Agenda item

(To receive a report from Eileen McMorrow, Senior Project Officer, SEND Review, which invites the Scrutiny Committee to consider a report on Building Communities of Specialist Provision Strategy for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities,  which is due to be considered by the Executive on 6 November 2018)

The Committee gave consideration to a joint report from Eileen McMorrow, Senior Project Officer, SEND Review and Sheridan Dodsworth Children's Service Manager - SEND, which invited the Scrutiny Committee to consider a report on Building Communities of Specialist Provision Strategy, which was due to be considered by the Executive at its meeting on 6 November 2018. 

The Chairman welcomed to the meeting Sheridan Dodsworth, Children's Service Manager – SEND, Daran Bland, Executive Headteacher of the Priory School, the Garth School and the John Fielding School, Eileen McMorrow, Senior Project Officer, SEND Review and Coralie Cross, Lincolnshire Parent Carer Forum Chair.

In guiding the Committee through the report the Children's Service Manager – SEND advised that a copy of the full report to the Executive was attached at Appendix 1 to the report.  The Committee was advised that the following Appendices were attached to the Executive report.

·         Appendix A – A copy of the Building Communities of Specialist Provision Together in Lincolnshire Strategy;

·         Appendix B – A copy of the Public Consultation on the Building Communities of Specialist Provision Strategy (Consultation Phase 8 January 2018 to 14 March 2018);

·         Appendix C – Details of the Public Consultation Feedback with Responses; and

·         Appendix D – Equality Impact Assessment.

It was reported that the proposed changes to the Academies cited in the strategy had already been approved by the Regional Schools Commissioner, and that there was no additional decision-making processes required for the approval of the strategy beyond the one arising from the report.

The Committee was advised that the strategic vision for SEND was to build communities of place for children and young people with SEND, around their local schools.  It was highlighted that pupils attending their local special school would benefit from having less travelling time, have more social time with their families, and have more time with their school friends.  If approved, the strategy would have a positive impact around community cohesion, and enabling children and young people with SEND to add value to their local communities.

It was noted that implementing the capital programme of works would ensure that all special schools had the facilities and premises to meet all needs including a new school at Boston.  Details of the funding allocations were shown at the bottom of page 22.  It was highlighted that capital funding of £34,517 had been identified.

The report highlighted that the Council was committed to implementing the strategy to improve the lives of pupils with SEND and their families.  It was noted that the Community Inclusive Trust had already contributed over £2.5m through a successful CIF bid, and all other Academy Trusts had committed to ensuring all future CIF bids were consistent with the vision as outlined in the strategy.  It was noted further that the Government treasury were also expected to release further SEND capital opportunities over the coming year, either through direct allocation or through bidding rounds, which Lincolnshire would be exploring.

The Committee was also advised that the local authority would be submitting an initial application to the DfE for the first and priority new free school, as part of the strategy; and if successful applicants would be invited to tender for the free school in the Spring of 2019. It was also highlighted that additional funding to support the implementation of the SEND vision had been identified from the Dedicated Schools Grant.  The one-off brought forward monies would be utilised to develop the revenue elements of the strategy including implementation of the workforce development framework, and supporting schools with planned growth in places.

In conclusion, the Committee were asked to consider the Executive report presented and to support the recommendations to the Executive.

Coralie Cross the Lincolnshire Parent Carer Forum Chair advised the Committee that the Parent Carer Forum were very appreciative that they had been invited by the Council to be involved in the process at an early stage; and to the fact that the Parent Carer Forum had been able to challenge the process as it evolved.

Daran Bland, Executive Headteacher of the Priory School, the Garth School and the John Fielding School, provided the Committee with a background to his teaching career.  The Committee was advised that the implementation of the strategy was invigorating and exciting times for special schools; and that special schools were all behind the vision the council was aiming to achieve for children with SEND in Lincolnshire.

During discussion, the Committee raised the following comments:-

o   The Committee extended support to the level of built in sustainability and adequate capacity proposed as part of the proposals and the consideration given to future growth planning;

o   The Committee welcomed the proposals on workforce development and queried whether workforce capacity would increase as part of the proposals to expand capacity. Officers confirmed that the proposals would aim for planned growth over time, with a gradual change where expansion in numbers was planned. The need to incentivise training and development within special schools as part of the talent pipeline was also endorsed as a key aim of the proposals;

o   The Committee queried the level of Health engagement as part of the development of the proposals. It was confirmed that local health provision had representation as part of the project development board. Officers confirmed that engagement with Health had been positive and had identified significant areas of development for a more effective Health offer as part of the proposals;

o   The Committee highlighted the proposals for enhanced mainstream inclusion to enable pupils with SEND to be educated in their local mainstream school as best practice. The Committee sought assurance that enhanced mainstream inclusion would be a key aim of the strategy. Officers confirmed that operationalising good practice was a priority and that initial work to identify possible models to achieve greater mainstream inclusion was underway. It was agreed that the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee would receive further consideration of this area. as the policy developed;

o   The Committee received assurance that the level of skills and experience within the special school sector would be retained as part of the change to meet all need provision;

o   The Committee emphasised strong support for enabling pupils to attend their local special school and the greater integration in their local communities this would bring; and

o   The Committee expressed thanks to the Lincolnshire Parent Carer Forum and other partners and officers for the excellent work undertaken to develop a strong groundwork, level of collaboration and commitment as part of the proposed strategy. The Committee also thanked Daran Bland, Executive Headteacher of the Priory School, the Garth School and the John Fielding School for his attendance at the meeting.

RESOLVED

1.    The Committee unanimously supported the recommendations to the Executive.

2.    The Committee requested that the following comments be passed onto the Executive as part of their consideration of this  item:-

o   The Committee extended support to the level of built in sustainability and adequate capacity proposed as part of the proposals and the consideration given to future growth planning;

o   The Committee welcomed the proposals on workforce development and queried whether workforce capacity would increase as part of the proposals to expand capacity. Officers confirmed that the proposals would aim for planned growth over time, with a gradual change where expansion in numbers was planned. The need to incentivise training and development within special schools as part of the talent pipeline was also endorsed as a key aim of the proposals;

o   The Committee queried the level of Health engagement as part of the development of the proposals. It was confirmed that local health provision had representation as part of the project development board. Officers confirmed that engagement with Health had been positive and had identified significant areas of development for a more effective Health offer as part of the proposals;

o   The Committee highlighted the proposals for enhanced mainstream inclusion to enable pupils with SEND to be educated in their local mainstream school as best practice. The Committee sought assurance that enhanced mainstream inclusion would be a key aim of the strategy. Officers confirmed that operationalising good practice was a priority and that initial work to identify possible models to achieve greater mainstream inclusion was underway. It was agreed that the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee would receive further consideration of this area. as the policy developed;

o   The Committee received assurance that the level of skills and experience within the special school sector would be retained as part of the change to meet all need provision;

o   The Committee emphasised strong support for enabling pupils to attend their local special school and the greater integration in their local communities this would bring; and

o   The Committee expressed thanks to the Lincolnshire Parent Carer Forum and other partners and officers for the excellent work undertaken to develop a strong groundwork, level of collaboration and commitment as part of the proposed strategy. The Committee also thanked Daran Bland, Executive Headteacher of the Priory School, the Garth School and the John Fielding School for his attendance at the meeting.