Agenda item

(To receive a report from Mary Meredith, Head of Inclusion, which provides the Schools' Forum with an overview of Lincolnshire's current alternative provision arrangements)

Consideration was given to a report from Martin Smith, Interim Assistant Director – Education which provided the Schools' Forum with an overview of Lincolnshire's current alternative provision arrangements.

The Forum were reminded that to stem the rising number of permanent exclusions, the Lincolnshire Ladder of Intervention had been introduced; and the Schools' Forum had agreed to fund additional resource through the behaviour Outreach Support Service (BOSS) with commissioned Alternative Provision (AP) places also being made available to schools as a resource for them to access prior to permanent exclusion, should the BOSS intervention prove insufficient.

Details of the current pupil numbers were shown on page 48 of the report presented.  It was highlighted that the 252 commissioned places that formed the Wellspring Academy Trust/Springwell Lincolnshire were now equally divided across four purpose-built free schools, three of which had opened during the summer.  It was highlighted that current pupil numbers had highlighted a geographical challenge.  The Forum noted that there was potential to resolve the geographical issue through the LA's second AP partner, Build a Future (BaF), which provided for KS4 and vocational pathway for disaffected adolescents.  The Forum was advised that BaF currently operated out of West Ashby and Boston; and that the provider was actively seeking a third site in the Lincoln area, which if secured, would alleviate the geographical/transport challenges.

The Forum was advised that Springwell Lincolnshire and BaF enabled the LA to deliver its statutory duty to provide full-time education on the sixth day following a permanent exclusion.  It was noted that both providers delivered the third step of the Ladder, and an extract from the Ladder: Step 3 was shown on page 49 of the report.  It was highlighted that for the year 2018/19 an amendment had been introduced to the Ladder when the option of single-registered place into AP, via the ladder, was removed.  It was highlighted further that this had been necessary to ensure that the LA processes were compliant with Ofsted's definition of off-rolling, as published in September 2018.  A copy of the Ofsted's definition of 'off-rolling' was shown on page 50 of the report.

In conclusion, the Forum was advised that the LAs AP arrangements had played a critical role in reducing permanent exclusion.  It was highlighted that the primary sector had delivered a 62% decrease in permanent exclusion since 2015/16, against a national context which had seen the primary rate increase for the first time ever, and the rate for five year olds double since 2016/17.  It was highlighted further that for the secondary sector, Lincolnshire was out-performing all of its statistical neighbours (0.18%).

The Forum was advised that Build a Future had been judged by Ofsted in March 2019 as being 'Good'.  Details of the key strengths identified were shown on page 52 of the report, as were attainment headlines from BaF.

During discussion, the Forum raised the following issues:-

·         Some concern was expressed to the number of secondary pupils excluded.  A request was made for further information pertaining to fixed term exclusions.  Officers confirmed that fixed term exclusions was a matter that would be considered by the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee; and

·         A further question was asked as to whether the LA was working with secondary schools that were excluding.  The Forum was advised that the LA was and continued to work with secondary schools; and in some instances the LA referred schools to either Ofsted or the Regional Schools Commissioner where concerns were raised.

RESOLVED

That the Alternative Provision Arrangements report as presented be noted.