Coventry City Council - Education and Learning One Strategic Plan

Coventry City Council

Education and Learning

One Strategic Plan

2019 - 2025

 
 
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Contents 
0 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 3 
1. Coventry’s Education and Learning Vision .......................................................... 3 
2. Statutory Context ...................................................................................................... 3 
3. Coordinated Strategic approach ............................................................................ 4 
Key strategic priorities .................................................................................................. 6 
Maintaining Available Capacity ................................................................................... 7 
1 School Admissions .................................................................................................... 8 
2 Home to School transport ........................................................................................ 8 
Funding .......................................................................................................................... 9 
Housing Developments ............................................................................................. 11 
Providing School Places ............................................................................................ 13 
1 School expansions .................................................................................................. 13 
1.1 Partnership working ................................................................................... 14 
1.2 Size ........................................................................................................... 14 
2 New schools ............................................................................................................. 14 
0 Coventry Context ..................................................................................................... 16 
1. Characteristics of Coventry provision for children ............................................. 16 
1.1 Academisation ........................................................................................... 16 
2 Special Schools ............................................................................................ 16 
3  Population Context ................................................................................................. 17 
4 EHCP’s (Education Health and Care Plans) ....................................................... 18 
5 Early Years ............................................................................................................... 19 
6 Primary Context ....................................................................................................... 21 
Future Need ................................................................................................................. 22 
1 Primary ...................................................................................................................... 22 
2 Secondary ................................................................................................................. 24 
3 SEND Provision ....................................................................................................... 27 
4 Proposed Strategic SEN Plan ............................................................................... 36 
4.1 SEND (Phase 1) ................................................................................................... 36 
4.2 SEND (Phase 2) – 2019 ...................................................................................... 37 
4.3 SEND (Phase 3) 2020 onwards ......................................................................... 38 
Post 16......................................................................................................................... 39 
Alternative Provision (AP) ...................................................................................... 41 
Appendices ...................................................................................................................... 42 

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1.0 Introduction

1.1. Coventry’s Education and Learning Vision

In this context, the One Strategic Plan will help schools, parents, council staff, local

partners and stakeholders understand how Coventry City Council plans to provide school

places to ensure that all children and young people thrive in Coventry schools and settings

throughout their education, wherever they live.

This document sets out the principles underpinning school place planning; the ways in

which places will be delivered, the information used to inform this delivery, and the way

work is conducted to deliver high quality, accessible school places for all learners.

1.2. Statutory Context

Coventry City Council (CCC) has a legal duty under Section 14 of the Education Act 1996,

to ensure sufficient school places and fair, appropriate access to education. It is the

Council’s role to plan, commission and organise school places in a way that raises

standards, manages supply and demand and creates a diverse infrastructure. This enables

the Council to:

• ensure sufficient schools and places in a locality;

• secure sufficient early years & childcare places;

• ensure sufficient post 16 provision;

• provide appropriate education provision for children with special educational

needs and disabilities;

• promote high education standards;

• ensure fair access to educational opportunity;

• promote the fulfilment of every child’s education potential;

Coventry’s Children and Young People 2018 plan sets out the outcomes which

organisations in Coventry will work together to deliver so they can provide the

best support possible for children, young people and their families.

There are four key priorities within the plan:

▪ Early help

▪ Be healthy

▪ Stay safe

▪ Education, training and employment

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• promote diversity and parental choice.

With the Council being statutorily responsible for commissioning school places in all

schools, including Academies and Free Schools, these are considered equally in the City

Council’s planning of school places.

This strategy provides, for the longest possible planning horizon, until September 2023 for

Primary and September 2025 for Secondary, to ensure that need is anticipated and met in

a transparent, objective, cost effective and sustainable way. The purpose behind the One

Strategic Plan was to provide political leadership for an annual review and audit of the

school places being delivered.

1.3. Coordinated Strategic approach

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been established in order to ensure

partnership commitment between the City Council and Coventry Secondary Schools which

will support the strategic plan for the delivery of additional school places 2018/19 to

2024/2025. This approach will be rolled out to primary and special to mitigate or meet

demand through a partnership strategy.

This partnership commitment signifies a statement of intent to collaborate and work in

partnership to achieve the best possible outcomes for children and young people in

Coventry, ensure the sustainability of Coventry schools, and to enable the City Council to

meet its statutory obligations.

The MOU has established a partnership commitment concerning the below principles:

1. The Council and all Coventry schools have a shared interest in ensuring all pupils

have access to good quality local provision.

2. School organisation issues rarely affect schools in isolation; therefore, strong LA/

school partnerships are important to understanding the impact of school organisation

decisions.

3. A partnership approach is therefore required to create the strategic plan based on

a set of agreed partnership principles:

• Collective moral purpose & accountability;

• Openness & transparency;

• Expansion & investment of existing schools where possible and relevant –

against agreed criteria – as set out in point 4.

• Working with current partners; and

• Never knowingly undermining another school.

These principles will underpin the way we work together and how we create the plan.

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4. A basic requirement of this strategy is that it ensures the right number of school

places to meet pupil’s needs, in the right locations, at the time they are needed.

Commissioning additional school places at existing schools will therefore be assessed

against the following criteria:

• Net Capacity. We will wherever possible seek to expand schools in whole forms

of entry;

• Current performance of school – LA or Ofsted categorisation. Guidance on

school organisation is clear that outcomes should lead to school improvement

and increased attainment levels;

• The location of the school relative to the expected pupil need. It is desirable for

schools to be at the heart of the community that they serve in order to provide

easy access to their facilities by children, young people and their families, and

the resident community;

• Current size of school – maximum 10 forms of entry and minimum 7 forms of

entry where possible;

• Popularity of the school. We will seek to commission additional places, when

needed, at schools with high levels of parental preference in the locality, looking

closely at first choices and those schools that are oversubscribed;

• Physical ability of school to expand including any site or potential planning

constraints;

• Cost of expansion. It will be important to ensure that any proposals represent

good value for money and are in keeping with available capital funds. All school

buildings and estates in the City should be of the highest quality within the

resources available;

• Diversity of provision. Coventry has a broad variety of provision, with both

voluntary-aided, trust schools, in addition to a large number of academies of

various types. The LA seeks to maintain or increase levels of diversity and choice

for parents wherever possible. In considering school planning, the aim will be to

maintain the balance of denominational provision, unless parental preferences

via the admissions process provide evidence that change is required. In

considering places at voluntary aided schools the LA has a strong relationship

with the appropriate Diocesan and Church Authorities, and we regard this

partnership working as implicit to good planning;

• SEN/ Inclusion. Wherever possible any school changes should seek to promote

greater inclusion for those pupils having SEN and/or disabilities, by providing

specialist provision within /linked to mainstream schools or academies. The

benefits of this approach are that it; maximises the opportunity for children and

young people to be included within their local community, minimises journey

times to and from school and makes the optimal use of the revenue funding

available to support such individuals or groups.

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• Governing Body/ Trustees support. Proposals will normally require careful

negotiation with schools and their governors to align aspirations for

development. Where proposals are subject to statutory notice processes we will

ensure that all prescribed consultees have the opportunity to have their say

before any decisions are taken by the LA.

It is therefore intended to develop through this agreement, a spirit of co-operation between

the Council, governing bodies and school leadership teams that will help all parties to

achieve a fair and open way forward to meet the education needs of local families and their

children.

2 Key strategic priorities

Where possible, we will consult with all schools and decide upon the most cost-effective

way forward.

We are committed to ensuring all schools are kept informed with regards to long term

school planning. We will, where possible, design buildings which enable schools to be

flexible in the longer-term regarding use of buildings and grounds.

Each year we will communicate to all schools our proposals for new schools, expansions

and the long-term demand by area. Schools will be invited to comment and declare an

interest in expansion.

We are committed, where expansions and funds allow, to address the following areas

• Local places for local children

We are committed to providing school places for children in their local community whenever

possible.

• Removal of half forms of entry by increasing or decreasing (where

appropriate) schools PAN

In order to provide schools with stability when organising classes, we will look to remove

half forms of entry, where possible. A number of schools in the City are operating with half

forms of entry (e.g. admit 45 or other multiples of 15) this often requires the school to

organise into mixed age classes in order to provide financial viability towards covering the

cost of a full time teacher. Whilst it is possible to operate in this manner, it is more

challenging for teachers and can be unpopular with parents. The local authority will look to

remove half forms of entry where possible, particularly through expansion programmes.

• Increase 1 form of entry (FE) to 2 forms of entry (FE)

When expansion is required, if possible and appropriate we will look to expand schools to

2 (FE) to provide better financial stability.

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• Incorporate SEND facilities within mainstream schools

To make best use of education facilities and increase inclusion for pupils with Special

Educational Needs and Disabilities, we are developing schemes to include SEND facilities

within mainstream schools and expand capacity.

• Address safeguarding issues relating to buildings and grounds

We are committed to addressing any safeguarding within schools relating to the school

building or grounds and will address any issues identified in a timely manner to ensure the

safety of children in Coventry schools

• Address buildings defects and Equality Act noncompliance

Where funds allow, we will address any identified defects. All school buildings in Coventry

should be accessible to all and up to an equal standard.

3 Maintaining Available Capacity

Education planning areas are used by the LA to assess the supply and demand of school

places. The areas are proposed by the LA and agreed by the Education Skills Funding

Agency (ESFA). Any changes to planning areas must be agreed through this process.

Coventry City Council applied to change its planning areas in February 2018, these were

accepted and approved in April 2018. Please see attached appendices 1-4 which detail

the planning area boundaries and in which planning areas schools are sited. Whilst

Education use these areas to plan, there is recognition that the boundaries are not rigid

and there is significant movement across these boundaries as parental preference and

flexibility changes each year.

There is a need to maintain a certain amount of capacity within a given area to allow for

flexibility to meet parental preference as much as possible, enable in-year transfers and

allow families moving to an area to be able to secure a place at a local school or for each

of their children at the same school.

The DfE previously recommended that Local Authorities should retain between 4% and

8% capacity per planning areas as surplus to accommodate ‘In Year’ applications/growth.

This guidance lapsed in 2014, and now the DfE recommend that LA should monitor its own

capacity to reasonable levels. Within Coventry LA this figure is determined as 3% for

Secondary and 4% for Primary.

This is due to high levels of In-Year variance the city is experiencing. For the most part this

3-4% capacity will be measured within a planning area. However, Education recognise that

where there are planning areas with a low Published Admission Number (PAN) or

oversubscribed schools, 4% capacity may be unattainable or lead to issues with financial

The School Admissions (Infant Class Sizes) (England) Regulations 2012, Section 4.—(1) states that ‘No infant (Year

Reception, Year 1, and Year 2) class may contain more than 30 pupils while an ordinary teaching session is

conducted by a single school teacher.’

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viability in the school. It is also noted that due to the size and nature of the City, particularly

in relation to secondary pupils where freedom of movement is more accessible, if a

planning area is consistently oversubscribed it is unlikely to be able to maintain this level

of surplus capacity. Similarly, if a planning area contains less popular schools, the surplus

margin may be much larger. Therefore the 4% surplus will also be monitored as a city-wide

aggregate.

This policy has been factored in the planning and analysis set out further on in this strategy.

Current and forecast capacity and how it aligns to the maintaining capacity policy is

available within Appendix 3 (primary) and Appendix 4 (secondary).

3.1 School Admissions

All aspects of school admissions are based on the School Admissions Code. It governs

the way all schools set their admissions oversubscription criteria, ensures compliance with

local co-ordinated schemes, makes offers of places and allows for school admissions

appeals. It also places the local authority as a regulator for all other admission authorities

within its boundaries, with the expectation that the local authority will report those

admission authorities whose admission arrangements are not in line with the School

Admissions Code to the school’s adjudicator.

The School Admissions Code places a requirement on all local authorities to publish a ‘co-

ordinated scheme’ and manage the admissions process. This booklet is published and

made available to all parents, via the Council website, and sets out how to apply for a

school place for

• Primary (Year R)

• Junior (Year 3)

• Secondary (Year 7)

• University Technical Colleges (Year 10)

For all children, the authority will try to offer a place at the school listed first. Parents are

advised to read the admissions policies of all the schools requested so they can judge the

likelihood, or not, of being offered a place at the school they most prefer. When a school

receives more applications than it has places available, we need a fair and consistent way

of deciding how to offer the places available.

3.2 Home to School transport

Coventry City Council provides home to school transport to pupils in accordance with

national legislation. In instances where a place at a school named as a parental preference,

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cannot be offered to a pupil and the alternative place offered is above the distance criteria

set out below (or use of a walking route that is deemed ‘unsafe’ is required), CCC will

provide transport to the alternative school.

Pupils up until the age of eight: 2 miles

Pupils aged eight and over: 3 miles

Please click here for more information on Home to School Transport

4 Funding

The provision of additional school places usually requires Capital investment into the

school. There are currently several avenues for funding additional school places. This is

usually provided as a grant through the DfE or by requesting contributions from new

developments. The following section examines the different sources through which funding

can be claimed.

• Basic Need Grant funding

Capital allocations to meet projected shortfalls in provision are provided by the Education

Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) to all local authorities based on the data provided in the

annual School Capacity return (SCAP).

This funding is required to help fulfil the Local

Authorities duty to make sure there are enough school places for children in their local

area. The level of funding is determined by the demand for school places in the city. This

return informs the ESFA of the expected change in pupil numbers over the next few years,

the current capacity of schools to meet those numbers and the planned changes to that

capacity. There is pressure on capital budgets for new school places across the country

and it is likely that allocations will continue to be limited for the foreseeable future. It is

important, therefore, to consider value for money in the process of commissioning school

places.

Secured Funding

£14,665,000

19/20 Allocation

£3,913,000

20/21 Allocation

£6,237,000

Total Funding

£24,815,000

The Chancellor, in October 2019, confirmed details of the Spending Round. The Spending

Round focused on day-to-day departmental resource budgets for 2020-21 (as well as a 3-

year settlement for core schools’ resource funding as an exception). It did not consider

departmental capital budgets, as these have already been set for 2020-21. A full multi-year

The forecast pupil numbers methodology for the SCAP return can be found in Appendix 7.

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spending review will follow in 2020. One practical consequence for local authorities is that

the DfE are not able to announce Basic Need allocations for places needed in 2021

onwards. This uncertainty will have implications for the way that local authorities plan and

deliver basic need projects.

• Section 106 (S106) funding / Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding

The SCAP return asks local authorities to provide forecasts of pupil numbers that exclude

pupils brought to the area by new housing development: there is an expectation that

provision for these pupils will be funded through contributions provided by the developers.

The ESFA expect the infrastructure required as a result of housing developments to be

mitigated by S106 funding/ CIL funding.

The Local Authority will seek to access funding from developers towards providing

additional education provision, through the expansion of existing schools or the opening of

new schools, when the predicted impact of a new housing development creates a shortfall.

Where new housing development creates a demand for school places in excess of those

available, the LA will work with developers to ensure that the appropriate contributions for

the provision of additional school places are given. Where a housing development yields a

large amount of pupils and justifies new provision, it may be necessary to secure land. The

land would be used for education purposes, to safeguard the LA’s statutory responsibility

to provide sufficient school places.

This will continue to be achieved through Section 106 agreements. Education will seek the

maximum contribution from developers to support the provision of additional places that

we believe is proportionate to the impact of the development. It is critical that developers

make a financial contribution to school places as, without it, the LA will be unable to deliver

the required provision. Section 106 also includes asking for Primary and Secondary SEN

contributions to aid in commissioning additional special school places as a result of the

development.

Given the housing trajectory provided by the Local Plan as to how many dwellings the

Council plans to deliver the maximum contribution

that will be requested is as follows.

Funding

Received in

Total Primary

Contribution

Total

Secondary

Contribution

Total SEN

Contribution

All full copy of the letter received from Lord Agnew can be found Appendix documents

The methodology for the pupil yield calculation is included in appendix 2.

Please note where requests cannot be justified or will not be Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) compliant, the

funds received may be lower than outlined in this table.

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Financial Year

beginning

Apr-19

£879,314

£680,739

£58,336

Apr-20

£2,332,623

£1,805,849

£154,752

Apr-21

£3,871,422

£2,997,142

£256,840

Apr-22

£6,869,637

£5,318,272

£455,749

Apr-23

£5,929,260

£4,590,260

£393,362

Apr-24

£5,410,221

£4,188,435

£358,927

Apr-25

£5,703,325

£4,415,348

£378,373

Apr-26

£5,147,648

£3,985,159

£341,508

Apr-27

£5,685,006

£4,401,166

£377,157

Apr-28

£5,343,051

£4,136,434

£354,471

Apr-29

£5,343,051

£4,136,434

£354,471

Apr-30

£5,251,456

£4,065,524

£348,395

• Centrally funded new schools via the Government’s Free School programme.

• Capital Receipts – the sale of former education settings deemed surplus to

requirements can be ring fenced to education, in exceptional circumstances.

• Capital contributions from individual school budgets and/or bids by Academies for

‘Capital Infrastructure Funding’ (CIF).

• Capital funding allocations for ‘Voluntary Aided’ schools (LCVAP funding).

• Special Provision Fund

The Special Provision fund allocations are designed to create new places and improve

facilities at existing schools. This funding is primarily intended to develop provision for

pupils with more complex special educational needs (i.e. an EHC plan or a statement of

special educational needs) in mainstream and/or special schools.

5 Housing Developments

The Coventry Local Plan 2011-2031 has followed a period of public examination and

consultation on proposed modifications. The Inspector has now published the reports

covering the Local Plan and City Centre Area Action Plan. These have been approved and

the Council ratified the plan on the 5

of December 2017.

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The Local Plan calls for significant development in the North and West of the city, with a

total of 24,600 additional homes built across the city by 2031, the end of the plan period.

With a further 17,800 homes being built on Warwickshire land based on an agreed

redistribution mechanism with the various districts and boroughs. From 2017 onwards

Coventry City Council plans to build 1,300 homes per annum within the city of which 600

per annum homes are to be classed as affordable.

New housing developments can create additional demand for existing and new education

facilities. This new housing is estimated to lead to over 13,200 additional children across

all age ranges. There are also significant numbers of housing developments receiving

planning permission outside the local plan process, which are already beginning to impact

on local schools. Coventry do not ask for developer contributions on one-bedroom

dwellings, as they are unlikely to generate either primary, secondary or sixth form pupils.

For this reason, Coventry calculate pupil yield from development which is designed for

familial occupation, I.E. 2 bed dwellings and above.

From September 2019, the pupil yield figures for Coventry are follows:

Primary

Secondary

Sixth

Form

Primary

SEND

Secondary

SEND

Early

Years

Pupils generated per 1

eligible dwelling

0.39

0.23

0.04

0.01

0.08

Pupils generated per 100

eligible dwelling

The pupil yield methodology for how these figures have been calculated is included in

appendix 2.

The current rate of housebuilding in Coventry is likely to generate additional school age

pupils. In the north of the city, there are 4000 total homes allocated. The majority of these

are part of the Keresley SUE, on this site is provision and land for a new 2FE primary

school which will cater for the long-term impact of this development with other local primary

schools taking any additional pupils, through school expansions, who will arise from this

development.

In the west of the city, Coventry City Council have managed to secure a parcel of land for

Education within this section of the city. This is part of the Eastern Green development in

the local plan, which is scheduled to commence building works in 2021. The masterplan

for this site contains land for a 3FE primary school.

These figures have been rounded to two decimal places.

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In the south of the city, the Kings Hill development in Warwickshire, c. 4000 dwellings, with

c.1800 dwellings being delivered by 2030. The development is currently scheduled to begin

in 2021, this site currently has plans for primary school(s), and a Secondary education site.

It is expected the development of the secondary school will not begin until c.2025 at the

earliest. Whilst pupils arising from this development will be under Warwickshire’s authority,

they are likely to look at Coventry for school places, particularly whilst the education

provision on site is being developed.

In the east of the city, there is significant regeneration, the redevelopment of Bell Green

and Potter’s Green is nearing completion. Regeneration of housing is difficult to factor into

pupil yield as it essentially a replacement of stock housing, however the mix of housing

does bring changes to the demographic and increasing pupil numbers. The largest housing

development in this part of the city is the Walsgrave development, near the hospital.

6 Providing School Places

There are two consistent methods for providing additional school places, through either

school expansions or providing new schools.

6.1 School expansions

Where a predicted shortfall of places has been identified, the most common solution is to

expand an existing school. We will consult with all schools in the area and decide upon the

most cost-effective way forward after considering expansion opportunities available within

various school sites and costs.

There are several factors taken into consideration as set out below:

Criteria

How is this Measured

Source

Access –

Serving Area

of Need

Pupil number forecasts.

Data Team / Education &

Learning

Locality of schools in relation to demand.

Education & Learning

Long term planning applications in the adjoining

area.

Planning Team /

Education & Learning

Proposed admission arrangements.

Education & Learning

Suitability of

site and

buildings for

expansion

Net capacity of schools.

Property Information

Team/Academies

Size of site

Property Information

Team

Capacity of existing M&E to accommodate

expansion requirements.

Property Information

Team / School

See 2.9.2 for further explanation.

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Planning issues including highways and transport

impact.

Highways / Other

Potential for the site to bring investment that

would support the development.

Education & Learning

Barriers to expansion including listed buildings,

grant funding conditions, third-party impact.

Education & Learning

Demonstrable commitment to making maximum

use of the existing school buildings.

School

Leadership

capacity &

Quality of

provision

OFSTED reports.

Education & Learning

School position in terms of pupil attainment.

Education & Learning

Capacity to maintain standards and manage

change during build programme.

Education & Learning /

School

Consequential

impact of

project

Impact on pupil numbers at other local provision.

Education & Learning

Potential for expansion project to improve

condition need of existing buildings within funding

envelope.

Property Information

Team

Current number of forms of entry.

Education & Learning

Early Years provision.

Education & Learning

6.1.1 Partnership working

There is an expectation that small schools or schools with known budget pressures will

work in partnership or collaborate with suitable partner schools whenever possible, to

achieve economies of scale, for example: through federation and shared

staffing/resources. This may help to maintain financial viability and remain sustainable

longer term.

6.1.2 Size

The minimum size for a primary school will vary across local authority borders; however, it

is an important consideration when looking to ensure the long-term viability of Coventry

City Schools. When looking at expanding primary school provision, the local authority will

look to expand primary schools from 1FE to 2FE where there is demand for places, to help

with the financial viability of those schools. Where new schools are required, the preferred

model will be for 2FE primaries, although specific context may require smaller or larger

schools to be provided.

6.2 New schools

The need for new schools often arises when there are no opportunities to expand existing

local schools or where new housing developments are expected to bring large numbers of

new families to an area, where no existing provision can accommodate the influx of people.

See 2.9.1 for further explanation.

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When the need to establish a new school arises, there is a presumption in law that these

schools will be Free Schools. The role of the local authority is to identify a site for the school

and to seek applications to run the new school from potential sponsors. The final decision

on who should sponsor a new school is taken by the Regional Schools Commissioner

(RSC)

, whilst the RSC now has a requirement to consult with the LA on any new free

school proposal, the overall decision is outside of local authority control.

It is the responsibility of the local authority to seek sponsors for these new schools,

therefore if a new school is required, the local authority would look to engage with potential

suitable organisations including existing high-quality providers within Coventry. The council

intends to work collaboratively with the ESFA and office of the Regional Schools

Commissioner and other external providers if new school(s) are required.

In order to provide sufficient Early Years places across Coventry, where existing provision

is at capacity, all new build schools will include facilities for Early Years provision, and SEN

provision. For Secondary, similar inclusion facilities will be provided.

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7.0 Coventry Context

7.1. Characteristics of Coventry provision for children

7.1.1 Academisation

There are currently 86 primary schools in Coventry. This includes the Primary phase of the

Seva School. The academy conversion process which was initially popular with Secondary

Schools is now starting to spread to Primary schools as Multi-Academy Trusts expand and

encompass more schools across wider areas. These are broken down as follows.

Table 3: Academies, maintained schools and schools in process, a comparison by

phase (primary, secondary, special, all-through and other)

School Type

process

Maintained

Free

Schools

Voluntary

Controlled

Schools

Voluntary

Aided

Schools

Academies

Total

(all

schools

of type

county)

Primary (inc.

Inf, Jun, Pri)

Secondary

Special (all

types)

All-through

7.2 Special Schools

Coventry maintains six special schools and commissions places at two special academies

within the local area, offering the following provision:

School

Type of Need

Age Range

Castlewood

*generic learning difficulties

Primary: 4 to 11

Three Spires

Academy

general learning difficulties and

autism

Primary: 4 to 11

Tiverton

*generic learning difficulties

Primary: 4 to 11

Sherbourne

*generic learning difficulties

All age: 4 to 19

Baginton

*generic learning difficulties

Secondary: 11 to 19

Please note information correct as of the 17/05/2018.

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River Bank

Academy

*generic learning difficulties

Secondary: 11 to 19

Corley

Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC)

Secondary: 11 to 18

Woodfield

Social Emotional Mental Health

(SEMH)

All age: 4 to 16

* referred to locally as ‘broad spectrum’

7.3 Population Context

The 2016 Mid-Year estimates 353,000 people live within the City boundaries. (2016 Mid-

Year ONS estimates) This number is only expected to continue to increase, due to the

young demographic of the city, 20% of the city’s population are aged 20-30 and higher

levels on inwards migration.

However, the birth cohort is starting to stabilise to more regular levels, this means the

pressure on primary places is starting to ease, although there are still localised areas of

pressure within distinct planning areas of the city. The transient nature of a city’s population

and the social mobility of its residents mean that births, and GP registration data will be

updated quarterly from the NHS trust, so that Coventry City Council can more effectively

track pre-school cohorts and how they move around the city. This social mobility, and any

unprecedented migration to areas of the city may lead to increased localised pressure

which will require monitoring to ensure that additional school places are not immediately

planned for when it is known that the pressure will dissipate as the families migrate again.

3500

3700

3900

4100

4300

4500

4700

4900

Date of Birth

01/09/2002-31/08/2003

01/09/2003-31/08/2004

01/09/2004-31/08/2005

01/09/2005-31/08/2006

01/09/2006-31/08/2007

01/09/2007-31/08/2008

01/09/2008-31/08/2009

01/09/2009-31/08/2010

01/09/2010-31/08/2011

01/09/2011-31/08/2012

01/09/2012-31/08/2013

01/09/2013-31/08/2014

01/09/2014-31/08/2015

01/09/2015-31/08/2016

01/09/2016-31/08/2017

01/09/2017-31/08/2018

01/09/2018-31/08/2019

Entry to Primary School2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

Birth Cohort

Page 18 of 57

The latest data from the health authorities gives us some key headlines:

• The birth cohort peaked for entry into Reception in September 2016 and, with the

existing housing stock considered, has begun to re-stabilise and in some areas of

the city started to decrease. Although future developments within the local plan may

lead to a future rise in birth rates in the specified locations.

• The current Year 3 is the largest cohort currently in Coventry Primary schools,

September 2023 entry to Secondary, and will severely impact upon the availability

of places within the city.

7.4 EHCP’s (Education Health and Care Plans)

In January 2019, Coventry maintained 2,084 Education Health and Care Plans (EHC

Plans) compared to 1280 in 2014, a growth of 804 or 63% in 6 years. Overall 2.3 % of

Coventry’s school age population have an EHC Plan, which remains lower than Coventry’s

statistical neighbours (2.7%) and the all England average (2.8%).

The growth is attributable to both the number of new first-time assessments, resulting in

an EHC Plan, which has risen by 25% in the last three years and the number of young

people remaining in Further Education with an EHCP. Before 2014, a Statement of Special

Educational Needs would cease at the point a student moved from a school to a college.

However, in September 2014 legislation changed, which meant LAs took over

responsibility for maintaining EHC Plans in colleges until a pupil is aged 25. Approximately

27% of the EHC Plans maintained are for students aged 16 to 25.

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,800

2,000

2,200

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Coventry number of EHCP

Page 19 of 57

7.5 Early Years

Coventry Local Authority carries out a Childcare Sufficiency Assessment in line with its

statutory duties under the Childcare Act 2006 and 2016. The assessment is a

measurement of the nature and extent of the need for, and supply of childcare in each ward

in Coventry. The purpose of the assessment is to help identify where there are current

gaps in the childcare market and propose recommendations. Section 6 of the 2006 Act

gave Local Authorities a new duty of securing, so far as is “reasonably practicable”, that

the provision of local childcare is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents and carers

to enable them to work or undertake education or training leading to employment.

Early years’ education and childcare is provided in Coventry through a nursery school,

school nursery classes and in private, voluntary and independent settings, including child

minders, preschools and day nurseries. The type of provision can be categorised as

follows:

Childcare

on non-

domestic

premises

Childminders

Nursery

classes/

school

Out of

school

provision

Holiday

schemes

Childcare

on school

sites

Independent

school sites

offering early

years

provision

Number

settings

271

Number

of places

4,809

1,754

3,434

n/a

293

n/a

Data as of 1

September 2019

Coventry’s Childcare Sufficiency Assessment 2017/18 sets out the gap analysis and

recommendations for ensuring that sufficient places are made available for families and it

closely aligns to the Schools One Strategic Plan. In summary, childcare provision within

Coventry has continued to grow and quality continues to remain high. Growth has been

needed within the city due to the implementation of the 30 hour extended entitlement offer

for families. This has required targeted development of places through capital expansion

and a focus on partnership working to enable sufficient capacity to meet DFE delivery

targets. The planned significant increase in new housing, employment and retail

development will increase demand for childcare. Coventry local authority has a statutory

duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, sufficient childcare to meet the needs

of working parents and those studying to work, and to secure prescribed early years

provision free of charge. Where parents choose to take-up their early year’s entitlements

for 2, 3 and 4 year olds may change over the next few years. As 30 hours childcare

Information provided by the Coventry Childcare Sufficiency Assessment 2017/18

Page 20 of 57

becomes embedded and new parents become eligible for the early year’s entitlements,

demand may change with parents seeking more flexible childcare provision for example

open for longer hours, stretched across school holidays and to support weekend work.

In order to meet these challenges, achieve the participation targets for Early Education

entitlements and support a good level of development at the end of the Foundation Stage,

the following recommendations will be required and form the basis of the Early Years’

Service work stream action plans.

• To increase capacity of childcare in line with growth and employment to meet

the statutory requirements for all children aged 0-14 years old (and up to 18

years old for children with Special Educational Needs or Disability).

• Assess the variety of options for older children within primary and secondary

during non-school hours including before/after school and holiday provision.

Explore demand and take up of this provision to inform actions in specific areas

of the city. Provide a targeted focus on the quality delivery of services for this

age group.

• Childcare and early year’s provision needs to be considered when new housing

is planned, to ensure any new families moving into the area, or any increase in

overall population, can access childcare and early years provision to meet their

needs. Consider opportunities for Section 106 funding to support capacity

development (contributions from developers towards the costs of providing

community and social infrastructure which are required as a result of new

development taking place).

• Ensure parents are aware of the support available to them to reduce the cost of

childcare including the early year’s entitlements and Tax Free Childcare (TFC).

Encourage settings to register to deliver Tax Free Childcare. Work with

employers and Jobcentre Plus to ensure working parents and those moving into

employment are aware of support to meet the costs of childcare, flexibility

options and to promote childcare settings locally to support choice.

• Further work with providers to support robust assessment of parental demand at

a local level, and to use findings to consider business opportunities to adapt their

offer to meet identified demand. This may include longer days or stretching

delivery across the year.

• Support cluster working between schools to offer sustainable models of delivery

(including provision across the school holidays). Support partnership working

across different types of provision (including sessional provision and

childminders) to ensure parents have access to flexible and stretched provision,

and providers can maximise occupancy to ensure sustainability of provision.

• Continue to increase the take-up of all early education entitlements with a

particular focus on the universal early year’s entitlement for 3 and 4 year olds.

Support opportunities for providers to maximise funding across all early years

Page 21 of 57

entitlements, in order to protect provision for 2 year olds and 3 and 4 year olds

(universal).

• Drive workforce development improvements within the sector to address growth

in services and the decreasing interest in childcare as a career choice within the

sector.

• Promote childminding as a profession in order to increase overall numbers of

childminders across the city in order to reverse the decline in numbers of people

interested in working in this childcare type.

• Investigate possible barriers for parents and providers to the take up and delivery

of provision for children with SEND. Ensure information available for parents

reflects what inclusive provision is on offer across the city.

• Work across the early year’s sector to improve the attainment level for all

children at the end of the foundation stage. Reduce levels of inequality and

narrow the educational gap between those most disadvantaged and their peers.

• Monitor and drive quality improvement of Ofsted outcomes to ensure sufficient

childcare of high quality is available.

An action plan is in place to deliver these recommendations and support management of

the market. Childcare provision needs are ever changing as demand fluctuates from

families. The current focus for Coventry for early years and childcare provision is to sustain

places we have developed over the past 4 years, availability of flexible education

entitlements offers and developing partnership working to enable choice for families across

the city.

7.6 Primary Context

Significant amount of work by the School Improvement team, in liaison with the schools,

has resulted in there being only 6 Ofsted rated ‘Requires Improvement’ or ‘Inadequate’

Coventry Schools. Coventry has been delivering additional primary places since 2008. The

vast majority of these have been OFSTED rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ schools.

