An update will be provided verbally on the Authority’s strategic review of SEND and Alternative Provision, following from presentation made to the 5 July 2017 Forum meeting.
Recommended –
Members are asked to consider and to note the update.
(Judith Kirk – 01274 439238)
Minutes:
An update was provided verbally, by the Strategic Manager SEND and the Early Years Strategic Manager, on the Authority’s strategic review of SEND and Alternative Provision, following from the presentation made to the 5 July 2017 Forum meeting.
The Strategic Manager SEND updated Members on the following:
· At November, 112 additional specialist places will have been created this year and the development of interim places is on track. The biggest issue with the creation of interim places is the lack of capital budget.
· The Authority awaits the DfE’s decision on wave 13 of free schools (where the Authority has bid for 2 new special schools).
· A sponsor event is being held this week for the District’s new SEMH school. A site has now been located for this school, which has a September 2020 opening date. It is hoped that the sponsor and final details will be confirmed by March 2018.
· A wider scope SEMH working group has been established to progress and complete a holistic review of the District’s alternative provision, looking at pressures and the respective roles of in school and out of school support and provisions. This group is also looking at the funding respective funding responsibilities of school delegated budgets and the High Needs Block.
· The number of EHCPs in mainstream settings continues to increase and this is a key aspect of on-going discussions.
· The District’s SEND conference, focusing on inclusive quality first teaching, was a success. The Authority has also re-convened the Senco Forums this term.
· My Support Plan (early access to funding resource for children with SEND) continues to be rolled out.
· An LGA Peer Review of the Authority’s SEND arrangements has just taken place. This review has identified areas of significant strength in Bradford as well as areas for further development and consideration. The report from this review will be available in about 3 weeks.
The Early Years Strategic Manager updated Members on the following:
· The initial consultation period on the Authority’s SEND review ran until 31 August. As a result of the feedback received, including potential legal challenge from a national group, the Authority is currently reviewing some of the proposals with a view to issuing new consultation documentation and running this consultation, widely to include parents and national groups, for a further 3 months to the end of December 2017. The Authority is also keen to bring into this review what we now know about National Funding Formula.
· The possible proposed implementation date for the review, subject to the outcomes of the consultation, is September 2018.
· The delivery of the enhanced specialist places in early years settings is still being rolled out as originally set out.
Forum Members asked the following questions and made the following comments:
· The representative of maintained special school headteachers confirmed that 128 new places in total have actually been created this year across all settings.
· The Chair asked whether there was a delay or problem with wave 13 free schools. The Strategic Manager SEND responded that the DfE at the moment is not really communicating anything abut the status of this programme. The Chair asked that the Forum be kept informed about progress here with a view to assessing what further action (lobbying) may need to take place.
· The Chair asked what the aim of the wider SEMH review group is. The Strategic Manager SEND responded to explain that the focus was around our systems and processes and our continuum of provision (in school provision, out of school specialist provision and the role of our PRUs, permanent exclusion and respective responsibilities).
Resolved –
That the update from the Authority on the strategic review of SEND and alternative provision be noted.
