Agenda item

Alternative Provision Arrangements

To receive a report from Mary Meredith, Children's Service Manager – Inclusion, which provides the Schools' Forum with an update on how the new alternative provision arrangements are working)

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report from Mary Meredith, Children's Service Manager, Inclusion, which provided the Schools' Forum with an update on how the new alternative provision arrangements were working.

 

The Forum noted that alternative provision was commonly defined as being education outside school, which was arranged by local authorities or schools themselves.  Schools were encouraged to use alternative provision to prevent exclusions, or to re-engage pupils in their education. 

 

It was reported that for academic years 2016/17 and 2017/18 the Council had commissioned 252 places for Springwell Lincoln Academy (of Wellspring Academy Trust) to provide education for all permanently excluded pupils, or those referred through the Lincolnshire Ladder for either an intervention place (KS1-3) or an 'Alternative Pathway' place.  It was noted that in protecting capacity of PRU places, the 'Ladder' was a crucial mechanism.  It was noted further that a multi-agency panel met fortnightly to review all referrals KS1-4, to ensure that the pupils had been screened for unmet learning needs; and that they had benefitted from evidence-based intervention and reasonable adjustment; and that Behaviour Outreach Support Service (or equivalent for schools who use their own service) had been engaged and had agreed that the referral for intervention place or KS4 Alternative Pathway was appropriate.  The Forum noted that the process was robust.

 

The report highlighted that AP places were only for pupils as an alternative to permanent exclusion when all else had failed.  They were not early intervention places; as this needed to happen within mainstream schools as the 2017 exclusion guidance had emphasised.  The core function of the Panel; was to promote evidence-based inclusive practice; and that the 'Inclusive Lincolnshire Toolkit', promoted through Head Teacher briefings, was a written guide to support this.  It was highlighted that engagement with the ladder could be measured, as highlighted in 2016/17 the difference between secondary and primary exclusions.  It was highlighted further that a key aim for the current academic year was to engage secondary schools more positively in the process.

 

Page 68/69 of the report explained to the Forum the methods adopted by the Council concerning reintegration of permanently excluded pupils. 

 

The Forum was advised that the Council had commissioned a range of services to strengthen best practice in early intervention and thus limit the need for alternative provision and any subsequent reintegration.  Officers made reference to BOSS; the Working Together Team; the Pupil Reintegration Team; and Collaborative Headteacher Panels (CHIPS).  The Forum noted that the CHIPS had been established in Lincoln; and that by Christmas 2017, the goal was to have established CHIPS across the entire county. 

 

The Forum was advised that the Council's aspiration was to invest in the vocational sector to further reduce secondary exclusions.  It was highlighted that during 2016/17 the Wellspring Academy Trust had successfully converted the Mary Knox in Lincoln, formerly part of the Teaching and Learning Centre, to create Springwell Lincoln City Academy, with satellite sites at Gainsborough (Longwood House), Boston (Carlton Road), Baumber and Mablethorpe.  It was noted that this was however an interim arrangement.

 

One member enquired as to whether the Council had the manpower to deal with the provision and what the financial implications were.  Officers advised that it was educating schools to take different decisions; and getting the strategies to work better together to achieve the required outcomes.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Alternative Provision Arrangement as detailed in the report be noted.   

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