" (SEN Code of Practice 2014)
Our speech and language therapist is allocated to the Ark for 1.5 days a week working closely with the staff and children providing programmes tailored to each child's specific areas of need.
At Christ the King, we want all pupils to experience a broad and balanced curriculum which will allow them to develop their skills and knowledge and enable them to be successful in whatever they choose to do. We provide:
- small group work
- National Curriculum adapted for all pupils
- visual timetables for lessons and activities when required
- managed, supportive environment to enable transitions
- interpretation of EP advice and guidance
- interpretation of OT advice and guidance
- speech and language input and advice guidance
- support with relationships/social skills
- structured and individualised curriculum
- PSHE/SEAL/Emotional Literacy curriculum
- positive behaviour support
Keeping in Touch with You
We recognise that parents have a vital role to play in supporting their child’s education. We are passionate about working in partnership with you, as parents. We understand that by the very nature of the provision, face-to-face contact is not always possible as the majority of our children come to school in taxis. As such we communicate openly with you via e-mail, home-school link books as well as by phone.
We aim to foster an atmosphere of trust and co-operation with families by:
- involving parents at every stage of their child’s support;
- valuing their contribution in decision making and the on-going support of their child;
- offering consultations three times a year (Autumn, Spring and Summer term) to discuss EHCP targets and twice a year at parent-teacher meetings, once a year through Annual Review meetings and informally as required. Additionally, parents are always welcome to talk to staff on the phone and through email or make additional appointments for meetings at any time within the year;
- recording any concerns expressed by the parents and acting upon them accordingly.
How do I access the Communication and Interaction Resource Base for my child?
All children are referred to Christ the King's Orchard by Wiltshire Local Authority and it is through them that our placements are made. Each child will have an Education, Health, Care Plan in place in which their primary area of need is identified as Speech and Language.
What do I do now?
To find out more about Christ the King's Orchard, please feel free to contact us to arrange a visit and an informal chat.
Christ the King RC Primary School,
Earls Court Road,
Amesbury,
Salisbury,
Wiltshire.
SP4 7LX
Telephone:- 01980 622039
e-mail: office@ctk.thedcet.com
To find out more, visit you can visit our class pages for the Resource Base here.