Troon Primary School Additional Support Needs Provision Consultation

This proposal is being published in accordance with the requirements of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010. Following approval of this document by South Ayrshire Council's Cabinet on 25 September 2024, the Council is now seeking views from interested individuals and parties on the school proposals that are explained in this page. Read the  ASN Learning Provision at Troon Primary School Consultation Paper (PDF) [270KB] .

The Proposal

The proposal is:

• to establish an Additional Support Needs (ASN) learning facility within Troon Primary School (Barassie St, Troon KA10 6LX), and;
• that the proposed, two classroom, ASN education provision at Troon Primary School will take effect on the completion of alteration work to the school, which would be completed in the summer of 2025, for the new school session starting on Wednesday 20 August 2025.

Responding to the Proposal

Interested parties are invited to respond to the proposal online

Respond to the Troon Primary School Consultation

Response can also be provided by email, to the following dedicated email address; TroonPS.Consultation@south-ayrshire.gov.uk or by written submission, using the form at the foot of the ASN Learning Provision at Troon Primary School Consultation Paper (PDF) [270KB] , to the Depute Chief Executive and Director of Education, South Ayrshire Council, Wellington Square, Ayr KA7 1DR. Responses must be submitted no later than Wednesday 20 November 2024.

Background

To ensure the success of an inclusive approach to education, the Council deploys significant resources directly to schools where staff work together to employ creative and flexible approaches in meeting learning needs.

The Council has a responsibility to discharge its obligations in relation to education legislation, as prescribed in both the Standards in Scotland's Schools etc. Act 2000 (2000 Act) and the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 (2004 Act). The 2004 Act places duties on local authorities to provide additional support where needed, to enable young people to benefit from their education.

A young person with additional support needs is defined under the terms of the 2004 Act as follows: A child or young person has additional support needs for the purposes of this Act where, for whatever reason, the child or young person is, or is likely to be, unable without the provision of additional support to benefit from school education provided.

ASN placements in schools are based on nationally agreed pupil teacher ratios and capacities for special schools and bases. The Council is responsible for agreeing and setting the capacities for all schools in consideration of available space, staffing ratios and the needs of pupils within the space.

The Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) agreement outlines the maximum class sizes for special schools and units, as detailed below. The physical size of a room and non-physical factors such as class size limits and timetabling limit capacity:

Class sizes for Special Schools and Units

Additional Support Needs rising from:

Moderate learning difficulties - 10

Profound learning difficulties - 10**

Severe physical impairment - 8

Severe learning difficulties - 8

Significant hearing impairment - 6

Significant visual impairment - 6

Language and communication difficulties - 6

Social, emotional and behavioural difficulties - 6

Note: ** This figure applies where teachers are complemented by support staff and councils are recommended to apply an adult/pupil ratio of 1:2.5.

Education in South Ayrshire Council

Education provision within South Ayrshire is currently delivered through 8 secondary schools, 40 primary schools, 2 special schools and integrated specialist provision within a number of schools for children and young people with additional support needs. Early Years provision is delivered through 35 Council operated early years centres and a number of partnership centres.

South Ayrshire Council's annual Educational Services Standards and Quality Report confirms the commitment to provide a positive learning environment that motivates children and young people. Improving the school estate is central to our Vision, Values and Purpose.

A high quality of learning and teaching is delivered in South Ayrshire and this has been highlighted in many school inspections carried out by Education Scotland. During session 2022/23 Education Scotland resumed inspection visits to schools following a suspension during the Pandemic. All South Ayrshire schools visited by inspection teams during the last two academic sessions received positive feedback with learning and teaching rated as either good or very good.

The Scottish Government and South Ayrshire Council are fully committed to improving the school estate in South Ayrshire. Significant improvements have already been made since the publication of the Scottish Government's vision document "Building Better Schools" in 2009, with a large number of new schools being built, modernised or extended in recent years.

In the last seven years alone the Council has built new education facilities for Ayr Academy, Invergarven School, Queen Margaret Academy, Ayr Grammar Primary, the Prestwick North Education Campus, Sacred Heart Primary in Girvan and the Maybole Community Campus, which is the new home of Carrick Academy, St Cuthbert's Primary School and Culzean Primary School and Early Years Centre.

The next new build project underway is for the replacement of Girvan Primary School, Early Years Centre and ASN education provision, which is due for completion in 2026.

To continue this work and to highlight the commitment to improving the school estate, over the next decade the Council will invest more than eighty-five million pounds in our school buildings.

As part of this ongoing modernisation strategy for schools, Educational Services consider the suitability of the school estate, including capacity pressures brought from an increasing demand for ASN placements within schools, which have risen considerably in recent years, with almost all primary school ASN provision facilities now working at capacity.

