Date: 30 January 2024
To:
Newcastle City Council
Each local authority which maintains an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or statement of SEN for a child attending English Martyrs’ Catholic Primary School
Parents of pupils who attend English Martyrs’ Catholic Primary School
Parents in the local area
Primary, secondary and special schools in the area
ARP Consultation
Dear Stakeholder
In accordance with the Department for Education’s guidance on ‘Making significant changes to an open academy’, the Board of Trustees of Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust is consulting on opening a Communication and Interaction Additionally Resourced Provision (ARP) at English Martyrs Catholic Primary School.
Communication and Interaction ARPs form part of the specialist provision offer in mainstream schools across Newcastle. Pupils are identified as requiring a placement in an ARP if they have special education needs (SEN), requiring a higher level of support than can typically be provided in a mainstream school, but if it is thought that they can make progress within a mainstream learning environment, given the right level of support.
Over recent years the significant and steady increase in the numbers of pupils across our city with communication and interaction needs has meant that there has been insufficient capacity in the existing ARPs to meet the local needs. Bishop Bewick CET is committed to working with the City Council to ensure there are sufficient places for learners who require this specialist support, and English Martyrs’ Catholic Primary is well placed to meet these needs with specialist and experienced staff and strong leadership. Establishing an ARP within the school will help to support the urgent demand for places from September 2024.
The questions and answers below set out the key facts about the proposal:
Q What do we mean by a communication and interaction difficulty, and who will attend the ARP?
A The pupils in the ARP are likely to have a diagnosis of autism and will have social communication difficulties as opposed to speech and language needs.
Q Are the 12 places outside of the Pupil Allocation Number (PAN) at English Martyrs’ Catholic Primary School?
A Yes, they are additional to the school current PAN.
Q Which pupils will be eligible to attend the ARP if the proposal is approved?
A Pupils who have complex needs relating to their autism. These pupils will have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) naming the ARP in Section I. All admissions to the ARP will be agreed at the ARP panel or as part of the EHCP process, and the Local Authority (LA) has the final decision regarding admissions.
Q When is it proposed that places will become available?
A September 2024
Q How will the proposal affect the running of the school?
A By creating an appropriate space for the ARP provision, and appointing additional staff, the pupils attending will receive support from a specialist team. They will be included in mainstream classes as much as possible. There will be no impact on current pupil staff ratios. The leadership team will work closely with the Local Authority to ensure the smooth running of the ARP.
Q How is the local community being consulted about the proposal?
A This letter is in the public domain on the Trust and school websites in addition to the distribution list above. Responses are invited.
Q How can I respond to the consultation?
A consultation response form is provided for you to share your views.
Your response to the above proposal must be received no later than 12 noon on Tuesday 5th March 2024 so that views can be taken into account at the end of the consultation, when the Board of Trustees will decide whether to submit an application to the Regional Schools Commissioner to go ahead with the plan. We will publish the outcome of the consultation, provide feedback on any issues raised and confirm the Board’s decision in due course.
Responses can be sent to English Martyrs’ Catholic Primary School:
- By completing the online Consultation Response https://forms.office.com/e/X447UCrEwT
- By completing the consultation form below and email to: consultation@emcps.co.uk
- By completing the consultation form below and posting to: English Martyrs’ Catholic Primary School, Beaufront Gardens, Fenham, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE5 2SA
Alternatively, if you would like to discuss the proposal in more detail, it is possible to request a meeting with a member of the school’s Senior leadership Team. A mutually convenient date and time will be agreed. If you would like to take up this opportunity, please contact the school office on 0191 2747463 or by emailing: office@emcps.co.uk
Thank you for taking time to respond to this consultation.
Yours faithfully
Mrs A Bath Miss M Elliott
CEO Headteacher