Further Allocation of Higher Needs Provision Capital Allocation 2025/26 Combe Pafford School

To approve an
additional £220,000 bringing the total allocation to
£920,000 from the Local Authority’s Higher Needs
Provision Capital Allocation (HNPCA) for works at Combe Pafford
School to address accommodation and site requirements to enhance
the provision available and support the redesignation of the school
from MLD to ASC.

The Local Authority
(LA) has a balance of approximately £2.1m uncommitted in its
5-year HNCPA allocation.

·              
The need for ASC places in Torbay is increasing with ASC at
secondary age being the fastest growing area of need.  The LA require new places for September
2026. 

·              
Combe Pafford School is well established, with ASC pupils already
in attendance.  The school has the
facilities, experience and expertise to meet the continuing demand
for ASC provision in Torbay.

·              
The Education Act 1996 sets out a statutory duty on LAs to secure
sufficient school places for children and young people with special
educational needs and disabilities (SEND) as well as those
requiring Alternative Provision (AP).

·              
To meet the capital costs associated with the provision of new
places or improvement of existing provision for:

–        
Children and young people with complex needs, who have Education,
Health and Care plans (EHCPs), and where appropriate other children
and young people with SEND who do not have an EHCP.

–        
Pupils who require alternative provision (including children in AP
settings without an EHCP). · To mitigate against the ongoing
costs and the needs of children and young people with EHCPs, SEND
or requiring Alternative Provision.

The increase in the
allocation is to cover the raising costs of the proposed works
following a competitive tender.  The
increased costs are a direct result of the volatility in the
construction industry due to the conflict overseas.

Not proceeding –
the LA has a to secure sufficient school places for children and
young people with SEND as well as those requiring Alternative
Provision.

There is not an option
to spend this funding on any other Council priorities; the funding
is ring fenced specially for developing SEND provision. If the
funding is not utilised by the LA or is spent in a manner that does
not meet the terms and conditions of the allocation, it would be
clawed back by central Government.

This decision will
come into force immediately.

The original decision
was taken by the Director of Children’s Services, in consultation
with Strategic Head of Education and SEND and Head of Education, on
20 November 2025. 

Approval was now
required to allocate a further £220,000 to Combe Pafford
School to support the redesignation of the school from Moderate
Learning Difficulties (MLD) to Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC).