Issue - decisions

22/00001 - Specialist Teaching and Learning Service (STLS) - Consultation outcome on service redesign and delivery options from April 2022

07/03/2022 - 22/00001 - Specialist Teaching and Learning Service (STLS) - Consultation outcome on service redesign and delivery options from April 2022

As Cabinet Member for Integrated Children’s Services, I agree to:

 

  1. Extend the existing STLS district Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for five months (April to August 2022, inclusive), and new flexible three-year SLAs for implementation from September 2022.
  2. Improve strategic governance and monitoring of the SLAs as part of the wider Children and Young People Outcomes Framework knitting together the SEND Strategy, the priorities set out in the Countywide Approach to Inclusive Education (CATIE) and the STLS Key Performance Indicators.
  3. Implement proposals for a consistent countywide tiered model of access to specialist advice, support and interventions from September 2022, including:  drop-in clinics, solution focussed Local Inclusion Forum Team (LIFT) Meetings, Intensive Specialist Support to model specialist interventions and strategies, and allocation of a named Link Teacher to settings and schools, as a single point of contact.
  4. Implement proposals for STLS to focus on targeted and specialist level training.  This work to be linked to the development of the Kent Directory of Resources.
  5. Offer the opportunity for chargeable bespoke training where a need is identified which cannot be met through the existing Kent training offer
  6. Improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND by ensuring that all Specialist Teachers have access to an equitable programme of Continuous Professional Development (CPD), and that they have or be willing to work towards accredited qualifications in an area of SEND or membership of relevant national professional bodies.
  7. Incorporate the voice of parents/carers as equal partners in design, development and monitoring of specialist training for parents/carers of children and young people with SEND, as well as involving them in service design, identification of gaps, evaluation and improvement.
  8. Ensure greater transparency and accountability as part of annual financial audit to ensure resources are targeted and outcome driven.
  9. Extend the Physical Disability and Sensory SLAs for 17 months commencing April 2022, with the intention to work through the consultation responses to plan and manage the next steps to create a fully integrated inhouse provision.

10.The Kent Association of the Blind Habilitation Service Grant to be extended in line with the Sensory STLS provision, with a review of the service in the interim period.

Delegate authority for the Corporate Director Children, Young People and Education in consultation with the Cabinet Member to award a contract to implement the Decision.