Issue - meetings

This report provides a summary of the informal consultation undertaken between March and April 2026 on a proposal to expand Phoenix Arch Special School by 50 places using the Strathcona site (Strathcona Road, Wembley). The proposal to expand the school is a response to increasing demand for special school places across the borough for children who present with autistic spectrum condition (ASC) with approval being sought (taking into consideration the responses to the informal consultation) to move to a formal consultation through publication of a statutory notice to expand Phoenix Arch Special School through use of the Strathcona site.

Cabinet RESOLVED to approve a period of formal consultation, through publication of a statutory notice, on the proposal to expand Phoenix Arch primary school by 50 pupils through use of the Strathcona site

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Monday 29 June 2026

As the final agenda item, Councillor Rubin (Cabinet Member Children’s Services, Employment and Climate Action) introduced a report from the Corporate Director Children, Young People and Community Development providing a summary of the informal consultation undertaken between March and April 2026 on a proposal to expand Phoenix Arch Special School by 50 places using the Strathcona site (Strathcona Road, Wembley) in response to increasing demand for special school places across the borough with approval being sought (taking into consideration the responses to the informal consultation) to move to a formal consultation on the expansion proposal.

In presenting the report, Councillor Rubin began by advising members how the proposal to move to the next stage of consultation on the expansion of Phoenix Arch Special School onto the Strathcona site reflected part of a wider commitment to ensuring that every child in Brent could access the education and support they needed to thrive as well as addressing the increasing level of demand for SEND provision.  In Brent, this included more than 4,300 children and young people with Education, Health and Care Plans, with a growing number requiring specialist provision and the proposal before Cabinet therefore designed to create an additional 50 specialist places for children with SEND.

As part of a wider context Councillor Rubin, in recognising the need for reform of the SEND system, welcomed the new direction being set nationally by the Government under their SEND reform programme which had been designed to reflect the need for both greater inclusion in mainstream schools and increased specialist provision for children with the highest levels of need.  In terms of the proposal outlined, members were advised that the proposed expansion of Phoenix Arch School had been developed to reflect the same approach in helping to build local capacity enabling children to access the right support, in the right setting, at the right time and ensuring better support for those children with the highest levels of need, including access to more specialist and tailored teaching, therapeutic support and learning environments designed around their needs.

In addition, members were advised that the approach had also been designed to reduce the need for children within Brent to have to travel outside of the borough to access suitable placements.  Highlighting the benefits of this approach, it was pointed out that the expansion of local provision would not only enable children to remain connected to their communities while reducing the burden on their families but would also help reduce the reliance on costly out-of-borough and independent placements, given the increasing pressure on both the High Needs Block and school transport budgets, ensuring that every child had the opportunity to succeed and get the best possible start in life.

In welcoming and commending the approach outlined, Cabinet (in considering the report) supported the proposed use of the Strathcona Site for the purpose outlined in terms of the delivery of high quality SEND provision recognising the level of demand across the borough and reputation of Phoenix Arch Specialist School  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12