Carrongrange campus recommendations to go before councillors
Councillors will be asked to approve proposals for a new £30m all-through Additional Support Needs (ASN) campus at Carrongrange, following the conclusion of a statutory consultation with families, pupils, staff and the wider community.
A report due to be considered by the Council's Executive on 17 September recommends extending provision at Carrongrange to create a single specialist campus for children and young people aged five to 18. The proposal would bring together the existing ASN provision currently delivered through Kinnaird Primary School's Thistle Wing and Thistle Wing Annexe, and Timezone at Maddiston Primary School, within one all-through setting.
The report also recommends that Education Services will continue to engage with Moray Primary School community throughout the design and development phases of the project and explore measures to mitigate any impact on outdoor learning space.
The recommendation follows a statutory consultation which ran from 27 April to 12 June this year and included an online survey, written submissions, public meetings, focus groups and engagement with pupils.
Enhanced learning environment
A total of 66 people responded to the online survey, six written representations were received and 25 people attended public and online meetings. A further 28 people took part in four focus groups, with separate engagement also taking place with representatives of parents at Moray Primary School.
Feedback received during the consultation highlighted strong recognition of the need for high-quality specialist provision for children and young people with severe, profound and complex additional support needs. Respondents identified a range of potential benefits, including enhanced learning environments, improved continuity of learning and the opportunity to bring primary and secondary provision together within a single specialist campus.
HM Inspectors of Education concluded that the proposal has the potential to deliver significant educational benefits, including improved continuity of learning, enhanced specialist provision, stronger multi-agency working and increased capacity to meet future demand for this specialist provision.
The consultation also identified issues that respondents wished to see addressed as the project develops. These included outdoor learning space at Moray Primary School, traffic and transport arrangements, construction activity and future operational considerations. The report notes that these matters will continue to be considered through the detailed design and development process.
Ongoing engagement
Following consideration of the consultation responses, pupil feedback and HM Inspectors findings, Education Services have concluded that the proposal remains the most appropriate and sustainable way of meeting current and future demand for specialist ASN provision for children with complex needs. The report therefore recommends that councillors approve the creation of an all-through 5 to 18 ASN campus at Carrongrange.
Education Services has also committed to ongoing engagement with the Moray Primary School community should the proposal be approved, ensuring local views help inform the design process and any measures introduced to enhance outdoor learning opportunities.
The all-through campus would support children and young people with severe, profound and complex additional support needs from age five to 18, with the aim of providing greater continuity of learning and reducing transitions between different settings and enhancing access to specialist facilities and support.
Jon Reid, Director of Education, said:
The consultation has been an important opportunity for families, pupils, staff and the wider community to share their views on these proposals, and I want to thank everyone who took part.
“We have carefully considered the feedback alongside the findings of HM Inspectors of Education.
“The report identifies a range of potential educational benefits associated with creating an all-through specialist campus, including improved continuity of learning, enhanced specialist facilities and support, and increased capacity to meet the needs of children and young people with severe, profound and complex additional support needs.
"We also recognise the issues raised and are committed to continuing engagement with stakeholders as the project develops should councillors approve the recommendations.
If councillors agree the recommendations, the existing primary ASN provision are anticipated to move to the new Carrongrange campus from January 2029.