Agenda item

SEND Strategy

To consider the Council’s SEND Strategy.

Minutes:

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 believed that the strategy should not only investigate the options, but make decisions and progress them;

·           Councillor Helliar-Symonds stated that she agreed with the point about the language, however things were being progressed, for example the Addington expansion and the extension of Foundry College.  Also, the local authority was requesting a grant from the government to open a new school;

·           In response to a question Paul Doherty stated that there was a range of views in relation to SEND, some parents’ ambition was not in line with the strategy.  Parents were entitled to a view and had the right of appeal, some parents did not support inclusion;

·           In response to a question Paul Doherty stated that a placement on a local resource space school within the Borough could cost between £10k to £20k, and out of Borough specialist places could cost between £50k to £250k per year, and this was a not means tested provision;

·           Jim Leivers confirmed that health services could be means tested, but not SEND;

·           Some Members were concerned that other children were potentially being deprived as a result of this large expense;

·           Paul Doherty informed that the law stated that the local authority had to meet the child’s needs;

·           Carol Cammiss stated that the assessment of a child was based on needs;

·           Members were interested to know how successful parents were when challenging the local authority’s decisions at appeals.  Paul Doherty stated that the results were mixed, sometimes parents brought their own private psychologists to argue their case;

·           Councillor Bray was interested to know how many requests for EHCPs were turned down by the local authority.  Paul Doherty agreed to find out the numbers and report back;

·           Paul Doherty informed that two parent groups would be involved in the consultation: REACH and Special Educational Needs and Disability Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIAS);

·           Paul Doherty informed that the legislation stated that when making a decision regarding SEND placements the local authority must consider the tow customers: the parent/child and the tax payer funding the placement;

·           In response to a question Paul Doherty stated that often when local authorities lost on appeals, it was due to not following processes correctly.  He stated that statutory processes could be very complex.

 

RESOLVED That:

 

1)     The Committee approves the draft strategy as suitable for consultation with those interested parties living in Wokingham; and

 

2)     The outcome of the consultation be reported to a future meeting of the Committee.

Supporting documents: