Issue - meetings

The attached slide pack provides a summary of the statutory responsibility of the council, the views of children and young people, our areas for improvement and the current position.

The Education Consultant presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'E' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The attached slide pack provided a summary of the statutory responsibility of the Council, the views of children and young people, areas for improvement and the current position.

The Chair invited a Committee Member who also sat on the SEND Improvement Board to address the Committee.  The Committee Member provided some background around the setting up of the Board, the membership and the progress being made.  The Committee was advised that it was anticipated that Ofsted would be inspecting the Service shortly and that it was hoped they recognised the work being undertaken and planned. 

The Committee discussed the presentation and comments were made, including:

• In response to a query regarding the new SEND assurance framework, the Committee was advised that previously there was not a set standard of Corporate measures.  It was noted that this framework was crucial to assist in Quality Assurance.
• The Committee discussed the shortfall in high needs block funding and was advised that there was an issue nationally across all Local Authorities and the Government was aware of the issue.  The Committee was advised that the service tried to manage it as efficiently as possible.
• A Committee Member requested more detailed information to enable the Committee to track improvements and enquired about how the SEND Improvement journey was reflected in the Children and Young People’s Plan.  The Committee was advised there was a SEND dashboard which detailed all the key performance indicators and provided a measure for the service to monitor.  The Committee was advised that this could be shared with it at a future date. (Action).
• The Committee decided to add the SEND Improvement Journey to the Forward Plan at regular intervals and the Corporate Director for Children’s Services advised that they could provide a verbal update to the next Committee on the upcoming Ofsted visit. (Add to Forward Plan).
• In response to a query regarding suitable housing options, the Committee was advised that the SEND Strategy considered this issue in more detail, considering a range of options for what the young people wanted and needed, including through transition to adulthood.

The Chair to summarised the discussion as follows:

• High needs block overspends and shortfall national
• QA and standards – would like sight of them
• Metrics, baselines, KPis
• QP and reflection in EHCP
• Update in September to include dashboard
• Verbal update on Send Ofsted
• Housing

RESOLVED that the Committee note the information contained within the update and continue to monitor progress made at future Committee.