Agenda item

(To receive a report from Sheridan Dodsworth, Children's Services Manager, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), which provides the Schools' Forum with an annual update on SEND as required by the Schools' Forum Regulations)

The Chairman invited Sheridan Dodsworth, Children's Services Manager, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities to present the report to the Forum.

The Forum was advised that the purpose of the report was to provide the Forum with an annual update of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), as required by the Schools' Forum Regulations.

In guiding the Forum through the report, reference was made to:

·               The background information relating to SEND;

·               The national context – It was reported that in January 2020 there were 390,109 children and young people (0-25) in England with an EHC plan; this was an increase of 36,100 (10%) from January 2019.  It was noted almost half of the new plans made in 2019 were for those aged between 5 and 10 years of age.  Further details were provided on pages 50 and 51 of the report);

·               The Context in Lincolnshire – The Forum was advised that 16.3% of pupils on the roll of Lincolnshire schools had a special educational need.  As of January 2020, 5,118 children and young people (0-25) had an EHC Plan.  It was highlighted that this was a 10% increase from January 2019.  The Forum noted that there had been 747 new EHC plans recorded in 2019; and 1,390 requests for EHC Assessments had been made throughout 2019.  Further activity data was provided on pages 51 – 52 of the report;

·               High Needs Funding Analysis – Page 53 of the report provided the Forum with a table, which highlighted the total funding allocated over the last five years for learners with high level needs who attended mainstream schools and academies; as was information relating to Special Schools and Independent Non-Maintained Specialist Provision and Independent School placements in Lincolnshire;

·               Trajectories and risk around SEND activity – The Forum was advised that it was anticipated that if the education sector and partners continued to respond as they currently were to children and young people with additional needs then the authority would be responsible for in excess of 8,000 EHC plans by 2023.  At the end of September 2020, the authority already had over 6,000 EHC plans, which was almost a 50% increase over the six years since the introduction of the SEND reforms.  It was reported that the HN Budget for 2019/20 was £85.297m.  For 2020/21 the budget was £92.943m; and current spending commitments were showing a forecasted overspend. Members were reminded that Building Communities of Specialist Provision strategy approved in November 2018 would create additional capacity through significant capital investment in the Special School estate.  It was highlighted that under the current trajectory, indications were that the new places created would be filled in a short space of time, unless steps were taken to support young people to return to mainstream provision when they were ready.  It was highlighted further that it was currently rare for a young person to transition from Special School to mainstream despite the fact their outcomes in Special Schools were likely to be poorer.  Outcome information for children and young people was detailed on pages 54 and 55 of the report;

·               Transformation in Lincolnshire for children and young people with SEND – The Forum noted Lincolnshire had a very well established collaboration with the Parent Carer Forum and colleagues across the health sector; and that using the collaborative approach, the system was working together to change the way in which children and young people with SEND were supported.  It was highlighted that an 'Inclusive Ambition' had been co-produced to ensure that change happened.  A list showing ten system ambitions and key activities were shown on pages 56 to 58 of the report; and

·               Covid-19 – Page 58 of the report provided the Forum with details of the actions undertaken following the government's announcement in March 2020 of school closures.  It was reported that eighteen of the nineteen Special Schools had been open throughout lockdown.

In conclusion, the Forum was advised that SEND in Lincolnshire was not without challenge, and that there was a committed and ambitious partnership that was already changing its approach to supporting children and young people with additional needs, to ensure that funding was directed to the right activities to maximise their outcomes. 

During discussion, the Forum raised the following points:

·               How long would it be before all the places created by the Building Communities of Specialist Provision strategy were filled?  The Forum was advised that it was hoped initially that the strategy would future prove SEND places for the next ten years, however, with the current trajectory (4% each year) it was now felt this would now be three/four years;

·               The success of the LENS Project in closing the gap.  It was highlighted that the LENS project had been successful in embedding educational support for SEND; and that it was hoped it would be continuing as part of the support package for schools; and

·               How many children and young people with SEND had to go out of county to receive support?  The Forum was advised that currently there were approximately 100 children and young people going out of county to meet their SEND needs. It was noted that there was also some children and young people in independent provision within Lincolnshire.

RESOLVED

That the Annual report on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities presented be received.