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).

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