Item 08 - Appendix 1 - Minutes from Public Meetings - October 2022
West Dunbartonshire Council · 8 March 2023
Back to Educational Services Committee — 8 March 2023 and its agenda
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APPENDIX 1 WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL PUBLIC CONSULTATION MEETING (ONLINE) Tuesday 25 October 2022 – 4.00 p.m. ATTENDING: Laura Mason (LM), Chief Education Officer Claire Cusick (CC), Senior Education Officer Kathryn Gallagher (KG) – Head Teacher Linda McAlister (LMcA), Education Support Officer Michelle Lynn (ML), Assets Co-Ordinator Sheila Brown (SB), HMI Education Scotland No attendees
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WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL STATUTORY CONSULTATION PUBLIC MEETING Thursday 25 October 2022 – 7.00 p.m. held in St. Martin’s Primary School Present: Laura Mason Chief Education Officer Claire Cusick Senior Education Officer Julie McGrogan Senior Education Officer Michelle Lynn Assets Co-Ordinator Sheila Brown Education Scotland In Attendance: 12 members of the public and 3 representatives from the senior management team from St. Martin’s Primary Welcome and Introduction Laura Mason opened the meeting and welcomed the members of the public in attendance to the statutory consultation meeting. Laura Mason introduced herself and the Council Officers in attendance and outlined the format of the meeting. Purpose of Meeting Laura Mason confirmed that the purpose of the meeting is to consider the proposal to establish a new school providing education for young people with additional support needs which would be located in the former Riverside ELC premises from August 2024. Laura outlined that the public meeting is part of the formal statutory consultation process required for the introduction of a new school, and further confirmed that the Council follows the guidance from the Archdiocese on “Shared Campus Arrangements”. Laura Mason explained that there will be 2 separate schools, with 2 separate entrances and each school would have its own senior management team. We are aware of historical issues with car parking / and drop off points within the site and Michelle Lynn will provide further information on this. There will also be an opportunity for those attending to ask questions. Laura Mason outlined that as a Council we are committed to improving the learning estate. In March 2022 Council approved the expansion of the school learning estate to meet projected needs of the ASN sector. Choices and Kilpatrick schools will be expanded and this can be done without the need for statutory consultation. Laura Mason confirmed that the reason Riverside site is proposed for the ASN School is because it is owned by the Council, can be easily refurbished and adapted,
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and has outdoor space. As the proposal, if approved, would involve the opening of a new school and change to the use of the current building, the Council is required to carry out a consultation process as detailed in the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010. The 2010 Act requires the education authority to undertake a robust process to allow views of statutory consultees to be put forward and considered. The consultation is open until midnight on 11 November, and anyone wishing to make their views on the proposal known can do so in a number of ways including: online survey (this asks whether you are in favour of the proposal - yes or no), by phone, in writing, or by email. Sheila Brown from Education Scotland will undertake meetings with parents/children from St. Martin’s and parents of children who would use the new school. At the end of the consultation period all documents and views obtained through the consultation process are collated and a report is submitted to Education Scotland, and they will write an independent report and respond to Laura Mason. A report including recommendation will be submitted to the Education Services Committee in March 2023 to make a final decision. Car Parking / Drop Off Michelle Lynn distributed a document detailing the red line boundary for the site. Michelle advised that this was an indicative plan which would be further developed. She explained that the known problems at the site with car parking, drop-off points and the turning area were considered. Additional land is available from demolished building and would accommodate wider car parking area. Questions / Comments Laura Mason opened the meeting for questions from those in attendance. Q. Have concern with a dual campus school. The school roll within St. Martin’s is low and could this proposal affect numbers within the primary school? Could St. Martin’s get pushed out? A. There is no intention to undermine St. Martin’s Primary school. The new school would accommodate around 36 children, from across the authority who would transition from their existing school settings to S1 when the new school opens. This would be a shared campus and not a dual school, and would allow us to make use of space not used by St. Martin’s. The site has good grounds for outdoor use and good access. The school would enable young children to access the curriculum to provide them with the skills they need, and provide a seamless learning experience from primary to secondary curriculum. Our existing ASN schools (Choices and Kilpatrick) work with their local schools where they can. Comment: There could be an unintentional consequence from ignorance and the Council need to publicise and explain more about this. There needs to be stability for parents within St. Martin’s.
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A. The expansion of the ASN Learning Estate to meet projected needs is good news, and if the proposal is approved by Committee yes it would be publicised. Q. Concern in relation to strict school uniform policy within the primary school, and the ASN School being in the same building without having to wear a uniform. A. We would try to promote the wearing of a uniform within the new school, whilst addressing the needs of the severe and complex learners who will attend. Comment: Uniform is not promoted within school it is policy. As a parent with a child in ASN I would want children to be treated as normal part of society and not separate. It would not set a good example if no uniform. A. Within ASN setting we try to promote wearing school uniform. There can be some complex issues and this means the need for flexibility. Children would be expected to wear the uniform but some children need different support. The children transitioning to the school already wear uniform and this expectation would continue. Comment: Understand the differing needs of children, would not want different standards. Q. I have 3 children, 1 with additional support needs. With different entrances would there be something in place to stop children wandering around? What would stop children within the ASN School going into the areas for St. Martin’s as the building is attached? A. The design for the building will ensure that this does not happen. There will be an additional security door, each school would have their own toilets and areas. This will be a refurbishment not just an upgrade. The layout will be different from the layout used for Riverside early learning childcare centre. Comment: There was a shared gym hall which the nursery children had to walk through and would have concern for younger children if sharing gym hall. This would be timetabled, and children would be supervised and there is very good senior management teams. This is still at an early stage and the finer detail of the school day / curriculum for the new school has not being finalised. There is outdoor space that would be used, and also the gym at Choices School would be used for some curriculum activities. Comment: It is unfair to be asked to consult if final details are not available. A. The purpose of the consultation is to allow us to consider concerns and opinions raised through the consultation process. These will all be given full consideration and responses to concerns or questions will be included in reports. Q. Will there be separate management teams?
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A. Yes, discrete management teams operating as separate establishments. The shared campus also provides the opportunity to work together at times. Q. Will there need to be additional catering/facilities staff for the children in the new school? A. Unfortunately we are unable to answer at this time as facilities comes under a different service. This will be discussed with the service head Amanda Graham. Close of Meeting Laura Mason thanked everyone for attending and reminded those attending that views on the consultation can be made through the online survey, by email letter, phone or through an informal chat and you have until 11 November to submit your response. The record of this meeting will be made publicly available.
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