Agenda item

Members are asked to consider and comment on the proposed Medway Special Educational Needs and Inclusion Strategy 2016-2020 before it is submitted for approval by Cabinet on 27 September 2016.

Discussion:

The Interim Head of Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Inclusion introduced the report which provided the Committee with a proposed Medway Special Educational Needs, Disabilities (SEND) and Inclusion Strategy 2016-2020.  She explained that the strategy promoted, supported and encouraged greater inclusion for Medway children and young people with SEN and/or disabilities within their local schools and communities, enabling them to have independent living and work skills by the time they reach adulthood.

Members then raised a number of questions and comments, which included:

·         Resources – concern was raised by a number of Members about the resources within mainstream schools being adequate to manage the additional needs of SEN pupils placed with them.  In response the Interim Head of SEN and Inclusion explained that £800,000 was provided from the Dedicated Schools Grant for outreach support for children with SEN in mainstream schools and there would need to be a review of this support to determine whether it should be realigned and provided in different, more effective ways.

·         Pilot – In addition to the comments relating to resources, the Interim Head of SEN and Inclusion explained that a pilot was currently underway within six primary schools where, with additional resource provided, those schools were each taking a child with additional needs who, in other circumstances, would be placed in a special school.

·         Voices of children and young people – in response to a question about how the views of children and young people are heard, the Interim Head of SEN and Inclusion explained that a focus group of children and young people, all with SEN and/or disabilities, had been set up and meets monthly regularly with a member of the SEN Team and this group advises and comments on major policy initiatives.

·         Looked after children – in response to a comment about the importance of the strategy in relation to looked after children the Interim Head of SEN and Inclusion confirmed that the Virtual Headteacher had contributed to the strategy and undertook to provide a report to the Corporate Parenting Board on the feedback from looked after children in relation to the strategy.

·         Tribunals – in response to a request, the Interim Head of SEN and Inclusion undertook to provide Members with data relating to tribunals.

·         Home education – in relation to a comment made about children and young people with SEND who are home educated, the Head of SEN and Inclusion explained that the role of the local authority to be involved and intervene was limited.  However, there was a qualified teacher and support worker within the team to support such families.  In addition, it was explained that the needs of a child that are identified by an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) must be met by law and these were annually reviewed.

·         Funding clarification – In response to a query regarding funding for SEND, the Interim Head of SEN and Inclusion explained that a one year notice had been given to all outreach support providers and a review of these services is being undertaken to determine whether they should be recommissioned or decommissioned in order to ensure the most effective  use of resources to deliver the best outcomes for children and young people.

·         Out of area placements – In response to a comment regarding the impact on out of area placements, the Interim Head of SEN and Inclusion explained that it would be difficult, in a number of cases, to bring children back from out of area placements.  However, the shift in accommodating more children and young people in mainstream schools would gradually free up space in special schools for children with high needs.

·         16 and 19 plus provision – in response to a question the Interim Head of SEN and Inclusion confirmed that the SEN Team had strong links with Medway Youth Trust (MYT) and had contributed to the 16-19 Strategy which had been developed by MYT.

·         Success of SEN Pupils in Medway schools – in response to a question about the achievements of pupils with SEND, the Interim Head of SEN and Inclusion explained that provisional data for the most recent results at key stage 2 placed Medway as one of the poorest performing local authority area for children with SEND. She added that 90% of those children in Medway were placed in special schools and stressed that these results were compared with national data and were provisional results that had not yet been validated.

·         Outcome of the consultation – following a request the Interim Head of SEN and Inclusion confirmed she would elaborate on the key headlines of the feedback received through the consultation exercises outlined at section 6 of the report.

Decision:

The Committee recommended the Cabinet to

1)    Approve the draft Medway Special Educational Needs and Inclusion Strategy 2016-2020, and;

2)    Note the need for funding to implement the Strategy.