Issue - meetings

The Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) provides funding for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This grant is ring-fenced but not sufficient to cover the growing number of pupils requiring support and rising costs of provision. The council is prohibited from contributing additional funds to the grant with the result the deficit is growing annually as considered in the Medium Term Financial Plan report on the meeting agenda.

The proposal in this paper is one item in the action plan developed to manage the deficit. It is being recommended that mainstream schools are provided with higher funding levels for pupils with education, health and care plans (EHCPs) so that a greater proportion than currently can remain in mainstream schools instead of being placed in higher cost specialist provision. There is a risk that despite the extra funding, an insufficient number of higher cost placements will be avoided with the result that net savings will not materialise.

RESOLVED that Cabinet note the increase in funding values for pupils with Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP) as contained in the body of this report following on from consultation with stakeholders. Implementation of the adopted new banding value option will commence from November 2022. 

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Council Priorities and Delivery

Reason

The proposals and recommendations in this paper are in response to the recommendations in the Appreciative Inquiry, the deficit in the High Needs Block, and Children's Services Transformation Programme. They also form a key component of the Inclusion Strategy.

The revision of the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) mainstream banding descriptors and the adoption of new banding values emphasise the need for BCP Council to provide suitable financial support to mainstream schools to enable them to meet the needs of children and young people with SEND who reside in the local area and are attending BCP mainstream schools. It also supports BCP Council in delivering its commitment and aspiration of BCP being an inclusive place for children and young people with SEND to thrive.

The Portfolio Holder for Council Priorities and Delivery 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.

Cabinet was advised that the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) provides funding for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and that this grant is ring-fenced but not sufficient to cover the growing number of pupils requiring support and rising costs of provision.

Cabinet was informed that the council is prohibited from contributing additional funds to the grant with the result the deficit is growing annually as considered in the Medium Term Financial Plan report on the meeting agenda.

Cabinet was advised that the proposal in this paper is one item in the action plan developed to manage the deficit, and that it is being recommended that mainstream schools are provided with higher funding levels for pupils with education, health and care plans (EHCPs) so that a greater proportion than currently can remain in mainstream schools instead of being placed in higher cost specialist provision.

In relation to this Cabinet was informed that there is a risk that despite the extra funding, an insufficient number of higher cost placements will be avoided with the result that net savings will not materialise.

The paper had been considered by the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Chairman of the Committee advised that the Committee were very much in favour of having a change and supported option 2 and asked for the reasons for option 1 now being supported. The Portfolio Holder advised that this was probably an issue of affordability but as this was just a matter for Cabinet to note, would respond to the Committee Chairman outside of the meeting.

RESOLVED that Cabinet note the increase in funding values for pupils with Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP) as contained in the body of this report following on from consultation with stakeholders.

Implementation of the adopted new banding value option will commence from November 2022. 

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Council Priorities and Delivery