Agenda item

The Education and Young People’s Services Cabinet Committeeis asked to note the progress in delivering the SEND Strategy and comment on/endorse or make a recommendation to the Cabinet Member on the proposed decision to approve the new revised Kent SEND Strategy for 2017-19 which sets out the Council’s priorities for action leading up to 2020.

1.    Mr Gough, Cabinet Member for Education and Health Reform, reported on current success of the Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) Strategy and said that a great amount had been done in terms of delivering the 2013-2016 strategy. Mr Gough confirmed that there was still a significant amount to be achieved and some of the SEND targets had shifted. Much of the work had been around implementation of the Act, achieving significant culture change within the organisation, ensuring that the team moved ahead rapidly with conversions of statements to Education, Health and Care plans, and that the delivery of assessments took place within a tighter frame work. Mr Gough explained that the main focus had been on High Needs Funding within mainstream education. There were many challenges ahead and there was more to do in the area of attainment, the post 16 provision and in partnerships.

2.    In addition to Mr Gough’s points, Mr Leeson, Corporate Director - Education and Young People’s Services commented on the SEND Strategy progress and the need to keep pace with changing needs and levels of demand. Mr Leeson explained that KCC had invested in improving and expanding special schools which not only had provided better accommodation but also provided 350 additional places. Mr Leeson said that the most important objective of the strategy was to ensure that children with SEN were getting a good education and achieving good progress. The special schools in Kent were good or outstanding and nearly all of the children with SEN were going to a good or outstanding school. Attainment and progress rates improved for children with SEN. However, whilst progress rates have improved and compared more favourably with other similar children nationally in Primary schools, KS4 and GCSE progress rates were below national comparisons for children with SEN. The number of children with autism and speech, language and communication difficulties continued to increase. Mr Leeson said it was a core requirement to provide for the needs of children with SEN across all schools. Going forward, the aim was to make sure the attainment levels continued to improve and ensure the right provision is in the right place.

(a)  In response to a question relating to the requirement to change from an SEN to the Education Health and Care Plan, Ms Ely, Head of SEN Assessment and Placement said that the new Education Health and Care Plan introduced a single assessment and plan from birth to 25 and focussed on the long term outcomes as well as introducing the rights of appeal.

(b)  In response to a question relating to the involvement of agencies, Ms Ely confirmed the different statutory provisions for the Local Authority and explained that the principal objective was the opportunity for greater involvement. The team had invested in working alongside colleagues from other agencies.

(c)  In response to a question relating to how the evidence of success was captured, Mr Leeson said that the special schools in Kent were assessed as good or outstanding and that achievements were being monitored in a more systematic way.

(d)  In response to a question relating to the transition process as an individual reaches the age of 18, Mr Leeson confirmed that a 0-25 disabled people’s service was being introduced in Kent which would provide a smoother transition into adult services. The current priority was to make sure the transition planning that took place at age 14 clearly mapped the pathways for every young person. By the age of 16, there was a clear understanding of what would happen for them.

(e)  In response to a question, Mr Leeson confirmed that in order to get an Education Health and Care plan, a statutory assessment was required. The resources for High Needs Funding have increased in mainstream schools from £8 million to £22 million which allowed children with SEN in mainstream schools to be supported with additional resources without the need for the statutory plan. In terms of advice for parents, the parents’ forum provide independent advice for parents and a local offer had been developed which was available for parents to provide a good understanding of the range of support that was available in the school.

(f)   In response to a question, Mr Leeson confirmed that if there was a health need there would possibly be a case for an Education Health and Care plan, depending on the circumstance. Ms Ely followed on from Mr Leeson’s comments by stating that the length of absence from the classroom resulted in gaps in their learning. The website ‘KELSI’ was used to provide guidance to schools regarding the health needs of children and provide guidance to putting forward health plans of children.

(g)  In response to questions relating to potential bullying and receiving additional support, Ms Ely said there was a requirement for schools to inform parents when children were added to the SEN register, but parents do not have to give consent for their children to be on the SEN register. Mr Leeson confirmed that one of the key ways that governors could discharge their duty was to demonstrate they had discharged their duty of ‘best endeavours’ and to be clear on the resources that the school had for SEN support and how that resource is being used.

3. RESOLVED - That the progress in delivering the SEND Strategy be noted.

(i)            The proposed decision to approve the new revised Kent SEND Strategy for 2017-19 which sets out the Council’s priorities for action leading up to 2020 be endorsed.