Background information:
This is the first time that KCC has produced a Sufficiency Plan for Special Education Needs (SEN) Provision. Most Local Authorities now produce an analysis and plan that sits under their SEND Strategy and feeds into their Education Commissioning Plan and capital strategy for education provision.
Kent’s Commissioning Plan for Education Provision has included a section on Special Education Needs Provision; however, this has always been a high-level summary based on limited analysis and forecasting.
Options:
Commissioning recommendations for this first plan are limited by the need for the Special School, Specialist Resource Provision and Early Years reviews to complete. The outcomes and recommendations from these reviews will be key to informing future commissioning decisions. Commissioning recommendations from the SEND Sufficiency Plan will be reflected in Kent’s Commissioning Plan for Education Provision 2024 to 2028.
For post-16, actions are underway to meet demand regarding place planning, with engagement from all FE groups as part of multiple projects around access for students to mainstream settings.The phases of implementation of the SEND Sufficiency Plan will be influenced by the medium and longer-term commissioning decisions that result from the data presented.
Decision type: Key
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Notice of proposed decision first published: 14/11/2023
Decision due: Not before 13th Dec 2023 by Cabinet
Reason: To allow 28 day notice period required under Exeuctive Decision regulations
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Education and Skills
Lead director: Christine McInnes
Department: Education & Young People's Services
Contact: Marisa White, Area Education Officer - East Kent Email: marisa.white@kent.gov.uk or 03000 418794 Email: marisa.white@kent.gov.uk Tel: 01227 284407.
Consultees
The SEND Sufficiency Plan 2023 will be presented to the CYPE CC on 21 November 2023 for comment, prior to Cabinet in January 2024.
Financial implications: Following consultation and approval, the SEND Sufficiency Plan 2023 will feed into capital plans through KCC’s Commissioning Plan for Education Provision in Kent 2024 – 2028 as all commissioning intentions set out within the Sufficiency Plan are reflected within the current draft Commissioning Plan
Legal implications: The County Council has a statutory duty under section 14 of the Education Act 1996, to ensure there is a sufficiency of school places available to meet the needs of all children and young people living within our authority. This includes the need to secure provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). In addition, section 315 of the Education Act 1996 requires that arrangements for children with SEND be kept under review. The provision of sufficient school places is a statutory duty and contributes to the Strategic Business Plan Priorities to ensure that “Children and Young People in Kent get the best start in life”.
Equalities implications: Equalities implications: An Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) has been completed for the Kent SEND Sufficiency Plan 2023. The screening found no evidence that the Sufficiency Plan will impact negatively on pupils from protected groups or lead to them being treated less favourably. Data Protection implications: n/a