Agenda item

Report of the Head of Education and Learning (CS/18/10) on the Review of Special Educational Needs Provision, attached.

Also attached is an Impact Assessment.

(Councillors Connett, Dewhirst, Greenslade, Hannaford and Shaw attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Head of Education and Learning (CS/18/10) on the Review of Special Educational Needs Provision, circulated prior to the meeting in accordance with regulation 7(4) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

The Report outlined that the Strategic Review of SEND Provision had provided a targeted focus for delivering the objectives within the Devon’s Multi-Agency Strategy for Children and Young People with Special Education Needs (SEND) 2017 -2020.

This Multi-Agency Strategy set six strategic priorities to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEN & disabilities and their families and had the overarching aspiration that learners with SEN would have access to good or better provision in their local community and was committed to reviewing SEN provision annually to ensure it was in the right location, of sufficient quality and there was a good match between demand and supply.

Alongside this, the Department for Education had required all Local Authorities to undertake a strategic review and allocated capital funding to support recommendations arising from this piece of work.

The 2017-18 Strategic Review of SEND Provision was attached at Appendix A to the Report and would be published on the SEND Local Offer website.

The Department for Education had allocated Devon the Special Provision Fund, a three-year allocation of £2,247,854 (£749,285 per year). It was proposed that the funds sit within the PTE Capital Programme and be allocated as summarised in Appendix B to the Report. In order to support schools, it was proposed in the first year to allocate £350,000 for schools, in partnership with the 0-25 team.

The Plan further highlights the review undertaken on Resource Bases within Devon’s

schools to ensure they were meeting the needs of Devon learners. Cabinet noted that there was no longer demand for some centres (low numbers, little / no parental preference etc), but the future of these would be subject to consultation, where required, as detailed in Appendix C.

The Plan also provided the evidence to increase provision to support students with

Social Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs and the proposal regarding new provision, by increasing Special School provision at Charlton Lodge in Tiverton, was confirmed.

The Report outlined that the Review had consulted, in particular, with young people and parents/carers. The consultation findings would be published on the SEND Local Offer Website. In addition, the Children’s Scrutiny Committee and the SEND Improvement Board had been briefed on the plan’s development.

The Head of Service’s Report also incorporated an Impact Assessment relating to the possible impacts of the proposal, which had been circulated previously for the attention of Members at this meeting in order that as part of its determination of the next steps in the process the Cabinet might have full regard to the responsibilities placed upon it to exercise its Public Sector Equality Duty, under s149 of the Equality Act 2010.

The overall impacts of the proposal were expected to be positive as the Review aimed to increase capacity and develop facilities for educational provision for learners with SEN (statutory plans), supporting the SEND Strategy priority of promoting the use of mainstream provision, as locally as possible as a key contribution towards promoting inclusion of vulnerable children and young people. Educational opportunities and outcomes would be maintained and improved (particularly for SEMH needs, post 19, those with SEN plans in Alternative Provision) and would provide for increasing demand arising from future demographic changes.

Further consultation would be undertaken in respect of those specialist support centres for which demand may no longer be required.

The assessment reported that progress in undertaking the review would be subject to regular monitoring by the Children’s Services Leadership team and SEND Improvement Board and the Action Plan by the Education Management Team and Corporate Services Leadership Team.

The matter having been debated and the options and/or alternatives and other relevant factors (e.g. financial, sustainability, carbon impact, risk management, equality and legal considerations and Public Health impact) set out in the Head of Service’s Report and/or referred to above having been considered:

It was MOVED by Councillor McInnes SECONDED by Councillor Hart and

RESOLVED

(a) That the recommendations contained within the 2017-18 SEND Strategic Review and Development Plan be endorsed;

(b) that the proposal to increase the 2018-19 Planning Transportation and Environment Capital Programme by £749,285 and the allocation of the grant as set out in Appendix B, be approved;

(c) that the commencement of the statutory consultation on the support centres as detailed in Appendix C, where required, be approved; and

(d) that proposals for Marland School Day provision and Charlton Lodge, Tiverton, as outlined in paragraphs 2.4 and 2.5 be noted.

[NB: The Impact Assessment referred to above may be viewed alongside Minutes of this meeting and may also be available at:  http://new.devon.gov.uk/impact/].