Agenda item
Special Educational Needs - Additional Resourced Schools
This report was prepared for the Schools Forum and is presented to the Committee for discussion. The report provides an analysis of Brent’s performance on a range of indicators in comparison with other authorities with similar characteristics. It sets out the robust actions which have been taken to manage demand and reduce costs whilst improving quality of provision and maintaining good outcomes for Brent children with Special Educational Needs.
Minutes:
Rik Boxer presented a report to the committee focusing on the provision of school places for young people with high level special educational needs (SEN). Whilst the majority of children with SEN had their needs met within mainstream schools, those with severe and complex needs would have a Statement of SEN drawn up which would set out the special provision required to meet their needs; this might include a specialist placement. Due to factors such as a rising population, the numbers of children requiring SEN statements had increased over the previous 5 years, in contrast to the national trend which had fallen over the same period. As a result of this trend there was a substantial budgetary deficit within the Dedicated Schools Budget which affected the total funds available for schools in Brent. Rik Boxer explained that the report provided to the committee set out what actions were proposed to address this issue.
Rik Boxer advised that a SEN transformation programme was being driven via the One Council Programme Management Board. The aim of the programme was to maintain and improve outcomes for SEN whilst reducing the associated costs and eliminating the dedicated schools budget deficit over a 3 year period. The council was working closely with the Schools’ Forum and with schools direct to achieve this aim. All aspects of the council’s SEN policy and procedures were being reviewed and a strategy was being developed. All parties would be consulted and the draft strategy document would be issued by March 2012.
Rik Boxer advised that there were several strands to the SEN transformation programme including school expansion projects to increase local specialist provision. It was noted that the single largest factor in overall SEN costs resulted from placing Brent students in day placements outside of the borough and therefore the school expansion projects were a highly significant aspect of the programme. Members’ attention was drawn to paragraphs 5.2 and 5.7 of the report which set out several school expansion projects including the development of new co-located provision for secondary aged students with severe learning difficulties via the rebuild of the Village School by September 2013 and the opening of a satellite centre at Queens Park School in September 2011; expanded specialist nursery provision at Granville Plus Children’s Centre; planned development of Vernon House Special school to provide 30 places for pupils with autism; and the intention to establish a 20 place Additionally Resourced Provision at Alperton community School, for which agreement in principle had been obtained.
The committee raised several issues in the subsequent discussion. The Chair queried how the school expansion projects were financed. Ms J Cooper queried whether the knowledge and experience of SEN teachers and Head teachers had been made use of by the One Council programme. Ms J Cooper further noted that many of the school expansion projects related to provision for primary aged pupils and queried whether the subsequent demand on secondary places had been addressed. Ms J Cooper also raised a concern regarding the intention to drive down costs of SEN transport, noting that continuity in staff was beneficial to maintaining a good quality service. Ms Elsie Points noted the introduction of the ‘Individual Pupil Support Agreement’ (IPSA) as an alternative in certain circumstances to the statutory SEN assessment process and expressed concern that this would result in the needs of some pupils not being fully recognised or met. Councillor Cheese queried whether there were many SEN places filled by pupils from outside of the borough.
In response to members’ queries, Rik Boxer explained that the provision of local SEN placements removed the cumulative budgetary pressure of those that it was replacing out of the borough. The capital costs of expansion were not always considerable, particularly where existing facilities were adapted. Where the associated costs of expansion were significant the council had an agreement in principle with the Schools’ Forum that the cost of borrowing the required funds would be charged to the dedicated schools budget. Rik Boxer emphasised that there was a focus within the SEN transformation programme, on working closely with the Schools’ Forum and direct with Brent’s schools. The programme, however, drew resources from across the council services.
Turning to the subject of the development of adequate secondary school places to meet future demand, Rik Boxer confirmed that this had been considered within the long term strategy for SEN provision. A detailed piece of work had been completed regarding demand for SEN places in the longer term and it had been projected that a further 200 specialist places would be required by 2020. These places would be required across all phases and the current expansions were part of a longer term strategy.
Addressing some of the specific concerns expressed by the committee, Rik Boxer advised that the focus of the strategy with regard to the SEN transport service was to achieve cost reduction by increasing the availability of local placements, thereby reducing the length of journeys required. With regard to the introduction of the ‘Individual Pupil Support Agreement’ (IPSA), this was a means of assessing the needs of pupils and securing the required funding to address these needs, without having to engage in the lengthy and costly process of a statutory assessment. There was an emphasis on ensuring that the decision making with regard to the IPSAs was clear, transparent and consistent. Turning to Councillor Cheese’s query, Rik Boxer advised that there were approximately 20 pupils in SEN placements in local authority maintained special schools who came from outside of the borough.
RESOLVED: - that the report be noted.
Supporting documents: