Agenda item

This report provides an overview of the work undertaken by the School Inclusion Service/local area partnership aligned to progress of?implementing our Alternative Provision Improvement Plan.? 

In the last 6 months, an Alternative Provision Improvement Plan and Oversight Board have been established to drive and monitor improvements in the Alternative Provision area. This update provides a narrative on the initial progress and priority areas of work, as well as the lived experience of children and young people going through the system from a permanent exclusion perspective.

The Interim Head of School Inclusion presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'C' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The report was received as evidence of the work currently being undertaken across the wider partnership within BCP to secure improvement and transformation across Alternative Provision to support mainstream inclusion and contribute towards a sustainable SEND system and positively impact the trajectory of high needs expenditure. 

The report provided an overview of the work undertaken by the School Inclusion Service/local area partnership aligned to progress of?implementing our Alternative Provision Improvement Plan.? 

In the last 6 months, an Alternative Provision Improvement Plan and Oversight Board have been established to drive and monitor improvements in the Alternative Provision area. This update provides a narrative on the initial progress and priority areas of work, as well as the lived experience of children and young people going through the system from a permanent exclusion perspective.

The Committee discussed the report and presentation, including:

• In response to a query about how children and young people were ensured access to the necessary alternative provision, the Committee was informed that the service was aware of the existing issues with the system. Efforts were underway to improve access, although it had been noted that not all children currently had access to the online services. The inclusion team was actively working to address this problem wherever possible. While the number of children receiving the provision within six days had increased, it was still not at 100%.
• The Committee was advised that the service intended to decrease the number of children needing alternative provision through inclusive practices that had been implemented in mainstream settings.
• In response to a query raised regarding how to motivate schools to keep the most vulnerable young people in the educational setting, the Committee was informed that reframing the OFSTED scorecard could have a national impact. An increased emphasis on inclusion within this framework would serve as a valuable tool for local authorities when assessing efforts related to inclusion. Furthermore, the ongoing peer challenge initiative would enable schools to engage with one another, allowing them to share insights and strategies for achieving their inclusion goals.
• In response to a query regarding the mental health of children and young people and the work being done in this area within the alternative provision the Committee was advised that the service had collaborated with their Integrated Care System colleagues to assess the range of needs throughout the system. While mental health issues were a national concern, it was essential to address them locally.
• The Committee was advised that throughout the improvement journey in Children's Services, there had always been an opportunity to explore different approaches and find ways to make a meaningful impact. However, this would need to be supported by ensuring that the foundations were strong enough to foster innovation.

It was RESOLVED that

The report is received as evidence of the work currently being undertaken across the wider partnership within BCP to secure improvement and transformation across Alternative Provision to support mainstream inclusion and contribute towards a sustainable SEND system and positively impact the trajectory of high needs expenditure