Details of Existing ASN Provision in SAC Operated Primary Schools

Educational Services currently provide specialist ASN provision from three mainstream Primary Schools, with ASN bases located in the South of the authority at Girvan Primary School, and from two central locations in Ayr, at Doonfoot Primary School and Heathfield Primary School. There is currently no integrated ASN education provision in any primary school in the North of the authority.

Doonfoot Primary School's ASN education facility has had a number of adaptations in recent years to improve accommodation and increase capacity. This has resulted in an additional ASN classroom being created within the school, delivering more bespoke provision for the sensory needs of young learners, and increasing the ASN capacity from 24 pupils to 30 pupils.

A similar public consultation, undertaken by Educational Services in 2023/24, led to the relocation of the specialist ASN facility at Dalmilling Primary School in Ayr, to nearby Heathfield Primary School. This relocation increased the capacity of ASN provision from 30 pupils to 40 pupils and was required due to the anticipated increase in mainstream roll at Dalmilling Primary School, from the impact of new housing, and the use of temporary huts to accommodate mainstream classes, as ASN education provision at the school increased.

While the capacity of ASN education provision at Girvan Primary School has remained stable in recent years, the forthcoming project to replace the school with a brand-new building, due for completion in 2026, will include much needed improvements in sensory accommodation and increase in capacity from 30 pupils to 32.

The table below details the current capacity of the three primary school ASN bases and their projected roll for the 2024/25 school session:

These three ASN learning facilities, situated within mainstream primary schools, offer a high level of support to young people who have significant additional support needs. However, as they are currently only situated in Girvan, South Ayr and North Ayr, this results in Educational Services having to provide many young people who reside in the North of the authority, a lengthy taxi journey to and from school.

The current need, therefore, to consider the proposed establishment of an ASN learning facility in the North of the authority comes from requirements both on the capacity of provision across Educational Services ASN provision, and from the geographic inefficiencies of the current provision.

Details of the Proposal to establish an ASN learning facility within Troon Primary School

Troon Primary School is a non-denominational school for primary-aged children and young people. The school serves a catchment area in central Troon and provides education for primary-aged children in mainstream education.

Troon Primary School was originally opened in 1908 and has recently undergone extensive construction work to refurbish and increase accommodation. The school was extended in 2017 with a brand-new hall, providing state of the art sport and dining facilities, replacing old modular, detached out-buildings which were no longer fit for purpose. The school now has a planning capacity for 483 pupils.

The condition of the Troon Primary School building has been assessed in 2023/24, in accordance with Scottish Government guidelines on the education estate, and is considered to be Satisfactory. It has been given a B rating which means the building is performing well and generally supports the delivery of services to children and the community.

The suitability of the present school building has also been assessed using the Scottish Government's guidelines. The school has been given a 'Good' A rating for suitability, indicating that it is performing well and operating effectively.

The projected pupil roll for the 2024/25 school session at Troon Primary School is 302, which is 63% of capacity and seven pupils less than the 2022/23 school session. The school roll has been in decline for the past five years, peaking most recently at 374 in 2019/20, and from being as high as 442 in 2000/2001.

Currently there are no proposed new housing developments, or land allocated for housing in the catchment area, which would have any significant impact on the roll of Troon Primary School in the near future.

There is sufficient space within Troon Primary School to establish a twoclassroom ASN provision for up to twenty young people of primary age with additional support needs, from throughout South Ayrshire. An area of the school, on the ground floor, has been identified for proposed alterations to create a modern and bespoke ASN learning facility.

The establishment of an ASN learning facility within Troon Primary School will both increase the capacity of specialist education provision across South Ayrshire, as well as ensuring that young people with significant additional support needs, and who reside in the North of the authority, can access education closer to home.

As well as the proposed alterations to two of the school's classrooms, accommodation to support other accessible and sensory requirements would be included in proposed internal alterations, while externally, a dedicated, secure play space would be created for young people with additional support needs within the school grounds.

Educational Benefits Statement of the Proposal

The vision for the proposed establishment of an ASN learning facility within Troon Primary School is that it will be a modern learning centre for children and young people with additional support needs which will enhance learning experiences and outcomes.

