SPC Opening Hours

Summary

The requester asked for a breakdown of Specialist Provision Centre (SPC) opening times and the policy rationale for variations, but the Department of Education, Sport and Culture stated it does not hold the specific policy or equality impact assessment requested.

Key Facts

• SPC opening times generally match the compulsory school day of the host school.
• The SPC at University College Isle of Man operates from 9am to 3pm.
• The Department does not hold a specific policy or equality impact assessment regarding SPC opening time variations.
• School opening times vary between institutions and are published on individual school websites.
• Transport timetables managed by Bus Vannin can cause learners to arrive or depart at different times.

Data Disclosed

• 4456613
• 2025-02-19
• 2025-03-05
• 9am
• 3pm
• 3:20pm
• 3:30pm
• section 20

Exemptions Cited

• Section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Information reasonably accessible)

Original Request

Dear Sirs Please provide a breakdown of SPC opening times. In the following format for example: Ballacottier. KS1 9am -3:20pm, KS2 9am-3:30pm SPC 9am - 3:20pm Where possible provide the rationale / policy extract as to why the opening times of SPCs differ alongside any equality impact assessment.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Policy, Strategy and Governance Division Department of Education, Sport and Culture Thie Slieau Whallian Foxdale Road St Johns IM4 3AS

Telephone: (01624) 685808 Website: www.gov.im/dec Email: dec@foi.gov.im

Our ref: 4456613 5th March 2025

Dear ###,

We write further to your request received 19 February 2025, which states:

"Dear Sirs

Please provide a breakdown of SPC opening times. In the following format for example:

Ballacottier. KS1 9am -3:20pm, KS2 9am-3:30pm SPC 9am - 3:20pm

Where possible provide the rationale / policy extract as to why the opening times of SPCs differ alongside any equality impact assessment."

Our response to your request is as follows:

1. Please provide a breakdown of SPC opening times. In the following format for example:

Ballacottier. KS1 9am -3:20pm, KS2 9am-3:30pm SPC 9am - 3:20pm

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, under section 20 of the Act, we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you, whether free of charge or on payment of a fee.

By way of advice and assistance Specialist Provision Centre opening times are the same as the compulsory school day for the school where they are based. The timing of the compulsory school day varies between schools. School opening times can be found on the individual schools’ websites.

The Specialist Provision Centre at the University College Isle of Man opens 9 until 3pm.

1. Where possible provide the rationale / policy extract as to why the opening times of SPCs differ alongside any equality impact assessment.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested. The reason for this is the Department does not hold a policy or equality impact assessment that relates to your request.

By way of advice and assistance, learners who receive home to school transport managed by Bus Vannin, may occasionally arrive at school slightly earlier or later than usual, and may also be picked up early. A minibus will often pick up and drop off learners at more than one school and the driver will have a timetable/route determined by Bus Vannin. The route is influenced by various factors, including school start and end times, the locations of learners' homes, and the need to avoid traffic congestion caused by other school buses and parents.

Parents may also choose to drop their children off/pick them up slightly earlier, to avoid their child becoming dysregulated when the school environment is busy or to coordinate with collecting children from other schools.

Please quote the reference number 4456613 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.
If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.