Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director Commissioning and Partnerships.

The Executive Director for People (Children) introduced the report by giving members an update on the current position of the Dorset Centre of Excellence (DCOE) and Coombe House School. The school opened for the autumn term on 13 September 2022 with a phased approach of 36 children on the current school roll.

The growth of the school roll has slowed, with fewer children attending in September than was initially forecast in the original business plan.

The Corporate Director for Commissioning and Partnerships set out the detail of the report highlighting the areas of enhanced co-operation between the Dorset Centre of Excellence Board and the council. This was to ensure that both sides worked more closely together within the terms of the commissioning agreement to support the progress of the DCOE recovery plan.

The committee was further advised that a programme of works relating to the school had been completed; the details of which were listed within the report. There had been an increased on-site presence of Dorset Council officers and there was a lot of work being carried out in terms of recruitment activity.

She confirmed that new placements for children not returning to Coombe House had also been secured.  It was confirmed that the business plan was being reviewed and any further development of services on the site had been paused to enable the company to focus on re-opening the school.

Following an opportunity to ask questions the report was received and noted.