1. What will be the impact on children and young people from any affected schools? The proposal will ensure that young people attending the new facility will have access to a bespoke learning environment, designed specifically to meet the wide range of learner's needs. Learning spaces will incorporate sensory and quiet zones which will allow young people the space and privacy to regulate their emotions without leaving the learning zone. The provision will create a safe, nurturing environment, benefitting also from a safe and secure outdoor play space. The proposal will not affect young people currently attending ASN education provision at the Council's other primary school based ASN facilities, as Educational Services does not propose any necessary relocation of existing pupils from other facilities, to the new provision. There will be no impact for mainstream children at Troon Primary School as the school has sufficient capacity to accommodate classrooms dedicated to ASN education provision without impacting on mainstream education at the school.
2. How will the proposal impact on future learners? This proposal will ensure that future learners in the proposed ASN education facility located in Troon Primary School will have access to modern accommodation, facilities and resources which can best support their learning needs. They will have access to classrooms and resources that enable them to fully participate in all areas of the curriculum. The learning experiences gained will contribute fully to a broad curricular programme progressing to a senior phase of learning that will ensure the reaching of their full potential and their transition into a long-term sustainable destination. The establishment of an ASN learning facility within Troon Primary School will ensure that young people with significant additional support needs, and who reside in the North of the authority, can access education closer to home, without the need to travel unnecessarily in lengthy taxi journeys to and from school.
3. What is the community impact of the proposal? South Ayrshire Council places a strong emphasis on school/community partnerships. Troon Primary School already has an excellent relationship with its parents and the wider community and the alterations to the school will provide them with opportunities to build on this further. The specialist facilities will help encourage greater use of the school, particularly by parents of young people with additional support needs. It is envisaged that the new classrooms will become an active and vibrant addition to the learning and activities across the whole community.
4. What is the impact of the proposal on other children and young people in the Council area? The establishment of an ASN learning facility within Troon Primary School will allow the Council to be better placed to meet the needs of young people requiring specialist education provision in South Ayrshire. The proposal is to establish a modern and fit for purpose, 2 classroom ASN education facility, increasing the capacity of Stage 4 education provision in the North of the authority, in line with increasing needs for such education. Creating additional capacity for ASN learning provision will positively impact on young people who reside in the North of the authority and may have had to be transported for their specialist education elsewhere, throughout South Ayrshire.
5. Are there any other likely effects of the proposal? The rooms proposed for the new provision are an existing learning space, dedicated to music provision and an existing staff room. These facilities will be relocated to elsewhere within the school, with space dedicated to music either equivalent or enhanced. Owing to the school having a planning capacity for 483 pupils and a projected roll of 302 for the forthcoming 2024/25 school session, it is not anticipated that the proposal will cause any operational issues. All of this will be discussed through consultation with the Troon Primary community and other stakeholders.
6. How does the authority intend to minimise or avoid any adverse effects that may arise from the proposal? The Council has a good history of working with staff, parents, children and young people and the wider community, to identify and overcome issues relating to major proposals such as the establishment of specialist education provision. All stakeholders will be given an opportunity to inform and participate in the development of the proposed project. Pupils and the families of young people currently attending Troon Primary School, as well as the families of young people in Early Years education, who will attend the school in the near future, will have the opportunity to provide their views on the proposal as part of activities associated with the public consultation process. As proposed works will take place during the school summer break, it is not anticipated that building works associated with the proposal will have an adverse effect on school operations. Any early commencement of works, or delays to completion, will be managed and risk assessed appropriately.
7. Summary of benefits which the authority believes will result from implementation of the proposal:

• Young people and the community will benefit from a better-quality learning and teaching environment at Troon Primary School that meets the needs of learners in the 21st century through purpose-built learning spaces that take account of Curriculum for Excellence, the sensory curriculum, moving and handling and the development of life skills and transitions to employment, education or further training.
• The proposed ASN education facility at Troon Primary School will be bright, stimulating and a safe environment for learning and teaching, designed specifically to meet the needs of children and young people with additional support needs.
• The learning environment will support the education and emotional needs of children and young people with additional support needs by ensuring that quiet, safe and calm areas are available within each learning setting.
• Young people with additional support needs will benefit from direct access to a dedicated, secure outdoor play space specifically for the ASN learning facility.
• The community will benefit from a learning hub which is specifically designed to meet the needs of children with additional support needs.
• Children and young people will benefit from increased confidence and a sense of being valued sufficiently to merit a significant investment in their learning.
• The establishment of an ASN learning facility within Troon Primary School will ensure that young people with additional support needs, and who reside in the North of the authority, can access education closer to home, without the need to travel unnecessarily in lengthy taxi journeys to and from school.

Transport

Transport to a new ASN learning facility within Troon Primary School will be provided to pupils with additional support needs in accordance with the Authority's guidelines on Additional Support Needs transport, and a dedicated drop off area for ASN transport will be established. Current transport arrangements for existing pupils at the school would not be affected by this proposal.

Staffing Implications

The implications for employees arising from this proposal are that any required relocation of staff across the authority to support the proposal will be implemented in accordance with agreed national and local SNCT/JNCT circulars (teaching staff) or the Council's Framework for Managing Workforce Change (School Assistants and support staff). Any change of location required will involve full consultation and discussion with individual employees and relevant trade union representatives.

The basic staffing entitlement for Troon Primary School will continue to be set in accordance with the Council's approved, Devolved School Management Scheme (2024) and agreed national and local SNCT/JNCT circulars.

