Members will be asked to consider any issues raised by schools.

The Chair drew the attention of Members to the letter in the meeting papers pack, which has been received from the Executive Principal, Co-op Academy Southfield. The Executive Principal is also an Academies Member of the Schools Forum and the Chair invited him to address the Forum directly.

In his letter, the Executive Principal sets out the issue of the shift in the way health services are delivered in schools with increasing demands being placed on special schools and staff to provide healthcare to pupils with complex medical needs. The letter is submitted to raise with the Schools Forum the implications of this, in terms of the additional burden of the clinical duties now being taken on by the school workforce and associated concerns about the shift in costs that this represents to the High Needs Block, and therefore to the DSG, through shifting roles previously undertaken by NHS staff onto those employed by schools.

In presenting this letter, the Executive Principal set out his expectation that the Local Authority will take advice and will come back to the Schools Forum in the autumn with a detailed response to enable a ‘fundamental root and branch’ discussion to take place. He stated that he has already been in dialogue with the Deputy Director, Education and Learning, who is supportive of the concerns that are raised. He also stated that the District Achievement Partnership has commissioned some research on this issue, which will also be available for consideration in the autumn. The key aim of this work and of further conversations is to be clear about who has what funding responsibility in Bradford. There are an increasing number of children in schools that have continuing care needs. The historic position has been that the costs of continuing care have been met fully by the NHS. Special schools however, are now experiencing situations where the NHS is seeking through ‘negotiations’ in various ways to shift cost onto schools. An example of this has been the recent decision to transfer responsibility for a part of physiotherapy support to schools. The absence of national guidance in this area is a significant hindrance to both clarity and consistency.

Following the introduction of the letter, the Forum engaged in a detailed conversation, which included further examples where costs of care are being shifted onto schools / onto the DSG High Needs Block, with both Members and Local Authority representatives recognising the significance of this issue and agreeing the importance of resolving it.

Resolved –

Regarding the letter to the Schools Forum on the shift in the way health services are being delivered in schools (with increasing demands being placed on schools and school staff to provide healthcare to pupils with complex medical needs):

(1)       The Local Authority be asked to provide further information,       which enables the Schools Forum to more closely consider the     matters raised and their implications (including the financial             implications on schools   and on the High Needs Block). That this         information includes an initial        response, which sets out the     Authority’s ‘legal opinion’.

(2)       Full ‘back to basics’ discussions take place aimed at securing   greater clarity on the respective responsibilities of schools and     health services in meeting the costs of healthcare for pupils with   complex medical    needs.

Action:          Deputy Director, Education and Learning