Head of Education & Learning to report on this outreach work to schools project.
Minutes:
The Head of Education & Learning provided further information on the costings reported in the Special Educational Needs & Disabilities, SEND 100 Project Report.* A study requested by the Forum in January 2020, to identify national good practice; regional and national data to support change; wider transformation work in settings and outreach support to build confidence around the needs of children and young people.
The Head of Education & Learning’s document providing further information on the preliminary costed options laid out in the report SEND 100 Report findings together with a report for information “Establishing a Sustainable Outreach Service from Special Schools” by the SW Specialist Schools Teaching Alliance (SW SSTA) November 2019 had been circulated to Forum Members for discussion. A summary of the options was as follows:-
-Option 2(a)
Devon’s proposal for a Special Educational Needs (SEN) Support Service, to support schools to deliver provision for children with Social Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other support needs, to enable them to be re-integrated into mainstream classes, supporting children with Education Health Care Plans (EHCP) to remain in mainstream education;
-Option 2(b)
Babcock LDP’s proposal: SEN Support Outreach Service, reducing the need to escalate to a statutory plan;
-Option 2(g)
Babcock LDP to provide a series of 6 online training modules (one per half term) to support a graduated response focused in developing confidence in supporting a range of special educational needs in a mainstream setting. A focus on increased teacher training on SEND in their continuing professional development; developing a common standard for SEN co-ordinators (SENCOs) in Devon to ensure they were well trained and understood the level of need for which they should be providing support without an EHCP;
-Option 2(h)
Provide extended SEND telephone support and advice to SENCOs and teachers, with easy access when required.
-Option 3
Outreach support from special schools - the South West Specialist Teaching School Alliance (partnership of special schools working to improve the educational experiences for all learners) supported by other Devon special schools would provide a comprehensive outreach service, tailored to meet individual school SEND needs.
Discussion included:-
-that a detailed report from Officers (e.g. impact of investment on longer term anticipated savings) on options arising from the Forum’s commissioned SEND 100 Project Report would need to be presented to the Forum prior to decision;
-that subject to a more detailed report, there was general support for options 2(h) and 3;
-that a competitive tendering process could be appropriate for some of the options; and
-that a cultural change was needed with smart and early intervention to offer excellent provision within mainstream settings to build confidence with maintained school families.
In response to questions the Special School Headteacher representative (leading as a teaching school and within SW SSTA) also explained the greater opportunities and potential for both special and maintained schools and pupils of developing and rolling out increased outreach work, subject to support in backfilling and releasing practitioners.
DECISION:
that a costed report on the potential savings from each option (where appropriate) arising from the SEND 100 Project Report be presented to the Forum’s next meeting.
ACTION:
Head of Education & Learning (Dawn Stabb)
*SEND 100 Project Report available at:
https://www.devon.gov.uk/supportforschools/finance/consultations