Financial Implications

The capital budget for the proposed alterations is not known at present, however, the cost of making any proposed alterations required to Troon Primary School will be funded from the Council's 'Schools Refurbishment Programme' budget for financial year 2024-25 and 2025-26, as approved in the Council's Capital Investment Programme: Expenditure 2024-25 to 2035-36.

School revenue and staffing budgets within South Ayrshire Council are calculated in accordance with the approved Devolved School Management Scheme (2024).

Consultation Process

This proposal is being issued for consideration under the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 and the following stages are covered by the Act.

Consideration by Cabinet with the responsibility for Education

The decision to publish this proposal document and follow the consultation procedures set out in the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 was taken by the Council's Cabinet on 25 September 2024.

Consultees and distribution of the Proposal Document

The proposal document will be published on the Council's web site at www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/consultations with the opportunity for any member of the public to respond to the consultation electronically, either online or by email. Copies of the proposal document will also be made available to the consultees listed below, free of charge, as prescribed by the Act.

• The Parent Council of Troon Primary School

• The Parents and Carers of young people attending Troon Primary School

• Relevant children and young people currently attending Troon Primary School

• The Parents and Carers of young people expected to attend Troon Primary School within 2 years of the date of publication of this proposal document

• The teaching and support staff at Troon Primary School

• The Trade Union representatives of the above staff

• The Community Council

• The Community Planning Partnership

• Local Elected Members

• The Constituency MSP

• List MSP's for the area

• The Constituency MP

• Religious representatives associated with Troon Primary School

• The Chief Executive, NHS Ayrshire and Arran

Physical copies of the proposal document will also be placed in:

• Troon Primary School, Barassie Street, Troon

• Troon Municipal Buildings, Ayr Street Troon, and

• South Ayrshire Council County Buildings, Wellington Square, Ayr.

Length of Consultation Period

The consultation process will begin with a press release to appropriate local media outlets by Tuesday 01 October 2024 and will cease on Wednesday 20 November 2024. This allows for a consultation period in excess of 30 school days, as required by statute.

Public Meetings

The following public meeting has been arranged at which Officers from the Council's Educational Services will be available to explain the proposal and offer an opportunity to attendees to ask any questions, state their views or raise points of clarification.

•  Troon Primary School, Barassie St, Troon, KA10 6LX - Thursday 24 October 2024 - 7.00pm

A note of the views expressed at the public meeting will be recorded as part of the consultation process.

Involvement of Education Scotland

A copy of the proposal paper and the date of the public meeting have been sent to Education Scotland, who are responsible for inspection and review of schools. Education Scotland will also receive a copy of any relevant written representations that are received by the Council from any person during the consultation period or, if Education Scotland agree, a summary of them. Education Scotland will also receive a summary of any points made to the Council at the public meeting that will be held and, as available (and so far as otherwise practicable), a copy of any other relevant documentation. Education Scotland will then prepare a report on the educational aspects of the proposal no later than 3 weeks after the Council has sent them all representations and documents mentioned above. However, for the avoidance of doubt, the 3 week period will not start until after the consultation period has ended. In preparing their report, Education Scotland may visit the affected schools and speak to staff, children and young people, Parents and Carers and other people as they consider appropriate.

Note on Corrections

If any inaccuracy or omission is discovered in this proposal document either by the Council or any person, the Council will determine if relevant information has been omitted or, there has been an inaccuracy. It will then take appropriate action which may include the issue of a correction or the reissuing of the proposal paper or the revision of the timescale for the consultation period if appropriate. In that event, relevant consultees and Education Scotland will be advised.

Preparation of the Consultation Report

After following the consultation process described above the proposal will then be reviewed by Educational Services, taking into account the Education Scotland report, written representations received and oral representations made by any person at the public meeting. A consultation report containing the information required by Section 10 of the 2010 Act will be prepared. The report will include a record of the total number of written representations made during the consultation period, a summary of the written representations, a summary of the oral representations made at the public meeting, the Council's response to the Education Scotland report as well as any written or oral representations it has received, together with a copy of the Education Scotland Report and any other relevant information, including details of any alleged inaccuracies or omissions and how these have been dealt with. The report will also contain a statement explaining how it complies with the requirement to review the proposal, in light of the Education Scotland report, and representations (both written and oral) that the Council has received.

The consultation report will be published on the Council's website and made available for further consideration for a period of 3 weeks. The publication of this report is required under the consultation legislation but is not available for comment or further response.

Decision

This report will be submitted to a future meeting of the Council's Cabinet for consideration and Elected Members will decide whether or not to implement the proposal in whole or in part. The decision may be subject to the Council's scrutiny process.

Data Protection Act 2018

Those submitting a response should note that personal information i.e. name, address and contact details will not be made available publicly. Only staff involved in the management and administration of the consultation exercise, including Education Scotland and the Elected Members of the Council will be given access to that information. An anonymised summary of the responses will be published on the Council's website for information.

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