Issue - items at meetings - Special Educational Needs Annual Report 2011/2012

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

            That the Committee agrees to the publication of the final draft of the new SEN Annual Report 2011/2012

64.1         The Committee considered a report of the Interim Director of Children’s Services setting out the Annual Special Needs (SEN) Performance for the academic year 2011/2012. The report set out Special Educational Needs (SEN) Performance for the academic year 2011/2012. The analysis of SEN and disabilities across the City was largely based on census information available for January 2012. The January 2013 census was still on-going and national data would not be published until the autumn of 2013. However where possible more recent internal data had been included to show any continuing trends. Pupil performance data relating to SEN and disabilities was based on national tests and public examinations for summer 2012.

64.2         This report updated the previous SEN Annual Report 2010/2011 with some significant additions. Data had been included on the overlap between FSM and SEN and disabilities to drew links between SEN and deprivation. Additionally in line with the focus on ‘outcomes’ rather than ‘processes’ for children with SEN and disabilities , data had been included on the performance of pupils with SEN and disabilities against national thresholds for 2012.

64.3    Councillor Simson, stated that whilst it appeared “good news” that the number children with statements across the city was falling, she hoped that this was not due to financial constraints and that those children whose needs were such that they needed a statement continued to receive them. The Lead Commissioner, Schools, Skills and Learning confirmed that children requiring statements would continue to receive them, however in line with the changes being made nationally, there would continue to be a greater emphasis on early intervention which would be effected by use of a multi agency approach and the drawing up of individual Education Care and Health Plans. In answer to further questions it was confirmed that the number of children in residential placements outside the city had fallen and that this had resulted in commensurate savings.

64.4    Ms Travers, Amaze noted that £1.35m had been saved by reducing agency/out of city placements and asked if 100% had been reinvested into mainstream local provision so that these young people had been able to be accommodated within the city, she requested a breakdown of what this money had been spent on. In view of the fact that 52% agency placements been used where no suitable local authority provision was available to suit an individual child’s needs she enquired whether it  was unlikely that the council would continue to be able to save such sums in the future and it was confirmed that was the case.

64.5    Councillor Pissaridou sought details of the number, if any of children from outside the city who either had a residential placement within the city or attended special schools within the city, also, where this related to those who were looked after children or resided in children’s homes. The Lead Commissioner, Schools, Skills and Learning, explained that this information fell under two separate sets of legislation and fell under two different sets of legislation and that this would be looked into and that information provided separately.

64.6    Councillor Gilbey stated that it was her understanding that Mile Oak Primary School used their Pupil Premium for SEN provision enquiring whether there was any correlation between that and the number of children attending Hillside school. It was explained that that the number of pupils with SEN across all schools varied year on year and that the annual figures were adjusted accordingly.

64.7    Ms Travers, Amaze, stated that a number of parents had expressed concern regarding the potential ramifications of the new arrangements. A Statement gave parents a degree of reassurance as it carried with it specific entitlements, parents might not agree that a reduction in the number of statements was a good thing. The Lead Commissioner, Schools, Skills and Learning responded that as the statementing process was costly, it was considered preferable to shift funding to early assistance services where this was an option.

64.8    Councillor Wealls considered it was very important to seek to ensure that the educational attainments of schools at Key Stage 2 also reflected the value added element and indicated the broader curriculum that available beyond GCSE subjects. The Lead Commissioner, Schools, Skills and Learning referred to the re-launch of “Closing the Gap” to identify and seek to close gaps in provision. It was important to ensure that schools were directing their pupil premium into the right places and to look at broadening their curriculum offer. Ms Travers, Amaze asked if the available data could be broken down and provided by school and disability type.

64.9    Councillor Powell referred to the transition between secondary and post sixteen education including foundation learning and to the difficulties in finding placements for  young people with SEN on learning programmes. It would be useful if this information could be provided

64.10  RESOLVED – That the Committee agree to the publication of the final draft of the new SEN Annual Report 2011/12.