Agenda item

Schools Forum received a report on 19 June 2024 on a proposed banding SEND Resource Allocation System (RAS) to move away from the current hours led system to a needs-led, provision-based approach for mainstream schools and Additional Resource Provisions (ARPs), early years settings and post-16 settings.  It was agreed that consultation would be undertaken with schools and settings in the autumn term on the proposed new approach.

Consultation has been undertaken with mainstream schools and post-16 colleges on a proposed RAS for mainstream schools and post-16.  Further work is being undertaken on application of the RAS for children in ARPs and Early Years. This report therefore sets out proposed changes to the way that Brent allocates resources for children and young people with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) for children aged 0-25 in mainstream schools and post-16 colleges only following consultation.

Shirley Parks, Director, Education, Partnerships and Strategy introduced a report providing an update on the consultation process agreed by the Forum on 19 June 24 proposing a banding SEND Resource Allocation System (RAS) designed to move away from the current hours led system to a needs-led, provision-based approach for mainstream schools and Additional Resource Provisions (ARPs), early years settings and post-16 settings.  Following consultation, the report detailed the proposed changes to the way that Brent would allocate resources for children and young people with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) for children aged 0-25 in mainstream schools and post-16 colleges with the following key points highlighted as part of the update provided:

·            Consultation had been undertaken during the autumn term with mainstream schools and post-16 colleges on the proposed RAS for mainstream schools and post-16 with further work being undertaken on application of the RAS for children in ARPs and Early Years.  This paper therefore sets out. 

·            Currently, Brent allocated financial resources based on the number of hours of one-to-one teaching assistant (TA) support that a child was considered to need by the SEND Advisory Panel, in accordance with their EHCP.  Brent was an outlier in allocating resources this way with the proposed SEND RAS designed to move Brent to a system of allocating resources to children with an EHCP based on an assessment of the child’s level of need, as determined through the use of banding matrices applied to their EHCP at the SEND Advisory Panel.  There was one banding matrix proposed for children aged 5-25 and another for children in early years aged 0-5.  The RAS included 12 areas to support the assessment of the child’s needs with each was scored according to the following ranking system - no additional support; some support; high level of support and exceptional level of support and the scores totalled and corresponding to a funding level.

·            The new bands did not represent in themselves a change to the level of financial resources that children would receive (as detailed in Table 1 of the report) with the proposed banding matrices developed as part of Brent’s engagement with the Department for Education’s (DfE) ‘Delivering better Value’ (DBV) programme and matrices co-produced with members of Brent Parent Carer Forum (BPCF), representatives from Brent early years (EY), primary and secondary providers and relevant professionals within the Inclusion Service (Educational Psychology, Early Years Inclusion and SEND 0-25 teams), as well as the Schools Forum High Needs Block Working Group and the Early Years Working Group.  The only financial changes proposed included – a rounding of amounts attached to each band and the introduction of a higher Band 7 funding intended for children in mainstream school whose EHCP stated that special school would be an appropriate setting.

·            The details provided on the consultation process undertaken (as set out in section 3.2 of the report) and level of feedback provided in response.  In terms of qualitative data, overall respondents had supported the move away from resources being allocated in terms of 1:1 TA hours and towards a needs-based system (which represented the central question of the consultation).  Respondents commented that the proposed new system of resource allocation would be clearer and more consistent, although, one respondent had expressed concern that parents may be made anxious by the move away from 1:1 TA hours and that this proposed change must be communicated carefully.  Participants had commented positively on the implementation of Band 7 funding for children in mainstream awaiting a place in special school. Two respondents had requested more information and training on the matrix (should it be implemented), especially for SENDCos with concern also expressed in 3 of the 16 responses that the proposals would not solve the issue of high needs funding failing to match the cost of meeting the needs of some children with SEND.

·            Based on the responses received, officers were therefore recommending that Schools Forum approve implementation of the proposed new resource allocation process for children with an EHCP in mainstream schools with the new process to be implemented from 1 December 2024, applied initially to new plans and at phase transfer annual reviews and the aim for all Brent EHCPs to have been placed onto the new bands by September 2025.

The Chair thanked Shirley Parks for the update provided and then invited comments on the presentation and proposed way forward, with the following issues covered:

·            It was confirmed that modelling had been in order to assess the impact of changes on a sample of primary and secondary schools which had informed the banding rates, alongside benchmarking information on funding allocated to children with SEND in mainstream schools and post-16 provisions. This had shown that Brent would be broadly in line with other neighbouring authorities for school-age children.

·            The support expressed for the proposed changes and move away from the current hours led system to a needs-led, provision-based approach.

·            Members were grateful for the consultation and asked whether learning had also been gained from other boroughs.  In response, officers advised that consultation had been undertaken with other local authorities which had identified issues when trying to model on an electronic system.  The aim introducing the proposals had been to start slowly and accurately whilst staff were undergoing training and working with SENCOs to get it right.  Additional feedback provided by parents had identified a need for careful consideration of the language supporting introduction of the proposals to be used, which would be picked up moving forward.

·            Consultation on Additional Resource Provisions (ARP) and Early Years (EY) funding was now anticipated to commence January 2025, which would be informed by modelling of the impact of proposed rates and benchmarking information.  This had been delayed by a decision, since the report to Schools Forum in June 2024, to remodel some of the initial DBV data set assumptions given the changing needs profile of children placed in ARPs and in the presenting needs in early years cohorts.  Further analysis was aimed at ensuring need was not underestimated to ensure that appropriate funding was allocated.

With no further comments raised, and in view of the support expressed the Schools Forum RESOLVED:

(1)       To approve the introduction of a Resource Allocation System for all children and young people with an EHCP in mainstream schools and settings.

(2)       To approve that the Local Authority and mainstream schools and settings work in partnership to implement the Resource Allocation System for all children and young people commencing with new EHCPs from December 2024.

(3)       To note that a report on the adoption of the Resource Allocation System for ARPs and Early Years settings would be brought to a future meeting following consultation in the new year.