Agenda item

Mr Genoni (Project Director for Change for Kent Children) was in attendance for this item

(1)        Mr Gough (Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education) introduced the report and updated Members on the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Written Statement of Action and the Informal Member Group (IMG).

Mr Dunkley, Mr Gough and Mr Genoni responded to comments and questions from Members, including the following: -

a)    Mr Dunkley referred to the re-establishment of the parent/carer forum and confirmed that the forum was an organisation that had to be independent of the County Council.

b)    Mr Dunkley referred to the engagement activities taking place between Kent County Council and parents and confirmed that an Engagement Officer had been appointed recently to lead on a range of group meetings with parents. An experience-based parental survey had received approximately 670 responses, and in conversation with the Department for Education, CQC and the Ofsted Lead Inspector, Kent County Council had discussed realistic targets to set for improvement in those parental views which would be reviewed regularly. Mr Genoni added that a Steering Group would take place on 2^nd October to re-examine the figures and data within the report.

c)    Mr Dunkley stated that, through the IMG for SEN, arrangements were being put in place for Members to visit other local authorities to share best practice.

d)    Mr Dunkley referred to the meetings which regularly took place between Kent County Council, Kent Association of Headteachers and the Governors’ Forum to discuss SEND provision and the Written Statement of Action and said that Members were welcome to attend the meetings.

e)    Mr Dunkley confirmed that internal resources had been redirected into SEND provision in Kent to ensure that a unified offer was in place that made sense for all children. Whilst concerns relating to SEND provision were raised as a significant pressure, further discussions would take place at full Council when the budget for 2020 would be agreed.

f)     Mr Dunkley emphasised the importance of ensuring that Kent County Council’s partners felt confident about inclusiveness with health partners and engaging with Kent County Council in joint commissioning in relation to SEND provision. Mr Gough briefly referred to the significant pressures faced by many local authorities across the country in relation to SEND provision.

g)    Mr Gough referred to a specific item within the SEND Written Statement of Action which focused on inclusion within schools and emphasised the importance of schools’ engagement. Mr Dunkley added that every school needed to feel confident in meeting the needs of every pupil, and that they were supported in doing so.

h)    Mr Gough said that despite expanding mainstream special school provision in Kent, many children with SEND attended independent special schools.

i)     Mr Gough talked briefly about the increase in demand in relation to Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP). Mr Dunkley added that children with previously life-limiting illnesses were now living longer as a result of medical advances and that the prevalence and diagnosis of autism in Kent had dramatically increased, becoming the single biggest identified condition within EHCPs.

(2)        RESOLVED that the report be noted.