The below table highlights the phasing of these expansions and the overall number of

additional places added. The 37.3FE added in permanent format equates to 1120

additional Reception places for children. There were a further 2 bulge classes added at

Edgewick, and at Moseley which temporarily increased capacity in Reception for a single

year before reducing back down to the agreed PAN.

Page 22 of 57

Given the shifting movement of births within Coventry from the Binley and North East of

the city, which has a falling birth rate, towards the North and West of the City where births

are starting to stabilise and, in some areas, continuing to increase. As this cohort moves

through the primary phase, alongside existing primary cohorts, and starts to impact upon

secondary places the level of secondary school places required will rise.

8 Future Need

8.1 Primary

Since 2011 Coventry has undergone a significant primary expansion programme. Circa 37

forms of entry have been added to primary capacity. This coupled with the declining birth

rate means the surplus capacity across primary schools is rising.

The below table breaks down below the rate by catchment area. As can be seen across

the majority of the planning areas, births are declining in Coventry, whilst in certain areas

particularly the West of Coventry the birth rate is continuing to increase.

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Places added as Forms of Entry

Primary Forms of Entry Added

Additional Permanent FE Created in that Year Cumulative FE Added

Page 23 of 57

Year Entering Primary School

PLANNING AREA

PAN

Sep-19

Sep-20

Sep-21

Sep-22

Sep-23

West Central

300

274

264

258

233

296

North West

210

208

219

211

188

222

Longford

510

460

524

484

507

479

East

465

323

345

319

331

312

South

405

332

379

371

349

304

North East

395

352

369

362

335

327

North

315

371

399

356

341

346

West

225

220

224

217

236

202

South East

180

220

203

224

218

200

East Central

555

538

531

496

472

492

Coundon

240

157

133

136

152

144

Tile Hill

195

242

264

238

204

214

North Central

570

625

571

561

569

555

Binley

300

258

241

222

261

216

4865

4580

4666

4455

4396

4309

Given this reduction in birth rate it is likely to have a significant impact upon the number of

surplus school places in the City.

PLANNING AREA

Current Spaces in

Reception in

Planning Area

Difference

between 2019 and

2023 Births

Provisional places

in Reception

available in 2023

West Central

North West

Longford

East

-11

South

-28

North East

-25

107

North

-25

West

-18

South East

-20

East Central

-46

104

Coundon

-13

Tile Hill

-28

North Central

-70

148

Binley

-42

City Wide

472

-271

743

As the above table suggests this will create significant levels of surplus at Reception in

2023. As the DfE recommend have between 4-8% surplus places, having 743 surplus

places in Reception in 2023 will leave Coventry with close to 15% surplus capacity.

We are working towards a sustainable level of surplus places in the city. There are local

fluctuations in birth rates and migration rates which create challenges. It is our intention to

Data correct as of 18/10/19.

Page 24 of 57

ensure sufficient places whilst avoiding oversupply and without exceeding 5% surplus

places within a planning area.

Year

Forecast Level of Surplus/Available Capacity

Primary Planning Area

2019/20

2020/21

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

North

-7%

North Central

13%

18%

19%

20%

21%

East Central

13%

19%

21%

20%

West Central

11%

13%

-7%

Longford

North East

19%

14%

17%

22%

25%

East

-1%

Binley

13%

18%

20%

South East

12%

15%

South

12%

10%

19%

Tile Hill

11%

12%

22%

20%

West

-1%

-5%

-6%

North West

13%

Coundon

12%

City Wide

11%

12%

14%

Given this forecast level of surplus for the plan period, DfE recommendations suggest that

best practise for Coventry would be for schools in the

• South

• North East

• East Central

• Binley

• South East

• South

• Tile Hill

• and, North Central

planning areas to look at potentially temporarily decommissioning places to adjust supply

to meet future reductions in demand. Coventry Local Authority will look to facilitate those

connections between head teachers, governing bodies and school finance to examine

where parties are in agreement over potential reduction of PAN.

Headteachers are encouraged to contact the Local Authority to discuss the PAN of the

school if they are concerned about the number of surplus places the school is likely to hold.

8.2 Secondary

Please see Appendix 1

Page 25 of 57

The large cohort of pupils moving through primary provision is due to impact upon

secondary provision from September 2018. In order to meet the need for additional

provision without providing too much surplus capacity in future years, it is proposed to

expand secondary places using a mixture of temporary ‘bulge’ and permanent expansions.

As set out below, Phase One was presented to Cabinet in October 2018 and outlines the

planned temporary and permanent increases up to 2021. To address the further forecast

shortfall of places between 2022 and 2024, Phase Two outlines the agreement between

the Local Authority and the Coventry Secondary Headteacher Partnership to meet the

additional places required. This will continue to be reviewed annually in line with updated

pupil forecasts.

All schools are required to consult as part of the expansion programme.

Phase One

In September 2018, the LA added an additional 50 places across 5 different secondary

schools. These were temporary increases and did not require any school to expand. The

additional 50 places were accommodated in the below schools:

• Bishop Ullathorne – 10 places

• Blue Coat – 10 places

• Cardinal Newman – 5 places

• Coundon Court – 15 places

• Whitley – 10 places

In September 2019, an additional 8 forms of entry (235 year 7 places) were added using

a mixture of temporary and permanent expansions within existing Coventry schools.

The temporary increases are outlined below:

Caludon Castle increasing PAN from 240 to 270 for September 2019 only.

Foxford increasing PAN from 180 to 185 for September 2019 only.

Lyng Hall increasing PAN from 150 to 180 for September 2019 only.

Sidney Stringer increasing PAN from 210 to 240 for September 2019 only.

The permanent increases are outlined below:

Cardinal Newman increasing PAN from 220 to 250 from September 2019.

Coundon Court increasing PAN from 285 to 345 from September 2019.

President Kennedy increasing PAN from 270 to 300 from September 2019.

Whitley increasing PAN from 160 to 180 from September 2019.

In September 2020, an additional 2 forms of entry (60 year 7 places) are planned using a

mixture of temporary and permanent expansions within existing Coventry schools.

This was agreed separately to Partnership agreement; the school permanently increased their PAN to

265 from September 2018.

Page 26 of 57

The temporary planned increases are outlined below:

President Kennedy increasing PAN from 300 to 330 for September 2020 only.

The permanent planned increases are outlined below:

Barr’s Hill increasing PAN from 131 to 161 from September 2020.

In September 2021, an additional 6.5 forms of entry (199 year 7 places) are planned using

a mixture of temporary and permanent expansions within existing Coventry schools.

The temporary planned increases are outlined below:

West Coventry increasing PAN from 237 to 297 for September 2021 only.

Westwood increasing PAN from 157 to 217 for September 2021 only.

The planned permanent increases are outlined below:

Barr’s Hill increasing PAN from 161 to 180 from September 2021.

Ernesford Grange increasing PAN from 180 to 210 from September 2021.

Finham Park increasing PAN from 240 to 270 from September 2021.

The below table demonstrates the sufficiency position if the additional places are added in

this way:

3500

3700

3900

4100

4300

4500

4700

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028

Rising Secondary School Cohort

PAN Permanent

Temporary Basic need pressure on school places

Forecast pupil numbers (incl. housing)

Page 27 of 57

Phase Two

The above table shows how the Phase One of the capital programme will meet demand.

From September 2022 onwards, with increasing pupils’ numbers, there is an additional

basic need pressure which will require the delivery of a phase 2.

To address the forecast

shortfall of places and provide a sufficient surplus of places city-wide, it is expected that

there will be the following requirement for additional places

• In September 2022, an additional 8 forms of entry (FE) will be needed.

• In September 2023, an additional 10 FE will be needed.

• In September 2024, an additional 6 FE will be needed.

Due to the anticipated decline in pupil numbers from 2025, which is forecast to reduce. It

is expected that the required number of places here will be met by the 2019-2021

permanent expansions. Therefore, the proposal for Phase Two is to use temporary

increases. This solution would allow the Coventry Partnership to future proof by avoiding

an oversupply of places long term and ensuring that no school has a significant amount of

spaces. Proposals for potential options for the phase have been discussed with Secondary

Heads with a formal plan being finalised in December 2019 and brought for political

approval in March 2020.

8.3 SEND Provision

Introduction

The Special Educational Needs & Disability (SEND) School Place Planning Strategy for

Coventry City Council sets the baseline for specialist provision across the city and

summarises a range of factors that are driving the need for change over the short to

medium term.

This strategy gives more in-depth information regarding the current and future SEND pupil

population and outlines the options available to add or make changes to specialist provision

for Coventry pupils. The aim of this strategy is to help the City Council, schools, parents

and the wider community understand the need for specialist provision planning and to

establish future demand. It will provide a basis against which future specialist provision will

be planned.

The agreed key principles for meeting the demand for SEND school places is set out below:

• A whole system approach will be adopted, to secure a continuum of provision that

reflects the continuum of need

This is in addition to the agreed expansions for 2019 – 2021 (Phase One).

Page 28 of 57

• The majority of children with an EHC Plan will have their needs met within a

community mainstream school

• Where possible the current special school(s) estate will be expanded to meet

demand and ensure sustainability

• When additional or new provision is required, this will be secured through utilising

existing vacant or underused education provision

• The condition of existing provision will be addressed to secure minimum standards

and maximise capacity

• The special school offer will negate the need to place out of City because of a

shortfall in local provision

• Consideration of reviewing and extending the age range of existing provision to

address any ‘bottle-necks’ in transition.

The provision strategy to meet the needs of Coventry with SEND includes:

• The further development and review of current enhanced resourced provision

(ERP), which will lead to a range of ERP bases across the primary and secondary

phase that reflects current priority areas of need including ASC (Autistic Spectrum

Condition) and SEMH (Social, Emotional, and Mental Health).

• Prioritisation of the current special school estate to develop it for purpose schools

within the available capital funds. Explore, where possible and advantageous, the

opportunity to move, expand and/or rebuild special schools on alternative sites.

• Increase, where required, special secondary provision within the budget envelope

of the High Needs Block for commissioned places.

Number of

school age

EHCPs

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

1,349

1,321

1,315

1,292

1,280

1,432

1,559

1,724

1,863

2,084

In 2014 the Children and Families Act came into effect, and subsequently the introduction

of the Code of Practice (2014) covering the extension of the age range for special

education needs (SEN) for young people up to and including the age of 25. This also saw

the Education, Health and Care plans (EHC plans) brought into effect to replace the

statements.

The increase in EHC plans in Coventry is displayed in the chart below:

Page 29 of 57

The increase in the number of plans since 2014, is a clear indicator from the Code of

Practice (2014), and the extended age range of 25.

These numbers encompass all pupils with SEND on roll at schools located in Coventry,

including independent schools and pupils that are resident in Coventry but attend schools

outside of Coventry. With the number of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)

increasing over the last few years, this has resulted in an increasing number of children in

high cost Out of City Placements.

National and Local Policy Context

The Government’s vision for children and young people with special educational needs

(SEN) and disabilities is the same as for all children and young people – that they achieve

well, and lead happy and fulfilled lives. The Children and Families Act 2014 places

important statutory responsibilities on local authorities for supporting children and young

people with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities. This is a vital role that local

authorities retain in an increasingly school-led education system and one that requires

long-term strategic planning, informed by detailed local knowledge enhanced through

consultation with parents and carers, and good relationships with local schools.

