Agenda item

1.     Mr Love and Ms Christy Holden (Head of Children’s Commissioning) introduced the report which provided a background and current position of the Specialist Teaching and Learning Service (STLS) and included options for the future of the service. Ms Holden highlighted an error in the report at paragraph 3.1 and clarified that the service level agreement for STLS would end on 31 August 2025 not 31 August 2024.

2.     Further to questions and comments from Members, it was noted that:

·         The non-statutory service was going out to consultation in September 2024 and was part of a series of transformational changes within SEND. Assistant Directors and the Council’s Consultation Team would be involved in crafting the questions to ensure meaningful responses from the public.

·         Members raised concern about the level of coherence across the five consultations and whether improvements would be made.

·         Members also expressed concern that consultations caused uncertainty amongst the public and staff and many schools and families did not understand the structure of the locality model.

·         Options had been considered if a school did not accept the SLA in August.

·         Early engagement consultation was important and a clear line between consultation responses and how decisions were made needed to be demonstrated.

3.  RESOLVED to note:

A.        the content of the report

B.        the proposal to undertake a public consultation in relation to the service, to understand in more detail what gaps in provision it may fill within the new ways of working.

C.        a report will be presented to this Committee on the outcome of the consultation at the earliest opportunity.