Issue - meetings

To consider the Council’s SEND Strategy.

The Committee received the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Strategy report which was set out in Agenda pages 55-70.

Paul Doherty, Assistant Director for Education stated that the service would like to consult with partners in regards to the proposed SEND Strategy.  He was seeking the Committee’s endorsement to go out to consultation, and stated that the result of the consultation would be brought back to the Committee for consideration. T

Paul Doherty stated that the strategy would bring existing policies and priorities up to date and it included forward planning for the next three years.

Paul Doherty stated that Wokingham schools were good, with achievements above the national targets.  However, there was a growth in the demand for places for SEND children and young people, in particular children and young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, this growth was in line with the national picture.

Paul Doherty stated that one in 40 children in Wokingham had an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP), meaning that they had a statutory need of special education.  There was also a large number of children (2,799) who were categorised as needing Special Educational Needs (SEN) support.  It was anticipated that an additional 125 SEND places would be required by 2023.  Currently the Council educated 60% of children and young people requiring special education within the Borough.  However, 133 were educated outside of Wokingham, with half of those in expensive independent or non-maintained special schools.

Paul Doherty stated that there was a current overspend in the High Needs Block (HNB) funding of 2.8 million.  Most local authorities were facing an overspend in the HNB.  This strategy was one way to address this overspend.

Paul Doherty highlighted the five principles listed in the strategy which were:

·           Encouraging independence

·           Communicating well

·           Working in partnership

·           Identifying need early

·           Ensuring financial sustainability   

Paul Doherty stated that the strategy included the expansion of Addington School, which was due to go through the formal Executive approval and the planning application process.

Paul Doherty stated that the cost of supporting all the children and young people in Wokingham with SEND was 18 million.  With increased demand it was import to develop a strategy to deal with the demand.  He informed that a Strategic Board had been formed to develop the strategy.

During the discussion of the item the following points were made:

·           Councillor Bray pointed out that on page 65 there was mention of SEND children aged 5-16, she believed that SEND was up to 18 years of age.  Paul Doherty stated that most EHCPs were up to 18, but could go up to 25, however it was not statutory after 18;

·           Councillor Bray asked that the wording be modified to make it clearer that there was provision after 16;

·           Councillor Bray was concerned with the language used in the bottom of page 68 of the Agenda, where it said that ‘…these will all be investigated as part of this strategy.’  She  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40