Local authorities must ensure there are sufficient good school places for all pupils,

including those with SEN and disabilities. Through long-term strategic planning Councils

are seeking to reconfigure specialist places to ensure that they can meet need whilst

containing spending within the constraints of the High Needs budget and available capital

resources.

The Special Educational Needs & Disability Provision Strategy is part of a wider framework

of policy documents that support the One Coventry Council Plan (2016-24) which sets out

the 3 Council priorities:

• Globally connected

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Coventry – Pupils with Statements and/or EHC plans

Page 30 of 57

• Locally connected

• Delivering our priorities

Current School Estate

Specialist SEND Provision located in Coventry is comprised of 8 special schools: six

maintained special schools and two special academies.

The total number of commissioned placements at Coventry’s Special Schools, is

exhausted. Whilst there is capacity to increase the number of primary placements for

generic learning difficulty, there is generally no physical capacity to expand secondary

placements, without capital investment; with the exception of Corley secondary school,

which caters for autism spectrum conditions (ASC).

The 8 schools are outlined in more detail below:

School

Description

Castle Wood

Special School

For pupils aged from 4 -11 with a range of learning difficulties from profound

and multiple, severe to moderate and with varying degrees of autistic

spectrum conditions.

Baginton

Fields

For pupils aged from 11-18 with a broad range of special educational need

and disability; Autism, Sensory Impairment, Physical Disability,

Communication Difficulties and Challenging Behaviours.

Corley Centre

For pupils aged from 11-18 with complex social and communication

difficulties.

Sherbourne

Fields

For pupils aged from 2-19 with a broad spectrum of need including physical

disabilities, medical conditions and learning needs.

Tiverton

For pupils aged from 3-11 with severe learning difficulties or profound and

multiple learning difficulties. They may also have some physical or sensory

impairment, or an autistic spectrum disorder.

Woodfield

Based across two sites, a Primary for pupils aged 4-11 and a Secondary

for pupils aged 11-16 (and support until the age of 18). Many of the pupils

needs range from dyslexia, dyspraxia, being on the Autistic Spectrum

(ASC), or having Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD),

Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and attachment difficulties.

RNIB Three

Spires

For pupils aged 4-11 with learning difficulties and additional needs, with

over half of the pupils having autism spectrum conditions (ASC) and others

have additional needs, including sensory impairment, communication

difficulties and physical difficulties.

Riverbank

For pupils aged 11-19 with a broad range of special educational need and

disability. Learning is influenced by Autism, Moderate and Severe Learning

disabilities, Sensory Impairment, Physical and medical difficulties,

Communication Difficulties and Social, Emotional and Mental Health

difficulties linked with their special educational needs.

Page 31 of 57

Breakdown of type of need

There are several categories of SEN need, which bring different severities of support

required by an individual. A particular individual with a SEN need is assessed on an

individual basis and an EHCP plan is created and identifies the type of support they require.

This then forms the basis of criteria used to identify which school will best cater for an

individual pupil needs.

Historically, Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD) represented the largest percentages of

need. However, current demand identifies an evidenced growth in Social, Emotional

Mental Health (SEMH) and Autistic Spectrum Condition/Disorder (ASC/D). ASC is now

identified as the highest prevalence of additional need in the city. An analysis of the type

of need based on current EHCPs identifies a shift as follows:

The increase of commissioned places at Tiverton School is being completed as part of their move to the Whitley

Abbey site.

SLCN

ASC

29%

SEMH

13%

MLD

19%

SPLD

OTH

PMLD

SLD

15%

Breakdown of SEN

School Name

September 2018

Commissioned

Places

May 2019

Commissioned

Places

September 2019

Commissioned

Places

Total

increase

Castle Wood

139

147

Three Spires

Riverbank

164

Corley

118

Tiverton

Baginton Fields

100

102

116

Sherbourne

Fields

148

157

167

Woodfield

160

961

976

1043

Page 32 of 57

As the graph identifies the breakdown of need with SEN, below is the definition of such

needs:

SLCN – Speech, Language and Communication Needs

ASC – Autistic Spectrum Condition

SEMH – Social, Emotional and Mental Health

MLD – Moderate Learning Disability

SPLD – Specific Learning Disability

OTH – Other

PD – Physical Disability

VI – Visual Impairment

HI – Hearing Impairment

PMLD – Profound and Multiple Learning Disability

SLD – Severe Learning Disability

It is to be noted that each pupils primary need does not look at their underlying need or

interconnectivity of the classifications as listed above.

Historical Growth

Significant growth in capacity for primary generic learning difficulties has been achieved

through the expansion of Tiverton School which has been rebuilt, on the former Alice

Stevens School site. The primary site of Woodfield Special School has been identified in

the local plan as having some potential for development, and currently a draft masterplan

is in development to scope options for integrating the primary and secondary sites onto

one site, with the aim of responding to growth demands.

Future Need Methodology

It is widely known that mainstream population has grown over the last few years. It is more

commonly acknowledged within primary, where large scale expansion of mainstream

capacity has taken place. We therefore see there is a direct correlation at least at primary

level, of the growth of EHCP’s being linked to the growth in mainstream. With the size of

the mainstream primary cohort now starting to stabilise, it can be assumed by way of

forecast that the number of primary pupils with additional need will similarly stabilise.

Proportion of EHCP

(Education, Health, and

Care Plan) of total

cohort

2015

2016

2017

2018

Early Years Cohort

0.69%

1.36%

1.79%

1.67%

Primary Cohort

1.85%

1.94%

1.98%

2.24%

Secondary Cohort

3.53%

3.44%

3.40%

3.44%

The above figures show that despite the large raw increase in Primary SEN number’s,

proportionally EHCP numbers have only slightly increased in primary compared to the

Page 33 of 57

population growth. 2018 jump in primary is due to an increase in plans being issued. It also

identifies a clear stabilising numbers in proportion for Secondary need. Given that the

secondary cohort is increasing the largest, this proportion will similarly increase.

Forecasts

The below forecasts have been arrived at by analysing the mainstream forecasts and

projecting the % of EHC numbers forward.

All SEN (number of

EHCPs)

(0-4)

Primary

Secondary

Post – 16

2019

780

750

432

2020

789

772

458

2021

101

787

800

475

2022

100

780

830

487

2023

105

769

859

489

2024

749

870

502

No increase is shown in the forecasts for Early Years. This is due to the fact that, despite

a 0-4 care: on the whole, children are too young to have an EHCP in place during the Early

Years phase and Coventry has no physical capacity to arrange specialist early years

provision, within the special school sector. This is a priority area for future early

intervention development, which will be subject to high needs block affordability and

prioritisation of special school space.

For indications of trends at the Early Years stage, data around SEN support will need to

be considered. The SEND support forecast data is showing a 78% increase in demand

over the same 5-year period.

The largest increases are in Secondary and Post 16. Nationally, and within Coventry, there

is a higher percentage of pupils with EHCP at Secondary than Primary. Larger primary

cohorts are moving through into secondary, impacting upon the availability of places. With

the extension of the age range to 25; Post – 16 EHCP numbers have increased and are

forecast to increase further, and this has placed unplanned pressure on Key Stage 5 and

FE provision, which is envisaged to continue.

There is forecast to be small increases in Primary SEN. This is due in part to a stabilising

of the birth rates and larger cohorts moving through into Secondary phase.

Based on current trends and using forecast data for September 2020, we can model the

anticipated increase in EHCPs for Coventry pupils. Assuming the current trends continue,

the table below shows the expected growth in demand, across Primary and Secondary, by

type of need. This then further breaks down the Primary and Secondary forecasts into type

of need, and highlights a growing need for additional Secondary SEN places in the city. It

Page 34 of 57

also identifies that there will be a significant shortfall of places within ASC, SEMH, and

Broad Spectrum.

Breakdown

This means that there is an increased need for SLCN places, that steady from 2022 to

2024. ASC and SEMH continue to increase year or year, steadying in 2023 and 2024.

The forecast growth identifies a potential increase of 50 ASC placements and 31 SEMH

placements by 2024.

Numbers remain high but with a steady increase in both MLD and SLD also. Numbers

remain low and steady for the other types of EHCP’s, but overall it still shows an increase

nevertheless going forwards.

This growth will require additional capacity within the system to secure statutory provision.

This analysis does not take into account the number of pupils with EHC Plans currently

placed in mainstream schools, who have been identified as requiring specialist placements

in the near future.

Future need

Using September 2017 commissioned places as a baseline and assuming that the recent

increase in demand is permanent, the following cumulative forecast for demand increase

by phase between 2019 and 2022 is set out:

The analysis indicates that currently 63% of pupils with an EHCP are placed in specialist

provision. Based on this statistic, the table above outlines the forecast need for additional

places for children with EHCP across all year groups. These additional places will be added

across mainstream and special schools. The special school places are separated for

secondary. This assumes the threshold for EHCP continues at the same level and

Year

EHCPs across Primary and Secondary

SLC

ASC

SEM

MLD

SPLD

OTH

PML

SLD

2017

102

350

159

226

184

2018

106

364

166

236

191

2019

109

373

173

244

195

2020

112

382

178

251

199

2021

114

390

183

258

202

2022

117

397

188

264

205

2023

117

400

190

266

205

2024

117

400

190

267

203

Page 35 of 57

therefore the split between pupils attending special schools (63%) and mainstream (37%)

stays the same.

The SEND code of practise states that it is expected that “the majority of C&YP with SEN

or Disability will have their needs met within local mainstream, EY settings, schools or

colleges. In comparison to Coventry’s statistical neighbours, Coventry has a higher

proportion of pupils with an EHCP within a special school.

Total Pupils

Mainstream

Total

Pupils in

Special

School

% of Pupils

with EHC in

Special

Proportion of

Cohort with

an EHCP

Bolton

768

705

48%

2.87%

Tameside

183

383

68%

1.64%

Wigan

587

646

52%

2.74%

Leeds

1,000

1,207

55%

1.78%

Sheffield

894

1,094

55%

2.47%

Derby

634

693

52%

3.06%

Coventry

481

858

64%

2.33%

Medway

559

736

57%

3.03%

Portsmouth

453

485

52%

3.29%

Southampton

469

523

53%

3.08%

Statistically, it might be argued that Coventry has a high percentage of children with EHCPs

placed in specialist provisions. However, there is no evidence that the threshold for

placement in Coventry is lower than other LAs. Initial work suggests that Coventry’s profile

of complex SEN is high. Further investment will be made in supporting mainstream schools

to build capacity within the community through a range of targeted training and support to

schools. This programme will be designed in partnership with schools and underpin the

Inclusion Strategy.

Primary

The amount of pupils in primary mainstream with additional needs has also been rising

requiring schools to have to meet a broader range of pupils needs with no additional

funding. In order to meet the needs of these pupils, it is proposed to create several

resourced provision units on mainstream school sites making use of existing education

assets. The resourced provision will be targeted towards primary age pupils with Autism

Spectrum Condition and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH)

New specialist provision attached to mainstream schools has proved able to meet some of

the needs of many complex learners with Autism Spectrum Condition and Social,

Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs whilst allowing the individuals to remain in

their own communities and not face overly arduous travel. Coventry has developed a model

Page 36 of 57

of provision based on best practice and experience, both internally and that of other local

authorities. This best practise states that resource provisions can accommodate to 10

learners in secondary and up to 8 learners in primary on a mainstream school or academy

site. However, this is a variable depending on the type of provision being provided.

