To receive a report containing a review of the SEND Ofsted inspection.

The Committee received the report outlining the findings of the SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) Ofsted and Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection which took place in March 2019. 

Jim Leivers presented the report.  He stated that the inspection found a number of shortcomings and weaknesses, identifying a need for improvement.  As a result, the Local Authority and the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) were required to prepare a written statement of action aimed at addressing the identified areas of significant weaknesses.  He would meet with representatives from the Department of Education (DfE) this week to discuss the improvement plan.

Jim Leivers stated that one of the difficulties was the overspend of 2 million in the SEND Budget, however, the improvement process had already begun, including the establishment of a SEND Improvement Board.  This Board included himself, representatives from Health, Headteachers and representatives from the voluntary sector.  The Board would meet monthly, and would be overseen by the DfE and Ofsted.

During the discussion of the item the following comments were made;

·           Members noted that the Ofsted letter stated that there was an underlying sense of mistrust between parents and senior leaders.  Jim Leivers confirmed that this was one of the areas for improvement;

·           Members asked how many additional places would be made available with the expansion of Addington School.  Jim Leivers stated that there would be 50 to 60 extra spaces;

·           In response to a question Jim Leivers stated that there were 113 pupils in out of area placements, and approximately 900 EHCPs in the Borough, with significant challenges in relation to funding and an overspend of 2 million in the High Needs Block (HNB).  The proposals to address these challenges would be discussed at the next meeting of Schools Forum;

·           Jim Leivers stated that this situation was not unique to Wokingham and that there was an unprecedented demand for SEND places;

·           Members asked if there were other blockages apart from the financial one.  Jim Leivers stated that there were other issues, such as the number of SEND professionals available and the fact that Wokingham was in competition with other local authorities.  It was important to find ways to make Wokingham attractive to the workforce;

·           Members noted that it was positive that the strategic leadership was now more stable;

·           Members noted the comments in the report about the quality of the EHCPs and asked what was being done to improve them.  Jim Leivers confirmed that the quality of EHCPs remained and issue, there were some outstanding plans, but others were not as good as they should be.  One of the comments by Ofsted was the lack of cooperation with parents.  The services was aware of the comments and partners were committed to improving the quality of EHCPs;

·           Members were interested to know the numbers for permanent exclusions relating to SEN children.  It was agreed that this information would be included with the minutes;

·           Members agreed that they would like to monitor the number of permanent exclusions at every meeting.

RESOLVED That:

1)     The report be noted; and

2)     The Committee will be informed of the number of permanent exclusions in the Borough in future reports.