Agenda item - Special Educational Needs and Disability Review - Update on Proposals to Reorganise Special Provision

Report of the Executive Director of Children’s Services (copy attached)

Contact Officer: Regan Delf                                    Tel: 01273 293504

Ward(s) Affected: All Wards

58.1    RERSOLVED: That the Committee approved the proposed timeline for securing the proposed changes and noted that the consultation process would begin in January 2016.

58.1    The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Children’s Services which provided an update on the Special Educational Needs and Disability Review. The report was introduced by Head of Behaviour and Attendance and Ms Coe (Consultant).

58.2    Councillor Wealls said that the report lacked information on the proposals and questioned how consultation could begin without that information. The Executive Director of Children’s Services said that this report was only to agree the timeline for securing the desired changes for the reorganisation of special educational provision, and that much more detail on the proposals would be provided in due course. Ms Coe said that details would be on the Council’s web portal along with a questionnaire for those wanting to engage in the consultation. The Chair suggested that some parents would not use the portal and suggested that officers look at additional ways of engaging with parents. The Head of Behaviour and Attendance said that the authority would not just be using a portal and would also use alternative means of consultation, such as attending meetings with community groups.

58.3    Ms Holt said that changes to SEN provision did concern people, and asked whether a scrutiny review of the proposals could be included in the process. The Executive Director of Children’s Services said that some people were suspicious about the changes to the Learning Support Service, that was not the case with this review as there was a wide degree of consensus and therefore he did not feel it was necessary.

58.4    Councillor Wealls asked if this Committee were now taking ownership of the review, and whether the Health & Wellbeing Board (HWB) would still be involved. He was advised the terms of reference for the HWB did not include educational matters, and so it would just be considered by this Committee.

58.5    RESOLVED: That the Committee approved the proposed timeline for securing the proposed changes and noted that the consultation process would begin in January 2016.