Agenda item

Report of the Director of Children & Young People’s Futures (CS/23/19), attached.

(Councillor Samuel attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(1) and spoke to this item at the invitation of the Committee.)

(Councillor Sanders declared a personal interest by virtue of being a Director and Trustee of the Dartmoor Multi-Academy Trust)

Also in attendance to enable wider partner discussion were:

Suzanne Smart, Deputy Director of Commissioning Out of Hospital NHS Devon

Keith Bennett (Marland School) representing Special Schools

Paul Walker (First Federation) representing Primary Schools

Fay Bowler (virtual) (Braunton Academy) representing Secondary Schools

The Committee received the Report of the Director of Children & Young People’s Futures (CS/23/19), which provided an update on education health and care needs assessment (EHCNA) and planning processes, as requested by Members at the previous Committee meeting. 

In summary, the data showed that Devon was outlier in relation to requests for EHCNA and the number of children and young people supported through an EHCP, suggesting that at a system level, Devon’s approach to meeting a range of needs at the earliest opportunity and the view of ‘significantly greater difficulty in learning’ might differ from other areas. Developing the educational offer in mainstream schools and settings to improvement inclusion and ensure that the needs of children and young people with SEND were met earlier was of critical importance. 

The delivery of the local area’s statutory process was not good enough and the approach to date had not had the desired impact. Reviewing the service improvement approach and undertaking a complete review of SEN statutory processes was critical and underway, including improving communications.

Members’ questions and discussion points included:

·         As part of the SEND Transformation Programme, a new quality assurance framework was being developed to strengthen the quality assurance process for EHCPs, with support from Essex County Council (funded by the Department for Education).

·         Officers undertook to provide early years data on the number of children starting school following Covid. It was noted there had been a spike in speech and language in early years following Covid, but it was too soon to know if this was an ongoing trend.

·         Those refused a 6-week assessment were referred back to the school to receive further SEN support; and an analysis was requested to identify any particular groups of children.

·         Agreement on the significant change in transition from primary to secondary schools.

·         Officers confirmed that data relating to exclusions and suspensions was shared with schools across the County.

·         Good governance and performance was seen as key to improved communication.

·         The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Schools reported having met recently with the Minister for Children and Families requesting additional school funding; Members in addition proposed writing to the Minister in this regard; and Officers also encouraged Members and school leaders to write to their MPs requesting support for additional funding.

·         Members requested further information for the Committee on the mental health support that was provided for schools.

It was MOVED by Councillor Hall, SECONDED by Councillor Aves and

RESOLVED that the Committee write to the Secretary of State for Education and the Minister for Children and Families and Devon MPs requesting additional funding for schools.