Agenda item

(To receive a report from Sheridan Dodsworth, Head of Special Educational Needs and Disability, which provides the Committee with an update on the implementation of the Building Communities of Specialist Provision Strategy)

The Committee gave consideration to a report from Sheridan Dodsworth, Head of Special Educational Needs and Disability, which provided an update on the implementation of the Building Communities of Specialist Provision Strategy.

The Chairman welcomed to the meeting Sheridan Dodsworth, Head of Special Educational Needs and Disability, Eileen McMorrow, Senior Project Officer, Special Educational Needs and Disability and Dave Pennington, Head of Property Development.

The Committee was advised that implementation of the strategy had commenced in January 2019 and that work would continue for the next five years with final school changes being made in September 2024. 

The report presented provided an update on the first ten months of delivery on the capital programme.  Appendix A to the report provided the Committee with an overview of the SEND schools outline programme.  Details of the progress made were shown on pages 60 to 64 of the report.

Appendices B to F provided design plans of some of the schools for the Committee to view.

The Committee noted that Social Emotional and Mental Health Needs (SEMH) groups had been tasked to produce Lincolnshire's SEMH strategic vision for Lincolnshire County Council approval by September 2020.

It was noted further that the proposed model for satellite provision was being developed within the design work stream.  Representatives from mainstream and special education and Local Authority officers had collaborated to develop an aspirational model for satellite provision, which would enable children and young people attending special schools to have access to a wider curriculum and greater mainstream opportunities.  It was reported that 14 mainstream schools had expressed an interest to host a satellite; and the Local Authority (LA) anticipated further expressions of interest from mainstream partners.

Other workstreams that were being developed were Community Led Panels, Health, Specialist Equipment Contract; and Workforce Development.

Councillor S P Roe wished it to be noted that as the location of St Christopher's School was opposite his mother's farm, he left the meeting during discussion and voting thereon.

In conclusion, the Committee was advised that significant progress had been made across the capital investment programme with eight out of the fourteen schools being actively engaged in feasibility and design of their planned development.  It was noted that in accordance with the outlined programme, six schools would be needs operational by the autumn term 2021, with at least two more coming on line in 2022.  Despite the delay identified to the final delivery on St Christopher's School due to the unsuccessful special free school bid, the whole strategic vision would still be implemented in five years from approval as set out in the original strategy.

During discussion, the Committee raised the following points:-

·         A question was asked as to why the Free School Bid had been unsuccessful.  The Committee was advised that the LA had been very disappointed at being unsuccessful in the last round of government free school applications, mainly due to other areas being able to demonstrate a greater need; as nationally other LA's were either at or nearing crisis point;

·         Confirmation was sought as to whether there was sufficient capacity within the LA to ensure that projects were being overseen.  Assurance was given that there was capacity; and that a corporate approach was being implemented between Children's Services and Property to ensure better oversight and monitoring of the projects.  It was reported that for each project, milestones were assessed on a weekly basis; and that there was no concerns regarding timescales or slippage; and that each project had contingency built in to it;

·         A request was made for further information relating to the satellite provision;

·         Workforce issues – The Committee was advised that special schools had fewer problems with recruitment; and

·         The need to ensure that parents were aware of the advantages of the satellite scheme; and the advantages for young people being able to stay within their communities.

The Committee expressed their support for the Building Communities of Specialist Provision Strategy and the update received; and a request was made by some members of the Committee to visit some of the sites.  Officers welcomed visits by members of the Committee.

RESOLVED

That progress on the Building Communities of Specialist Provision Strategy be noted.