BACKGROUND
At Llangattock Church in Wales Primary School governors meeting on 26 June an urgent issue was bought to the attention of the Governors regarding the planned and funded expansion and upgrade of the building for existing pupils and +3 provision due to start in May this year.
The school was encouraged to deliver the +3 provision as there is a lack of support for this age group in South Powys. They have been delivering this provision for the past academic year which Powys received funding for from the Welsh Government.
The Church in Wales and Llangattock Education Fund have supported the cost of this extension and improvement by providing £120,000 towards the total cost.
The work, which had already been delayed from last autumn, should have started three weeks ago with promises ensuring the return after the summer break could be properly planned. The container to take classroom equipment should have arrived on Monday 25 June 2108. When it didn’t arrive the Head Teacher contacted the contractor to be told that Powys County Council had not authorised yet. When she contacted Powys it would seem that the financial sign off had not yet been completed. The phrase used to the Head was the project was in ‘jeopardy’ which not only angered her but greatly concerned her too.
QUESTION
Can the portfolio holder assure me and the school that the build project will be on time and will be completed as planned to ensure that educating the children in Llangattock Church in Wales school is able to begin in September. Can she also assure me that full financial support is given to the school for the increase in provision which up to date has not been forthcoming? The school has covered the +3 costs to date because of the promised extension and classroom improvements.
Minutes:
At Llangattock Church in Wales Primary School governors meeting on 26 June an urgent issue was bought to the attention of the Governors regarding the planned and funded expansion and upgrade of the building for existing pupils and +3 provision due to start in May this year.
The school was encouraged to deliver the +3 provision as there is a lack of support for this age group in South Powys. They have been delivering this provision for the past academic year which Powys received funding for from the Welsh Government.
The Church in Wales and Llangattock Education Fund have supported the cost of this extension and improvement by providing £120,000 towards the total cost.
The work, which had already been delayed from last autumn, should have started three weeks ago with promises ensuring the return after the summer break could be properly planned. The container to take classroom equipment should have arrived on Monday 25 June 2108. When it didn’t arrive the Head Teacher contacted the contractor to be told that Powys County Council had not authorised yet. When she contacted Powys it would seem that the financial sign off had not yet been completed. The phrase used to the Head was the project was in ‘jeopardy’ which not only angered her but greatly concerned her too.
QUESTION
Can the portfolio holder assure me and the school that the build project will be on time and will be completed as planned to ensure that educating the children in Llangattock Church in Wales school is able to begin in September. Can she also assure me that full financial support is given to the school for the increase in provision which up to date has not been forthcoming? The school has covered the +3 costs to date because of the promised extension and classroom improvements.
Response
The authority apologises for the delay in the progress of the capital building works agreed for Llangattock CiW School.
The project was intended to be completed by early September 2018. A contractor has been engaged to complete the work, starting on site on the 23rd July 2018 and completing on the 12th October 2018.
There has been agreement reached with the Llangattock Community Hall which will allow the use of the hall for the 3+ setting during the works. In terms of maintaining educational delivery for the school, we are putting a plan in place to enable internal alteration works to be completed during the school summer holidays.
Supporting any moves will be the provision of a steel storage container and this will be in place next week for the duration of the work and to allow decanting of classrooms. There are alterations and extensions to provide additional toilet facilities and if required then temporary toilets will be put in place for the pupils to ensure welfare facilities are maintained.
In response to Councillor Charlton’s supplementary question the Portfolio Holder gave an assurance that the department would deal with parents’ complaints and would respond on the issue of funding the 3 plus service.
Supporting documents: