Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Chair of the Board.

The Chair of the Board introduced the report, which provided an update on the current situation at the Dorset Centre of Excellence (“the Company”) and the Coombe House School (“the School”). The report included progress made in relation to governance, leadership, staffing, estate, community use and finance.

Councillors considered the report and discussion was focused on the following areas:

·       Further information was provided on income and expenditure in relation to the swimming pool on site. The benefits to the children in the school were recognised

·       There was a focus on making special educational needs and disability (SEND) provision work for all, with the scale of the challenge having been noted in recent national publications, with radical change recognised to make sure all children were able to thrive. This included making mainstream school more accessible to all children

·       New requirements regarding the application of VAT to independent schools, as included in the recent government budget, would not impact the school, as VAT would be charged to Dorset Council who were then able to claim it back

·       Impact on the High Needs Block was being considered by government

·       Positive feedback from parents and carers was noted and showed an outcome of work undertaken.

The report was NOTED.