Agenda item

The Sub-Committee received a briefing on the High Needs Strategy from the Head of Adult and Children’s Disabilities.

It was stated that following the government’s review of high needs funding and the consultation on the new national funding formula, it was considered that a review of how the high needs budget was allocated be undertaken, which also led to a re-drafted the Strategy.

The report informed the Sub-Committee that the revised strategy sets out the proposals for the additional capital and allocated High Needs block funding budget from central government, as well as proposals to improve the processes and services we already deliver.

The Sub-Committee noted that Local Authorities were required to refresh their Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Strategy to ensure that it was up to date and reflected current and predicted trends. That the strategy should also provide clarity on how, and where, different levels of needs would be met and where the current and future gaps in provision were identified.

The Sub-Committee was informed that in refreshing the strategy, the service sought the involvement of early years providers, schools, post-16 institutions, local authority and health staff, as well as children, young people and parents to ensure that the range and quality of provision reflected the needs and aspirations of children and young people in the area.

The Sub-Committee noted the following emerging priorities for provision for Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) and those requiring alternative provision were:

·         To establish a bursary scheme for early years’ providers, schools and post-16 providers to adapt their environment to make their school/ provision more inclusive

·         To increase the Inclusion Fund budget for early years

·         To increase the hourly rate for top up payments to schools for pupils with Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP) to £14.

·         To work closely with schools to reduce the number of exclusions, particularly amongst pupils with EHCPs, alongside monitoring the quality of alternative provision

·         To allocate a small budget for pupils with high medical needs, but who do not have an EHCP

·         To set a target of developing two new Additionally Resourced Provisions (ARP) per year

·         To develop the new free school for children and young people with complex Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health difficulties), for pupils aged from 3 – 16 years

·         To review the designation of special schools, particularly in light of the new free school to ensure all special schools complement each other to meet the range of local need

·         To re-draft the funding matrix for special schools to improve the appropriateness of funding levels linked to complexity of need

·         To improve and increase the offer for pathways to adulthood and support young people and parents to be aspirational and realistic

·         To ensure social care support complements the educational offer locally to support children and young people to meet their outcomes

·         To work more closely with the CCG to align priorities and help children and young people to remain in borough, with the right support

·         To invest in workforce training to ensure staff across all schools and settings (early years and post-16) feel confident in supporting children and young people with additional needs to achieve.

The Head of Adult and Children’s Disabilities informed the Sub-Committee that a draft strategy would be produced in November for further consultation with stakeholders. It was suggested that the Sub-Committee receives the report at a future meeting.

The Sub-Committee noted the briefing report.