It is envisaged that the increased demand arising from the projected increase in pupil

numbers, could be accommodated within resourced provision (RP) over the next 5 years.

The RP would need to be targeted for primary age pupils with ASC and SEMH.

It is envisaged that an additional 3-5 resourced provision would be required over the plan

period, assuming a population of 8-12 pupils per provision. It is estimated that this would

cost c.£200k, in capital cost investment. Work is underway to identify areas of the city

where education provision will be released and can be utilised for this purpose.

The priority, to provide sufficient and quality SEN provision, is to develop such provision

on 4 - 5 school sites across the City as follows:

• In North Eastern Coventry at primary-phase schools

• In the East of Coventry area on a primary school site

• In central Coventry at a secondary school site.

However, given the relatively small distances involved these locations are quite flexible

and of more concern would be inclusivity of the school; and the quality of provision being

offered.

Secondary

Work is currently underway to scope options for integrating the primary and secondary

sites of Woodfield Special School.

Both the Corley Centre and Baginton Fields have taken on additional pupils, with the

addition of modular builds as part of the Capital Programme for 2019/20.

Post 16

Secondary special school provisions have developed an increased post 16 provision as a

consequence of growth. As part of secondary mainstream expansion, partnerships with

colleges and employment pathways including supported internships there is an opportunity

to develop an extended SEND post 16 provision which would in turn release special school

capacity. The old Tiverton building on Sherbourne Fields site, has been identified as

potential to rebuild as post 16.

8.4 Proposed Strategic SEN Plan

8.4.1 SEND (Phase 1)

In November 2018, Cabinet Members agreed to the principle of expanding and relocating

Woodfield Special School to the vacant former Woodlands School site. It is proposed to

relocate Woodfield Special School in September 2021 to address split site, building

Page 37 of 57

suitability, and capacity issues. This is subject to further detailed plans and financial

approval. This project will enable the school to grow in capacity as set out below, increasing

the number of SEMH places across primary and secondary phases:

When fully occupied this will resolve the SEMH deficit of places, enabling children that are

currently in ‘Out of City’ placements to be brought back into the City. This larger school

site for both SEMH primary and secondary, will enable pupils of all age ranges to attend

the and fulfil the increase in demand for SEN places; thus supporting the increase in the

extended age range to 25 for SEND post-16 education.

8.4.2 SEND (Phase 2) – 2019

The phase two expansions are solely covering the additional places that we know are

required for the 2019 academic year. No creation of further places that can be utilised, will

come from these developments. They will be fulfilled from September 2020 onwards. The

schools that form part of this phase 2 expansion, to fulfil the additional places required are:

Baginton Fields, Corley Centre, Sherbourne Fields, and Castle Wood.

The following table shows the detail in how this is broken down:

Year 2018

Current Intake Places Intake Places Intake Places Intake Places

Primary 65 15 80 24 104 24 128 16 144

Secondary 68 16 84 16 100 16 116 16 132

Overall places available 133

Places away from full capacity

2021

2022

2023

2024

Forecasted students places 2021-2024 Woodlands SEMH school

(Max intake 280) *assuming school move to new site 01/09/2021

Agreed 9/1/2018

Expected growth

164

204

244

276

116

School

Name

Sept 2018

Commissi

oned

Places

May 2019

Commissio

ned Places

Variation

Sept

2019

Commiss

ioned

Places

Variance

Sum-19

Total

increase

Project detail

Estimated

costs

(£)

Funding

source

Castle Wood

139

147

Creating 2

classrooms from

previous 1 larger

classroom

£20,000.00

Special

Provision

Fund

Corley Centre

118

Refurb of old

residential unit to

create 3 additional

classrooms

£350,000.00

Special

Provision

Fund

Baginton

Fields

100

102

116

Installation of 2

classroom modular

unit including

hygiene suite

£360,000.00

Special

Provision

Fund

Sherbourne

Fields

148

157

167

Remodel of

existing 2

classrooms to

create 2 additional

classrooms and

breakout space

£270,000.00

Special

Provision

Fund

City wide

961

976

1043

Page 38 of 57

As the table above shows, there was an increased need in places for September 2019.

Castle Wood acquired an additional 8 pupils to the previous academic year, Corley Centre

an additional 22, Baginton Fields an extra 16 pupils and Sherbourne Fields a further 19

places. This growth in additional places has been met using both refurb or remodelling of

existing space, by way of adding additional teaching areas, and also by adding modular

units on site to create further classrooms & breakout areas.

8.4.3 SEND (Phase 3) 2020 onwards

The current Year 5 (September 2020 into Secondary), is larger than the year 6 (September

2019 into Secondary) for pupils with EHCPs. Given that the Secondary capacity has been

filled from 2019 children, this increase will mean a need for additional places. The main

increases are evident with pupils attending Tiverton and Castle Wood school. This will

impact upon the availability of Special school places, given that the schools are already,

from September 2019, at full capacity at their already increased commissioned number.

Given that, historically, a significant number of pupils from Castle Wood attend Riverbank

(last year; 2018 transfer - 80% of Castle Wood students transferred to Riverbank) and

Tiverton children were split between Baginton Fields, Riverbank and Sherbourne Fields.

This increase in pupils at these primary schools is likely to impact upon demand for places

at Sherbourne and Riverbank in particular.

School

2019

Transfer

2020

Transfer

Castle Wood

RNIB Three Spires

Academy

Sherbourne Fields

School

The Corley Centre

Tiverton School

Woodfield School

Grand Total

From these figures it looks possible that further Secondary expansion may be required.

Given the areas of demand and primary need of the pupils, there appears to be up to 3

potential options or a combination of all 3 options.

• Demolition of the Old Tiverton school building will enable use of the land to

accommodate two, double modular build provisions. One used for a purpose-built

provision for pupils with higher needs and require their own space separate to the

main school building. The second modular build with internal reorganisation within

the school, will allow for an additional 24 pupils to be taken on role in September

2020.

Page 39 of 57

• Expansion of Riverbank school – the school has not recently been expanded and

so there is potential to extend on the school site and take an additional 36 pupils

onsite.

• Potential to utilise previous Extended Learning Provisions’ (ELCs) on two of our

mainstream school sites. There is currently a need for an additional 1FE (8 pupils)

at Castle Wood Primary effective immediately. The reception age pupils are

anticipated to join the school in early 2020, due to considerable reconfiguration

works carried out at site. The shift in resource rooms, to make a new classroom

with some wall and door movements, will allow for this additional classroom whilst

maintaining essential staffing areas. Funding for this project will come from the

Special Provision Fund.

Expanding on the above, below is the proposed options for academic years 2020/21 and

2021/22:

2020/21

Permanent Special School expansion wing has been identified at Riverbank Academy, with

remodelling and relocation of car parking. This additional accommodation and site

reconfiguration will be funded by the Special Provision Fund and Basic Need.

Sept 2020/21

It has been identified that there is a need for additional Enhanced Resource Provision’s

(ERPs), and three areas of need will be commissioned on existing space at mainstream

site’s to be identified. One provision is for ASD for 8 pupils, 2

for SEMH for 8 pupils and

a third for ASD/SEMH for 8 pupils (24 in total across 3 settings). This also forms part of

the Special Provision Fund.

Sept 2021/22 – possible options

Although there are no plans set for 2021/22 in terms of permanent expansions at the

current SEN estates, there could potentially be land available on the Old Tiverton site that

may provide a suitable solution in the future. The majority of the current SEN estates are

ideally not suitable for further expansion, but it maybe that feasibility studies can be carried

out to see if the space currently utilised is used in the most effective way. This may identify

some areas for reconfiguration and as a result create teaching space for use.

9. Post 16

Currently, all but 3 Secondary schools within Coventry have sixth form provision. These

current arrangements have been developed as a collaborative approach across Coventry

and provide sufficient sixth form places to meet the demand, variety and quality of

education within the city.

Page 40 of 57

There are a further three secondary schools within Coventry which do not have sixth forms,

Seva, Eden Girls, and Finham Park 2 these are growing organically from Year 7 upwards.

The decision for Eden Girls to open a sixth form has been delayed for the foreseeable

future. However, it is anticipated that these new sixth forms will provide the additional

spaces required to accommodate the increasing secondary and forecast sixth form

numbers in the coming years.

Currently, the two largest sixth forms in Coventry are Caludon Castle and Blue Coat Church

of England School. These two are the only sixth form provisions in Coventry to have in

excess of 300 pupils across both years. At the other end of the scale there are 6 sixth forms

within Coventry which have less than 100 pupils in both year groups. To resolve these low

pupil numbers Coventry sixth forms, have, through partnership working, banded together,

often through MAT links, to provide educational facilities and a range of curriculum which

positively impacts upon student attainment.

In addition to this there are 2 general Further Education Colleges; Coventry College, (as a

merger between City and Henley Campuses), and Hereward College, which is specifically

for those pupils with additional needs. These provide more technical training and support,

whilst also providing more academic teaching.

This mixed economy of sixth form provision allows for Year 11 pupils to study a wide range

of subjects within the city boundary. Whilst also ensuring the quality of provision allows

them to achieve their potential.

Page 41 of 57

10. Alternative Provision (AP)

Hospital Education – SEMH Location: Whitmore Park Annex

Provision for children and young people who have difficulties in areas such as:

• Attending their usual school following hospitalisation or long term illness

• Reaching their full potential because of time missed at their usual school due to

various medical conditions

• Re-integrating successfully back into their usual school.

Coventry Extended Learning Centre (CELC) – Link, Swanswell, Wyken

Provision for pupils who are experiencing behaviour difficulties within a mainstream school

setting and are in Key Stage 3 & 4 (11-16). Previously some pupils will have been

permanently excluded and most will have been at risk of permanent exclusion from their

mainstream school.

There is a proposed option for a 2 storey expansion to the existing ‘The Link’ provision, to

merge the current Swanswell centre pupils to create 1 larger provision to accommodate an

approximate 60 additional pupils. As part of this, there would also be scope to take an

extra 10 pupils taking the extra pupils to a potential of 70. Factoring in the existing 60

pupils at the Link, this could theoretically accommodate 130 pupils post expansion.

To help facilitate this, this project will also see a reconfiguration and part-refurbishment to

the existing layout and structure, including a new reception area and multi-function office

areas, to include space for when external professionals come in for appointments with the

pupils. Additions of hair, beauty and nail salons that will be housed in this section of the

provision, to provide a more purpose built curriculum. This helping to achieve a target set

by Ofsted. Additional kitchen/canteen and dining facilities. As part of the ground floor

extension, ‘The Link’ will see 4 new vocational subject workshop’s, showcasing fully

accessible areas: electrical, plumbing, mechanic and bricklaying/plastering. As part of the

first floor extension, this is where Core subjects English, maths and science will be

taught. Overall in the extended ground and first floor, there is the possibility to create up

to an additional 7 classrooms, with additional intervention rooms and a newly purpose built

staff room. With the additional subjects being able to be taught at the centre, focussing on

the core subjects and the vocational, this will aid in encouraging pupils to engage and

support them post-education, and gaining recognised qualifications and gateway onto

future vocational qualifications.

The initial budget has been outlined as being £2.2 million from the Education basic need

resource. There is also a plan to add a small Multi-use Games Area (MUGA) to the existing

land at the rear of the provision, to enhance the outdoor sporting facilities.

