Issue - meetings

(To receive a report from the Executive Director of Children's Services, which seeks approval of the strategic vision of SEND provision as outlined in the Building Communities of Specialist Provision Strategy document at Appendix A for the purposes of consultation)

(1)      That approval be given to the strategic vision of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision, as outlined in the Building Communities of Specialist Provision Strategy document at Appendix A to the report, for the purposes of consultation.

(2)      That approval be given to the engagement in public consultation on the strategy in order to collect feedback, comments and suggestions from those most closely associated and affected by the proposed changes.

(3)      That the Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services be delegated authority to approve the final adoption of the strategy and to make all decisions necessary to give effect to any changes to maintained special school provision made necessary by the strategy.

A report from the Executive Director of Children's Services was considered, which sought approval of the strategic vision of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision, as outlined in the Building Communities of Specialist Provision: A Collaborative Strategy for Children and Young People with SEND in Lincolnshire, as detailed at Appendix A to the report,for the purposes of consultation. 

The Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services presented the report to the Executive.

The Senior Project Officer Specialist Schools Project advised that Lincolnshire had 20 special schools for pupils with SEND, and that all special schools were delivering Good or Outstanding education according to the current Ofsted ratings.  In 2015/16 the Council had commissioned some research by the ISOS Partnership which had identified the need to reshape SEND provision to meet the needs of the increasing population of pupils requiring placement in special school settings.  The research had also highlighted a need for more collaborative working between special and mainstream schools.  The combination of the research and changes to national policy development from the Department for Education, the Council had identified the need to review its current provision and create a new strategy to reshape the special school system in Lincolnshire.

It was also highlighted that the high demand for special school places had put significant capacity pressures on many of Lincolnshire special schools.  The current education system had special schools operating within clearly defined designations, and as a result many pupils had to travel for significant periods of time and distance in order to access a special school place which could meet their individual needs.

In response to the identified local challenges and national directives, Lincolnshire had recognised the need to work more collaboratively to address the main issues impacting on special school provision.  The Building Communities of Specialist Provision Strategy proposed to develop an integrated system of special education for pupils with SEND, to meet their education and health care needs as close to their home as possible.  This would be achieved as a result of significant capital investment being made to special schools to enhance their provision to meet most of the needs and designations of disability, and to create increased capacity to meet growing demand. 

It was noted that the proposed model had been agreed with all special school Head Teachers and the Lincolnshire Parent Carer Forum and fully met the strategic vision for SEND provision. 

The proposals identified within the report would be subject to wider consultation with parents, pupils, academy trusts, schools (mainstream and special) and the range of providers engaged in providing for the health and education of pupils with SEND in Lincolnshire.  This would enable feedback, comments and suggestions from those most closely associated and affected by proposed changes to further inform the final Strategy.

The results of the consultation would be presented to the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee and the Executive / Executive Councillor to seek a decision whether to proceed with the Strategy in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36