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23 Jun 08Bid For New Pupil Referral Unit
Councillors have approved plans to bid for Government funds to create a new pupil referral unit in Poole.
Borough of Poole will make a bid to the Department for Children, Schools and Families 
(DCSF) to seek funding for proposals to build a new base for the Learning Support Service (LSS) on the site the former Rossmore Library in Herbert Avenue, Poole.
The service provides education for young people who have been permanently excluded from school.
It currently operates two pupil referral units at Broadstone Youth Centre and Hamworthy Youth Centre (The Gaff). It also uses the Central Library and youth centres at Creekmoor and Turlin Moor.
New accommodation for the service has been identified as a priority because the current units cannot provide specialist facilities to deliver the Key Stage 3 and 4 curriculum to pupils. The LSS was placed in special measures by Ofsted in November 2007. Inspectors were critical of several aspects of the service, including the standard of the current accommodation.
John Nash, Strategic Director for Children's Services, Borough of Poole, said: "Finding a new home for the Learning Support Service is a high priority for the council. The former Rossmore Library site is available and meets the requirements of the proposed scheme.
"By creating new accommodation we can provide suitable facilities to support young people, some with difficult or challenging circumstances, to get a better education."
A new centre is estimated to cost in the region of £2 million and Borough of Poole is expected to meet 50 per cent of the budget for the project from its own funds.
The council will submit a Targeted Capital Fund application to the DCSF and will hear the outcome of its bid by September. If the bid is successful, a consultation on the proposal will be held with the local community and key stakeholders.
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