Agenda item

Consultation on Future Provision of Dedicated Speech and Language/Primary Units

To receive a report from the Debbie Barnes, Executive Director of Children's Services, which sets out a consultation which recommends the discontinuance of the three dedicated speech and language referral units across Lincolnshire, and to provide Speech and Language services to children requiring interventions in the school which they are on the roll)

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report from Debbie Barnes, Executive Director of Children's Services, which provided the Forum with details of the consultation which recommended the discontinuance of three dedicated speech and language referral units across Lincolnshire, and to provide Speech and Language services to children requiring interventions in the school for which they are on the roll.  The Committee was advised that the consultation had commenced on 9 March 2016 and had finished on 22 April 2016.  Appendix A to the report presented provided a copy of the Consultation document for the Committee's consideration. 

 

The report advised that the final report to the Executive Councillor Adult Care and Health Services, Children's Services would be considered by the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 27 May 2016, prior to a decision being taken by the Executive Councillor on 10 June 2016.

 

The Children's Service Manager, Special Educational Needs and Disability guided the Committee through the report advised that currently for children at primary age, the County Council commissioned three schools to provide educational and therapeutic support to children with complex speech and language difficulties and that currently there were 21 children attending the three units.  The three units were situated in Monkshouse Primary (Spalding), Mablethorpe Primary School (Mablethorpe) and Fosse Way (Lincoln).

 

The consultation document proposed an alternative model which recommended that pupils with complex or severe speech and/or language needs remained within their local primary school and continued to be educated in this setting, whilst receiving short term intensive therapeutic services to support them in reaching their full potential.  It was highlighted that pupils with more complex educational support needs would then follow the appropriate pathway for an Education, Health and Care Plan.

 

It was highlighted that the model also addressed the concerns of some parents that the young children should remain in their local community, at their local school and not having to travel long distances to attend one of the three units. 

 

It was reported that the Lincolnshire Community Health Service, the four Clinical Commissioning Groups and the Local Authority would be working together to enhance the current speech and language treatment outreach support service into mainstream primary schools to allow young children with complex speech and language needs to be able to remain in a mainstream school setting.

 

The Forum noted that in the future those pupils would form part of the census for mainstream primary schools for funding purposes and where a child's needs required an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, top up funding would be allocated.  The model aimed to provide support for children with complex speech and/or language needs within their own local community school and for those pupils with more complex educational support needs to follow the appropriate pathway for an EHC plan.

 

The Chairman advised that if any Forum members had missed the consultation deadline, he suggested that they still submit a response, as it might still be considered.

 

RESOLVED

 

            That the report be noted.

Supporting documents:

 

 
 
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