Regulation 4 Content and duration of school organisation plan
For the purposes of section 26(2)(a) and (ab) of the Act (which provides that a school organisation plan is a statement which sets out how the authority propose to exercise their functions and powers during the prescribed period with a view to securing the provision of primary and secondary education that will meet the needs of the population of their area during that period) the prescribed period is the period starting with the date upon which the draft plan is adopted by the authority under regulation 8 or 9 and ending at the end of the fifth school year after the school year in which that draft plan was published.
The reference in paragraph (1) to the publication of a draft plan is a reference to the initial publication of that draft plan under regulation 5 irrespective of whether a fresh draft plan replacing that draft plan was subsequently published under regulation 9(1).
The plan must in particular deal with—
demographic information relevant to the supply of places in schools maintained by the authority;
statistical information relating to the number of existing places in primary and secondary schools maintained by the authority;
a statement of policies and principles relevant to the provision of places in schools maintained by the authority;
conclusions, drawn from the demographic and statistical information, policies and principles, about any excess or insufficiency in the provision of primary and secondary education in schools maintained by the authority during the period to which the plan relates;
the authority’s proposals for remedying any excess or insufficiency in the provision of primary and secondary education in schools maintained by the authority during the period to which the plan relates; and
the provision which the authority proposes to make during that period for children with special educational needs.
In connection with the preparation of a plan in accordance with this regulation, and in relation to the operation of a plan, the authority is to have regard to guidance issued from time to time by the National Assembly for Wales.