Consultation on the proposal to extend
the age range of
Notton House Special School
Commitment to Consultation:
Bristol City Council is committed to listening and responding to citizens’ views.
When the council consults it will provide clear and balanced background
information to help you reach a view. The council will allow time for you to
consider information and will make it clear how you can submit your views.
After the consultation has closed the council will publish feedback on the range of
views expressed and on how these have been used to inform decisions that are
made. In return, the council asks that you keep your response short and to the
point; that you make it clear whether you are responding individually or on behalf
of an organisation or group; and that you respect other people’s views, even
when they are different from your own.
This document aims to:


Explain why we are proposing to change the age range of Notton House
Special School.
Provide an opportunity for parents, pupils, governors, staff, the community
and others to comment on the proposals before decisions are taken.
Please send your views on the proposal using the on-line response form at
www.bristol.gov.uk. You can also respond by letter or e-mail. Please reply by 12th
April 2013 to:
Ian Bell
Place Planning Manager
Bristol City Council
P.O. Box 57
BRISTOL
BS99 7EB
By fax to:
0117 9037710
By email to:
[email protected]
This consultation document is available at www.bristol.gov.uk
The information contained in this document is available in other languages and
formats by contacting the School Organisation Team on 0117 9224565.
Introduction
Bristol City Council is proposing that that the age range of pupils that attend
Notton House Special School be changed from 9 to 16 years to 9 to 19 years.
Background:
Notton House is a Community Residential Special School for boys aged 10 to16
who have who special educational needs in relation to their social, emotional and
behavioural difficulties and other associated learning needs.
The school is maintained by Bristol City Council and located near Lacock in
Wiltshire.
The school is currently funded for 48 pupils and has been operating below this
capacity for several years. Historically, all pupils have left Notton House at 16
years of age. Recently, Notton House has offered some education and transition
support to a very small number of pupils and their parents/carers, through a non
residential ‘outreach’ programme.
On reaching 16 years of age several of the most vulnerable pupils are still in
need of continuing educational and residential support to help with their transition
into further education, training, employment and independent living. These
young people have then gone to provision that is not maintained by a local
council and is independent (private) provision. This can be at a considerable cost
to the local authority.
Over recent years several pupils and their parents have bemoaned the fact that
Notton House did not provide post-16 residential support as they felt this would
be more suitable.
Nationally and locally there have been increasing numbers of young people Not
in Education, Employment or Training (known as NEETs). The raising of the
participation age to 17 years in 2013 and 18 in 2015 is part of the government’s
plan to address this issue and necessitates the development of provision and
capacity to meet these new demands.
Proposal:
It is proposed that from September 2013, Notton House would extend its upper
age range to 19 years. There is no proposed increase in student numbers. It is
proposed that a small number of the most vulnerable older pupils, who continue
to need residential provision as part of their educational provision, would live in a
post 16 unit and if possible progress into independent living within one of the two
on site houses.
This post 16 provision would:

increase Bristol provision and offer choice to pupils and parents

result in greater efficiency in the use of resources and continuity of
delivery.

decrease the need for non maintained or independent provision

decrease this likelihood of young people who are NEETs, by providing a
familiar, safe and supported learning environment.

offer targeted support to most vulnerable pupils

extend links and partnerships within colleges and vocational providers
extending curriculum and learning opportunities

support the development of independent living skills and support transition
back into the home and community
Opportunity to discuss the proposal
School representatives together with officers from Bristol City Council will be
available at the following times if you wish to discuss the proposal.
Parents - Thursday 21st March at the parents evening
Staff – Friday 22nd March at the staff meeting
Local residents and any other interested parties – 9th April (5.45 pm)
What happens next?
Your comments will be taken into account by the City Council when deciding
whether to take the proposal forward to the next ‘statutory’ stage. At the end of
the consultation period a report will be prepared summarising the views
expressed. If the Council decides to adopt the proposals, the legal process is that
the Local Authority will publish notices before the end of April proposing to
change to the age range. There will then be a six week period for people to make
representations, with a final decision as soon as possible after this.
Please complete the attached response form and return it to the Ian Bell,
Place Planning Manager by 12 April 2013.
Consultation on proposal to extend the age range of Notton House School
Consultation Response Sheet
Please send your views on the proposal by completing this form. Contact details are given below.
The form is also available at www.bristol-cyps.org.uk. Please continue on another sheet, if
necessary. Your response needs to be received by 12 April 2013 and should be sent to:
Ian Bell, Place Planning Manager, Children & Young People’s Services, Bristol City
Council, PO Box 57, Bristol BS99 7EB
E-mail: [email protected]
1. Do you support the proposal to extend the age range of Notton House School?
□ □
Yes
No
Please use the space below to comment on the proposal or raise any issues relating to it.
Under national legislation and local policy, the LA is required to ensure that no particular groups
of pupils are adversely affected by the proposals, so you are asked to consider the following:
2. Do you think there are any implications for race equality
3. Do you think there are any implications for access or disability equality
4. Do you think there are any implications for children with special needs
Please comment as necessary on the three questions above.
□ No□
Yes□ No□
Yes□ No□
Yes
The following questions are asked to allow responses to be monitored in order to promote
equality of opportunity and eliminate unlawful discrimination, in line with current legislation. All
information will remain confidential.
5.
Are you responding on behalf of a group or organisation? Yes
□
No
□
If yes, what?
6.
Please tell us about yourself – are you:
A parent?
□
Please indicate the age(s) of your child(ren)
Which school(s) do he/she/they attend?
A member of the community?
□
Have you a particular interest in the school?
If so, what?
A member of staff?
A governor?
□
□
Teacher
□
Support staff
□