Special Schools, Special Needs and "Service Areas"
As part of the "development" of the provision for special educational needs in Islington, four "Service Areas" are to be set up. These are to be centred on the special schools which have the expertise in these areas and who, it is anticipated, will manage the provision for that area of SEN across the borough.
The Education Committee decided in December to put the proposal to close both Harborough and Rosemary Schools out to statutory consultation. A new school will be opened (Harmary, Roseborough?) which will split onto two mainstream sites at Holloway and Hungerford Schools. This school will then be the centre for the provision for autistic spectrum disorder and profound and multiple learning difficulties. There are a number of outstanding issues to be addressed, such as whether these mainstream schools are to take all those children with ASD or PMLD that are " included", the provision of services to these sites and various practical arrangements. To see the NASUWT response to the initial consultation click here.
Consultation has begun (Jan 2002) on moving Richard
Cloudesley School to two mainstream sites. A primary one at Morelands Schools, which could
lose playground space, and another secondary site. The secondary site could be at
Islington Green, Islington Arts and Media, Highbury Grove or the new Church of England
School which is being discussed. Previously Islington Green School had been considered
most likely.
Richard Cloudesley School would then be the main provider of services for physical
disabilities and sensory impairment in Islington. It would continue to take students from
neighbouring boroughs, such as Hackney which has closed its special schools.
The proposals are far from clear at the moment and we query whether there is likely to be a strong enough proposal to take to formal consultation in April as has been suggested.
It is hoped that money from the sale of the site, which borders the Barbican, will be kept within Islington special education.
Update May 2002: after the consultation, the original timetable has been moved back to await the production of a more substantial proposal late in the Autumn term.