Minutes:
(Verbal update by Mr G Ward, Director of Capital and Infrastructure Group)
(Mr G Horne, MBE, Chairman of Informal Member Group for Special Educational Needs Transport (IMG SEN) was also present for this item)
(1) The Chairman asked Mr Ward to begin with his presentation to the Committee. Mr Ward advised the Committee of the work that had been carried out by the IMG, which included interviewing Mr Harlock, Commercial Services Director on contract letting and Mr Myers, Parent Governor Representative on the Children, Families and Education Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committees and the parent of a child attending Valence School, Westerham. The IMG had also been looking into a scheme run by Manchester City Council for independence training as an alternative to a child with Special Educational Needs being taxied to and from school and problems arising when the child left education and was not as independent as they could be. Three officers from KCC were presently visiting Manchester City Council to speak with parents and officers on how the scheme was working. The outcome of this visit would be reported at the next meeting.
(2) The IMG was also making enquires on schools that arranged their own school transport contract such as Goldwyn Special School, which seemed to produce a consistent service through having the same drivers and escorts, which from the evidence seemed to improve attendance and attainment, and whether this would be an option for other special schools. Mr Tolputt added that another advantage of the schools arranging their own transport was the pupils would not be restricted by time, under the constraints of taxis, allowing them in attending after school activities.
(3) Mr Horne added that the IMG had agreed to observe the transport arriving at a special school to see the transport requirements in practical terms. He felt that the review was not about saving money it was to ensure that the right support was in place by looking at all the options, giving young people with a disability their rightful share of educational opportunities.
(4) Mr Critchely requested that the time of transition of contracts be specifically looked at as there had been serious issues that had occurred during the times of transition which could have been thought about within the contract eg knowing the routes. Mr Ward said that this was noted and would form part of future contract renewals.
(5) In response to a question by Mr Whiting, Mr Cooke advised that there was an ongoing Special Schools Review, which looked to ensure that the appropriate provision was made for children with special needs. The IMG was set up to look at the budget for SEN Transport and whether there were ways of, whilst maintaining the service, making savings. There were issues that had been drawn out by the IMG including supporting independence, which could have implications for the whole Council.
(6) RESOLVED that:
(a) the responses to comments and questions made by Members be noted;
(b) the continuity of travel arrangements during the transition period of SEN transport contracts form part of the future contract renewals;
(c) a progress report by the Informal Member Group for SEN Transport be submitted to the next meeting of this Committee; and
(d) the verbal report be noted.