Agenda item

To receive and consider a report giving details of the High Needs Block expenditure.

Jane Winterbone went through the High Needs Block report which was set out in Agenda pages 15-18.  Jane stated that all the figures contained in the report had been provided by the Finance department.  Jane explained that work was being undertaken to address the significant growth in the High Needs Block budget of the Dedicated Schools Grant over the last year.  Since 2014 the age range had been extended to include 0 to 5 and 18 to 25 year olds.  This age range extension had led to a significant increase in funding requests.  Wokingham Borough had seen an increase of 9% of Education Health Care Plans (EHCP).

Jane pointed out that the Local Authority was not expecting an increase in the High Needs Block based funding on the figures released to date.  The final arrangements for 2018/19 were still out for consultation, but the range of disparity between authorities in the 2017/18 settlement was significant.  As an example, Nottingham was allocated 20.5% growth whilst Wokingham was allocated 7%.

Jane stated that she was carrying out a comprehensive analysis of the core function, including a review of staffing which amounted to a cost of half a million pounds.  Once this review was complete she would report back to Schools Forum with recommendations. 

Jane stated that in terms of school placements, including Looked After Children, there were a number of measures to be taken.  An SEN specialist was auditing all EHCP thresholds and process around the decision making of those.  Jane stated she was personally reviewing any proposals for new independent specialist places. 

Jane pointed out that there were risks around parental preferences which also needed to be considered.  Jane believed that it was important to stimulate the local market. 

Jane believed that part of the solution was to utilize the residential provision at Northern House to reduce costs.  Jane explained that the Local Authority was already funding 69 places at Northern House.  If a child that could go to Northern House did not go there but elsewhere, the Council was effectively double funding that child.  Not only was it more cost effective to use local providers, it was also part of the SEN strategy to keep children in the local community.

Jane stated that an analysis of the 0-5 cohort was being undertaken in order to predict the expenditure needs.

Jane explained that resource spaces were funded by various different arrangements.  It was necessary to undertake an analysis of all the resource spaces and their level of usage, and to make important, potentially difficult decisions in relation to places that were funded but not fully utilised.

Ginny asked if Northern House as an academy could refuse a place to the Local Authority, she wondered if this was another risk.  Jane agreed to investigate and report back.

James Taylor, Wokingham and Bracknell College Vice-Principal asked Jane how the Council intended to use the SEN capital build money.  Jane stated that this information had been released after the production of this report, and confirmed that there was £297k capital build money per year for three years, she expected it would form part of the plan in capital funding.

Members of the Forum asked, for comparison purposes, what the growth in EHCP in Nottingham was.  Jane would find out and report back.

Jane stated that a review SEN banding and of the exceptional needs funding process, decision making and impact was proposed.  Some work had already started, including the review of pathways.  Jane believed that all necessary work would be ready in time for December, which would give the Forum the background information to make the decisions for the 2018/19 Budget.  The Chairman asked that this information be presented in October.

Jane informed that she had met with each of the headteachers of resource spaces and they were aware that some difficult decisions may be taken following the reviews mentioned above.

In response to a question Jane clarified that the £200k to the Oaks resource centre was an ongoing annual commitment.

In response to a question Jane stated that she was trying to find out how long the agreement for top ups with Northern House was for.  It may be necessary to clawback, however it was important to be careful to retain specialist staff and guarantee stability in the school.

Jane explained that the High Needs Block review involved a circle of improvement which could be put into a diagram with the following parts:

·           The Strategy – our ambition for pupils with SEND

·           Analysis of the current cohort data

·           To define the provision that we currently have, test it against resources in a gap analysis

·           To develop a plan to move forwards  

RESOLVED That:

1)     The report be noted and

2)     The Forum would continue to review the High Needs Block and receive further updates during the year.