Page 42 of 57

Keys – Parkgate Primary School, Frederick Bird Primary School

Provision for mainstream intervention programmed for National Curriculum Key Stage 1

and Key Stage 2 pupils who are at risk of exclusion and are struggling to meet the

behavioural expectations of their school. The service provides short term, intensive support

in a small group to improve resilience and self-regulation focused on enabling a child to be

successfully integrated into their mainstream class group. The intervention is offered for

up to 2 terms for 4 days per week, children remain in their registered school on the 5

day.

Appendices

Appendix 1 - Primary Planning Areas

Page 43 of 57

Primary Planning Area

School

North

Holy Family Catholic

John Shelton

Parkgate Academy

Whitmore Park

Keresley Grange

North Central

Broad Heath

Edgewick

Hill Farm Academy

Stanton Bridge

Page 44 of 57

Joseph Cash

St Augustine’s Catholic

John Gulson

Radford Academy

St Elizabeth’s Catholic

East Central

All Saints’ CE

Frederick Bird

Gosford Park

Stoke

Stoke Heath

Sacred Heart Catholic

St Mary & St Benedict Catholic

Sidney Stringer Academy

Southfields

West Central

All Souls’ Catholic

Earlsdon

Hearsall Academy

Moseley

St Osburg’s Catholic

Spon Gate

Longford

Alderman’s Green

Courthouse Green Academy

Grangehurst

Good Shepherd Catholic Academy

Holbrook

Little Heath

Longford Park

St Laurence’s CE Academy

North East

Henley Green

Moat House

Potters Green

SEVA (Free)

Whittle

SS Peter & Paul Catholic

Walsgrave

St Patricks Catholic

East

Wyken Croft

John Fisher Catholic

Clifford Bridge

Pearl Hyde

Ravensdale

Page 45 of 57

Richard Lee

St Gregory's Catholic

Binley

Aldermoor Farm

Ernesford Grange

St Bartholomew's

Sowe Valley

Corpus Christi

South East

St Anne's Catholic

Stretton CE

Whitley Abbey

Willenhall

South

Finham

Grange Farm

Howes

Manor Park

St Thomas More Catholic

Stivichall

Cannon Park

Tile Hill

Templars

Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic

Leigh

Charter

West

Eastern Green Junior

Limbrick Wood

Mount Nod

Park Hill

St Andrew's Infant

St John Vianney

North West

Allesley

Allesley Hall

St Christopher

St John CE

Whoberley Hall

Coundon

Christ the King

Coundon

Hollyfast

Appendix 2 – Secondary Planning Areas

Page 46 of 57

Secondary

Planning Areas

Schools

Centre

Barr's Hill

Eden Girls

Sydney Stringer

North East

Seva

Grace Academy

Cardinal Wiseman

North West

President Kennedy

Cardinal Newman

Coundon Court

Page 47 of 57

South West

Whitely Academy

Ernesford Grange

Blue Coat

South East

West Coventry Academy

The Westwood Academy

WMG Academy for Young Engineers (UTC Free School)

Finham Park 2 (Free school)

South

Finham Park School

Bishop Ullathorne Catholic School (Voluntary Aided)

Foxford

East

Lyng Hall

Stoke Park

Caludon Castle

Appendix 3 – Primary Forecasts

Primary

Planning

Area

Year

Reception

Forecasts

PAN

Available

Capacity

Total NOR

Forecasts

Overall

Capacity

Available

Capacity

North

2019/20

308

315

2173

2205

2020/21

336

315

-7%

2266

2205

-3%

2021/22

300

315

2307

2205

-5%

2022/23

295

315

2307

2205

-5%

2023/24

288

315

2122

2205

North

Central

2019/20

497

570

13%

3663

3930

2020/21

466

570

18%

3625

3960

2021/22

460

570

19%

3558

3990

11%

2022/23

459

570

20%

3487

3990

13%

2023/24

449

570

21%

3390

3990

15%

East

Central

2019/20

482

555

13%

3553

3765

2020/21

481

555

13%

3546

3825

2021/22

448

555

19%

3507

3885

10%

2022/23

436

555

21%

3407

3885

12%

2023/24

443

555

20%

3324

3885

14%

West

Central

2019/20

266

300

11%

1905

2040

2020/21

259

270

1893

2010

2021/22

261

270

1900

1980

2022/23

234

270

13%

1857

1950

2023/24

289

270

-7%

1872

1920

Longford

2019/20

436

480

3289

3480

2020/21

475

480

3303

3450

2021/22

449

480

3282

3420

Page 48 of 57

2022/23

458

480

3273

3390

2023/24

441

480

3212

3350

North East

2019/20

321

395

19%

2466

2835

13%

2020/21

338

395

14%

2477

2835

13%

2021/22

327

395

17%

2463

2835

13%

2022/23

310

395

22%

2431

2835

14%

2023/24

297

395

25%

2370

2835

16%

East

2019/20

409

425

2962

3045

2020/21

428

425

-1%

2996

3075

2021/22

398

425

2964

3075

2022/23

405

425

2933

3075

2023/24

385

425

2867

3045

Binley

2019/20

246

270

1715

1830

2020/21

234

270

13%

1714

1875

2021/22

222

270

18%

1671

1860

10%

2022/23

247

270

1695

1890

10%

2023/24

217

270

20%

1665

1890

12%

South East

2019/20

171

180

1161

1230

2020/21

159

180

12%

1176

1260

2021/22

173

180

1187

1260

2022/23

168

180

1187

1260

2023/24

154

180

15%

1170

1260

South

2019/20

357

405

12%

2696

2835

2020/21

394

405

2702

2835

2021/22

383

405

2677

2835

2022/23

365

405

10%

2642

2835

2023/24

329

405

19%

2580

2835

Tile Hill

2019/20

174

195

11%

1233

1320

2020/21

187

195

1266

1335

2021/22

171

195

12%

1293

1350

2022/23

151

195

22%

1264

1365

2023/24

156

195

20%

1245

1365

West

2019/20

227

225

-1%

1483

1560

2020/21

237

225

-5%

1576

1575

2021/22

235

225

-5%

1641

1575

-4%

2022/23

238

225

-6%

1661

1575

-5%

2023/24

209

225

1541

1575

North West

2019/20

199

210

1407

1470

2020/21

206

210

1423

1470

2021/22

198

210

1422

1470

2022/23

182

210

13%

1393

1470

2023/24

205

210

1388

1470

Page 49 of 57

Coundon

2019/20

238

240

1542

1590

2020/21

219

240

1587

1650

2021/22

212

240

12%

1570

1650

2022/23

226

240

1567

1650

2023/24

219

240

1549

1650

City Wide

2019/20

4330

4765

31249

33135

2020/21

4421

4735

31549

33360

2021/22

4236

4735

11%

31441

33390

2022/23

4174

4735

12%

31103

33375

2023/24

4082

4735

14%

30294

33275

Appendix 4 – Secondary Forecasts

Secondary

Planning

Area

Year

Year 7

Forecast

PAN

Available

Capacity

Total NOR

Forecasts

Overall

Capacity

Available

Capacity

Central

2019/20

575

491

-17%

2385

2315

-3%

2020/21

570

491

-16%

2532

2365

-7%

2021/22

580

510

-14%

2651

2414

-10%

2022/23

598

510

-17%

2790

2463

-13%

2023/24

606

510

-19%

2942

2512

-17%

North West

2019/20

860

895

3976

4008

2020/21

852

925

4087

4135

2021/22

918

895

-3%

4223

4255

2022/23

933

895

-4%

4377

4375

2023/24

928

895

-4%

4541

4475

-1%

Foxford

2019/20

182

185

894

905

2020/21

179

180

906

905

2021/22

183

180

-2%

912

905

-1%

2022/23

183

180

-1%

911

905

-1%

2023/24

182

180

-1%

914

905

-1%

South

2019/20

474

420

-13%

2134

2100

-2%

2020/21

471

420

-12%

2216

2100

-6%

2021/22

493

450

-10%

2291

2130

-8%

2022/23

501

450

-11%

2371

3160

25%

2023/24

495

450

-10%

2436

2190

-11%

East

2019/20

693

630

-10%

2962

2910

-2%

2020/21

680

570

-19%

3103

2910

-7%

2021/22

711

570

-25%

3252

2910

-12%

2022/23

717

570

-26%

3385

2910

-16%

2023/24

738

570

-29%

3558

2910

-22%

Page 50 of 57

North East

2019/20

332

550

40%

1876

2710

31%

2020/21

323

550

41%

1872

2805

33%

2021/22

334

545

39%

1855

2780

33%

2022/23

330

545

39%

1788

2755

35%

2023/24

341

545

37%

1671

2730

39%

South East

2019/20

634

625

-2%

2856

3055

2020/21

616

625

2942

3070

2021/22

667

655

-2%

3049

3115

2022/23

653

655

3174

3175

2023/24

669

655

-2%

3248

3215

-1%

South West

2019/20

474

529

10%

2181

2755

21%

2020/21

482

529

2188

2895

24%

2021/22

515

639

19%

2319

3015

23%

2022/23

552

519

-6%

2506

3015

17%

2023/24

522

519

-1%

2641

3015

12%

City Wide

2019/20

4225

4325

19264

20758

2020/21

4172

4290

19846

21185

2021/22

4401

4444

20551

21524

2022/23

4467

4324

-3%

21302

22758

2023/24

4482

4324

-4%

21951

21952

Appendix 5 – Bus Route Information

School

Bus Routes

Barr’s Hill

All bus routes to Pool Meadow

16/16a – Binley, Stoke Aldermoor, City centre, Radford, Coundon, Kersley

13/13a – Willenhall, Binley, City centre, Radford, Coundon, Kersley

Caludon Castle

4 – Holbrooks, Ricoh arena, Foleshill, City centre, Stoke, Walsgrave

8 & 8a – City centre, Stoke, Wyken, Walsgrave, Potters Green, Henley Green

9/9A – Finham, Stivichall, City centre, Stoke, Wyken , Walsgrave

Coundon Court

5- Tile Hill, Chapelfields, City centre, Coundon, Holbrooks, Little Heath

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Eden

All bus routes to Pool Meadow

6/6a – Tile Hill, Chapelfields, City centre, courthouse green, little heath Bell

green

21 - Willenhall, Whitley, City centre, Courthouse green, bell green

Ernesford Grange

13 – Willenhall, Binley, City centre, Radford, Coundon, Kersley

16/16a – Binley, Stoke Aldermoor, City centre, Radford, Coundon, Kersley

Finham Park

9s/9/9a – Walsgrave, Wyken, stoke, City centre, Stivichall, Finham

Foxford

6/6A – Tile Hill, Chapelfields, City centre, Courthouse Green, Little Heath,

Aldermans Green

20 – City centre, Foleshill, Little Heath. Longford, Ricoh arena, Exhall,

Bedworth

Lyng Hall

10/10a– Eastern Green, Chapelfields, City centre, Wyken, Bell Green

60 – Canley, Whitley, Willenhall, Walsgrave, Wyken, Holbrooks

President Kennedy

13/13a – Willenhall, Binley, City centre, Radford, Coundon, Keresley,

Holbrooks, City centre

772 – Bedworth, Exhall, Longford, Holbrooks, Little heath

Sidney Stringer

All bus routes to Pool Meadow

The Westwood

Academy

19- Westwood Business Park - Hearsall Common - Coventry City centre

18 - Tile Hill - Canley - Hearsall Common - Coventry City centre

18a Tile Hill, Canley, Stivichall, City centre

43 – Westwood, Canley, Tile Hill, Allesley

Whitley Academy

7 – Brownshill Green, Allesley Village, City centre, Whitley

21 - Willenhall, Whitley, City centre, Courthouse green, bell green

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Bluecoat

16 - Binley, Stoke Aldermoor, City centre, Radford, Coundon, Kersley

16s (school bus) Coundon, Radford City centre

Bishop Ullathorne

9/9a – Walsgrave, Wyken, stoke, City centre, Stivichall, Finham

18a – Tile Hill, Canley, Stivichall, City centre

45 (school bus)

Cardinal Newman

13/13a – Willenhall, Binley, City centre, Radford, Coundon, Keresley,

Holbrooks

16/16a – Binley, Stoke Aldermoor, City centre, Radford, Coundon, Kersley

61s – Allesley, Coundon, Holbrooks, Ricoh arena

Appendix 6 - Education Pupil Yield Methodology

There are two main factors to the contributions requests, firstly the cost per pupil (Cost

Multiplier) which is a Department for Education (DfE) stated amount for Coventry, and secondly

the pupil yield anticipated from the development. Coventry City Council request contributions,

where required, for Early Years (EY), Primary, Secondary, Sixth Form, and Primary, and Secondary

SEN. These requests are in line with changes in Government policy including the funded two year

olds EY policy, 30 Hrs as of September 2017, and the raising of the participation age to 18; as well

as ensuring Coventry matches its neighbouring local authorities in terms of level of request.

