Agenda item

(K Wilkinson left the meeting)

A report had been circulated that provided Schools Forum with an update on the financial position for High Needs, factoring in any recent funding announcements.

Mrs J Mills explained that SEN were delivering a better value programme and had recently been through a data exercise with the Department for Education (DfE).  They had looked at the biggest demands on the service and how these could be mitigated to ensure that children’s needs could be met.

Three projects had been suggested and these were: -

• ASD children and communication interaction and school avoidance

• Working with partners early to ensure that all partners wrap around care needs were met.

• Mainstream post 16 – looking at a satellite provision.

Quarterly meetings with the DfE would be undertaken and regular updates would be provided to Schools Forum.

A question was asked about high needs spending and the agency placement costs increasing by 64% in the last three years.  It was noted that these had increased over time in schools, this was at a faster rate than the expansion of schools, as they could not open any more at the moment.  There was a need for Stockton children to be educated in Stockton and work to reduce and decrease this had been undertaken.  Looking at the numbers, there was a ‘pinch’ point in secondary special alongside parental preference.  It was hoped that through the reform and change programme this would support ‘right children, right schools, right costs’.

A further question was asked about the agency costs and it was noted that there were more children requiring support as well as costs being higher.  Mr A Bryson indicated that they worked on an average of total costs with average children, the average cost was £55k per child, some places did cost a lot more than this.  The Chair commented that there was a duty to provide what the children required.

The number of permanent exclusions had increased by 300% in one year and a question was asked about what the local authority was doing to reduce this.  Mrs J Mills explained that numbers were subject to change and this was not as high as other authorities within the Tees Valley.  In the local authority there was not as much registered choice and the authority had applied for an alternative provision free school in line with Delta Trust.  This would give 50 places for permanently excluded students.  This would be in addition to the Pupil Referral Unit and would be 50 places that the school could commission.  The Chair highlighted that it would be useful to have a package to support children following their early identification.  Mrs Mills explained that there was an SEMH team that provide additional support to schools.

Mrs Spellman raised concern regarding the ability to resource permanent exclusions and the inclusion team were advising parents to apply for places whilst going through the process.  There was no therapeutic work and as there was an increase in numbers there was concern regarding the students’ prospects regarding their success.    Mrs Mills agreed that part of the fair access process there was a right to ask which school was next.  There were tutors and an Assistant Education Psychologist that did oversee the process.  It was suggested that this could be discussed by Secondary Headteacher Group.  Mrs Mills agreed to pick this issue up, not as part of this process, and would feed back to Mrs Spellman.

RESOLVED that the report be received and noted.