The report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services (Document “AB”) provides an update on the developments and progress in respect of the delivery of the SEND Reforms. It updates the impact of the work undertaken, specifically focusing on areas of risk and the approaches being used to address them through an updated SEND Action Plan.

Recommended -

That Overview and Scrutiny Committee consider the contents of Document “AB”  and accompanying action plan and make recommendations at the meeting.

                                                                        (Marium Haque – 01274 431078)

The report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services (Document “AB”) provided an update on the developments and progress in respect of the delivery of the SEND Reforms. It updated the impact of the work undertaken, specifically focusing on areas of risk and the approaches being used to address them through an updated SEND Action Plan.

It was noted that there had been a pause on SEND inspections and that visits to councils would be undertaken to see how they were performing on delivering the reforms, that would result in a published letter.   This did not replace the inspection cycle and it was anticipated that inspections would resume in January or April 2021.  It was reported that by 31 March 2020 the backlog of 600 cases had been cleared, the compliance rate had increased to 70-90% and the team was working effectively.  The national compliance rate was 60% and the district’s cumulative compliance rate was 41.7% which was a significant improvement.

The following questions were asked and answers given:

·         Why are the EHCP’s not of the quality required?

o   The key priority had been to focus on the 20 week time frame but the quality had not deteriorated.  Checks and balances have been built in to allow quality to improve and quality had increased over the previous 12 months as compliance increased.  It had been necessary to focus on time lines in order to improve quality.

·         Would advice be given following the interim visit on how to make improvements?  Would it be reasonable to expect compliance to reach the national average of 60% by December 2020?

o   Everything will be helpful in providing a stocktake.  There have been significant improvements month by month and it was hoped that the authority would be nearer national figure by December 2020.

·         What areas of improvement are anticipated following the SEND inspection?

o   The inspection will look not only at EHCP’s but also Autism waiting lists, how parents feel and accessing respite care.  Significant known challenges are that waiting lists for Autism are too long which is recognised by DfE, NHS England and the CCG’s;  mental health assessments for children and young people are an area of concern with challenges around joint commissioning.  Significant progress is being made but the inspection will look at all partners making progress together as it is a local area inspection.  It was stressed that the inspection would measure progress since the change in the statutory process not just the changes achieved in the last 12 months.

·         What influence can the authority bring to bear on the CCG’s regarding Autism waiting lists and mental health assessments?

o   The expertise and knowledge base of colleagues in the local authority and partner organisations could be capitalised on.

·         Is the quality of then EHCP’s connected with the instability of levels of social work staff?

o   They are not completely disconnected but EHCP’s mostly involve schools rather than social workers.  Quality of EHCP’s was a legacy issue, cases were not allocated to individual case workers, this has been put in place and a relationship can now build with schools, young people and parents and this is having a positive impact.

·         What were the issues regarding short breaks and how have they been addressed?

o   Short breaks are valued and well received.  There is a need to ensure that the provision is wide ranging enough to meet the needs of all children with SEND.  Work is being undertaken with parents to co-produce information on what short breaks are provided.

·         If a school can not provide for a child with SEND what provision is made?

o   The SEND reforms require the authority to provide sufficient places for children with SEND that have needs that can not be met in mainstream schools.  Approximately 380 new places had been created in the previous 12 months.  The authority has to ensure that all schools understand their responsibility to provide for children with or without EHCP’s.

Resolved –

That a further report be presented to the Committee in January 2021also focusing on compliance.

ACTION: Strategic Director Children’s Services