Coventry City Council Education do not ask for contributions for one bedroom dwellings as

they are unlikely to generate either primary, secondary or sixth form pupils. For this reason

Coventry calculate the pupil yield from dwellings which are designed for familial occupation, I.E. 2

bed dwellings and above. Furthermore, a majority of the one bed dwellings within the city are

occupied by and designated for use by students and so familial occupation would not occur.

Education also request a contribution towards the recouping of officer time invested into

responding to the planning application. This has been implemented following discussions with

other West Midlands Local Authorities, who also request similar contributions. The majority of

West Midlands Authorities which request such a contribution have set a 3% on the total request

as their officer time figure. Coventry having examined the average amount of officer time spent

on requests, that a fairer figure would be 2%. Therefore, Education will request a contribution of

2% in additional to the Education contribution for increasing pupil places.

Cost Multiplier

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There is no nationwide funding formula for Early Years provision, however there is guidance

based on the amount of floor space that an Early Years child will need, based on age of the child.

Providers must meet the following indoor space requirements:

• Children under two years: 3.5 m

per child

• Two year olds: 2.5 m

per child

• Children aged three to five years: 2.3 m

per child

The variation in EY provision, between AM and PM sessions, and the high turnover of providers

mean that this can often be a variable that changes on a monthly basis. For this reason the same

cost multiplier as primary aged pupils is used.

The Department for Education (DfE) provide an annual update to this figure and for

2017/18 this figure is £12,722. The Secondary calculation has been updated by the DfE to a figure

of £16,539. These new figures have been confirmed by the DfE and are expected to rise in the

future in line with inflation. Therefore, the cost per pupil multiplier will be updated as and when

the DfE provide the new allocation allowance for Coventry.

The DfE do not provide costs per pupil place for Sixth form pupils. Therefore the

methodology for this, takes the Secondary calculation and adds the additional floor space required

for a sixth form pupil. The additional floor space required for a sixth form pupil over a secondary

age pupil is a recognised DfE statistic. The basis behind these floor space calculations is the extra

equipment and supervision that sixth form pupils require over secondary age pupils. The DfE state

the additional floor space required be larger than that for Secondary, working this out as a

percentage sixth form pupils require 14.6% more space than Secondary. Therefore, 14.6% has

been added to the cost multiplier for Secondary to give a total for a single sixth form of £18,953.

For SEN, as there is no DfE multiplier, Coventry use the benchmarking mechanism

undertaken by the DfE in 2019, which recommends that ‘Special schools require more space per pupil

than mainstream schools, and this should be reflected in the assumed costs of provision. We recommend

that developer contributions for special or alternative school places are set at four times the cost of

mainstream places, consistent with the space standards in Building Bulletin 104. You can also refer to the

National School Delivery Cost Benchmarking report for the costs of delivering SEN school places.’ The DfE

recommend for a cost of £65,739 average cost per pupil place for SEN, Coventry’s cost per pupil multiplier

has been updated to match this figure.

Pupil Yield Changes

Early Years

The take up rate for Coventry for the 30hrs was circa 50% and the take-up rate for funded

two years old is circa 32%. These two programmes have effectively doubled the amount of Early

Years care required. The impact of the new universal credit benefit system, and the lowering of

the benefit cap, will also increase the eligibility of funded two year old places and therefore the

amount of places required will increase. Coventry City Council are currently working to calculate

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the effect of this. Therefore, the contribution request is calculated from asking for two years’

worth 15 Hrs or 0.8 of a FT year group with the take up rate of funded two years and 30 Hrs being

added into this. This will be co-ordinated each year with Early Years colleagues as the take up rate

for both Government schemes is expected to rise.

Primary and Secondary

Coventry City Council has seen a primary age population explosion in recent years with the

current reception cohort being 24% higher than the current Year 11. This has been as a result of

larger birth cohorts which have impacted upon available school places. These larger birth cohorts

are coming from existing housing stock as well as new homes being put into the city. There has

been relatively little new housing in Coventry over this period, but the city as a whole has become

more attractive for people to raise families in, resulting in a younger population within the city.

This trend is expected to continue in the new housing that is being put into the city. In essence

more people within Coventry are having more children. The formula for this is by examining the

total number of eligible homes within Coventry and the current Number on Roll in Schools, split

between Primary and Secondary. This gives the pupil yield for how many school age children the

current housing stock within Coventry provide. The pupil yield from a single eligible dwelling for

primary is 0.39 and for secondary 0.22 pupils per eligible household.

Sixth Form

The formula for this is calculated from the proportion of children staying on in sixth form

and also staying in education between Years 12 and 13. However it is still an inconsistent indicator,

therefore the percentage applied to the children staying on rate will be based on the stay on rate

of children the September before the application was received. For the most recent year, the drop

off between year 12 and year 13 was 8.9% of the cohort, therefore to incorporate this into the

pupil yield only 1.9 year groups are requested. This has resulted in a drop in the sixth form

contribution asked for.

Primary SEN

To calculate the primary SEN contribution Coventry City Council use the School census

published three times annually. This lists the student details for the current mainstream and BSSS

cohort and the amount of children within this cohort an EHC plan or SEN statement. By

understanding the total number of EHC plans and SEN statements within the current primary

cohort, it is possible to calculate the current % of the cohort which require additional needs arising

from new housing. By dividing the figures of total cohort by number of EHC’s a total of 1.67% is

received. This factor will be applied to the pupil yield calculation for primary. This figure will be

updated annually as the number of EHC plans is rising in excess of proportionality of the general

increase in population.

Page 55 of 57

Secondary SEN

The Secondary SEN pupil yield is calculated using the same method of calculating the

current number of secondary age pupils with an EHC plan or Statement and dividing by the total

amount of children in Secondary education. The current amount of EHC plans within Secondary

school is 3.3%. This figure will be updated annually as the number of EHC plans is rising in excess

of proportionality of the general increase in population.

Appendix 7 – Forecasting Methodology and Planning Considerations

Introduction

Local authorities use different methods to forecast pupil numbers and take different factors into

account, the forecast of pupil numbers are submitted to the ESFA annually and a basic need

allocation is granted based off the information provided.

The methodology explains the process by which the pupil forecasts are made, the following

process is followed.

Reception

To calculate the Reception intake for each forecast year, birth data is gathered annually from the

NHS Trust that covers Coventry. This is then aggregated annually with the most recent GP data,

and broken down into each individual school’s catchment area, using GIS software. This provides

basic, raw, forecasts for the following 4 years. For forecasts beyond this point a three-year

weighted average for each catchment area is used, to plot the trends and determine long term

sufficiency planning.

To calculate how this cohort is reflected onto a school level, the variable of parental choice is

applied. This is calculated by the percentage of each catchment area attending all schools in the

city. As an example, if there are 100 children born in catchment area and 50% attend that school

then the school will be forecast to have 50 pupils, if in the same catchment area 25% attend the

next closest school then that school will be forecast to have 25 pupils. This process is then

undertaken for every catchment area in the city. Where any school has an excess above its PAN,

unless it is agreed that the school can take above PAN, then that excess will be redistributed to

other schools within the planning area.

The redistribution is added, in liaising with admissions,

by filling the most ‘popular’ school in planning area and then moving onto the second ‘most

popular’.

This One Strategic Plan contains maps of the planning areas and which schools lie within them.

Page 56 of 57

Any other mitigating factors, such as Out of City (OOC) children entering the school are then added

for the September intake. Individual rates of increase are applied to schools as this is more of a

factor for schools near the city boundaries or schools which have more cross border accessible

admission arrangements. Those rates are based on recent trends of OOC in the school. These are

manually added after the Coventry applications are factored in to account for the effective

pushback of some of these children.

This provides a September intake figure for every mainstream school.

In-Year

Once the September intake is calculated In-Year variations are applied, there are two forms of In-

Year. In-Year calculations are currently based from migration rates and the impact of additional

housing across the City. The Coventry City Council Admissions Service monitor In-Year movements

both into the city and within the city. Data is indicating significant movements between schools

with no house move and in some areas such as Radford and Foleshill significant movement into

the city. All these factors need to be taken into account when planning in particular areas.

• Migration is added for each school year group in each school based off historic

transience and movement – this is often internal migration.

• The City Council maintains a database of housing developments with their likely pupil

yields, which are calculated using formulae that are based off city wide pupil yields. In

some cases, assumptions are made as to the rate the houses will be built and occupied

unless the application is reproduced in either the Local Plan or the Annual Housing

Monitor.

Secondary

The same formula, for primary, is placed in effect for Secondary. The Year 6 cohort is calculated

based on census information on the existing school cohort and rolled forward 1 year factoring in

the transfer round loss of pupils, c.5% of total cohort size, as children choose to attend other LA

schools and private education, this figure is dependent yearly upon the amount of places available

in other LA schools. Through partnership working with other local authorities, the competition for

space in other LA schools can be factored in as to how many spaces might be available for Coventry

pupils.

Sixth Form

Page 57 of 57

For Sixth form the school’s intake figures for Year 12 + 13 are generated from actual school values

by using the previous year’s transfer of Year 11 to Post-16 is then placed within the context of the

projected Year 11 cohort for the forecast years. This transfer round takes into account the pupils

transferring to other phases of education, such as apprenticeship, or FE colleges, which the LA do

not forecast for. Therefore, only the pupils anticipated to enter a School sixth form are included in

the forecasts.

Additional Detail

It should be stressed that the projections are only indicative. For instance, where the projection

for the city is in excess of total amount of places available and an individual school forecast exceeds

the capacity of that school, therefore no redistribution can occur as there are insufficient city wide

school places, the projections do not imply that the school will be required to admit the additional

pupils.