The panel to receive a report on special educational needs strategy/funding.

It was reported that following a discussion between Councillors Mrs Aspinall, Bowie, Williams and Maggie Carter, Interim Assistant Director for Learner and Family Support a decision was made to withdraw the Special Educational Needs (SEN) Strategy at this stage.  The strategy would be brought back to the panel at a future meeting.

Maggie Carter, Interim Assistant Director, Learner and Family Support gave an update to the panel on Special Educational Needs (SEN) Performance against national indicator 103.  It was reported that –

a.     the process for completing a statement for a child was a complex and bureaucratic process.  It requires information to be collected on the child and family to ascertain the educational needs of the child;

b.    it was crucial for the family to be involved in the assessment process.  By working with the family it ensured that a statement was produced that the family would feel comfortable with;

c.     there was a statutory timescale for a statement to be completed and there were issues with staffing as well as delays in receiving professional advice from health colleagues;

d.    it was better to reach a negotiated agreement with the family which meant that cases going before an SEN Tribunal were low;

e.    health colleagues were now attending multi-agency meetings.

In response to questions raised, it was reported that –

f.      the school would review the statement on an annual basis.  The statement would be rewritten if a child came from another local authority;

g.     if the school felt a child needed a statement then they can apply for a statutory assessment to be undertaken.  If a parent disagrees they can meet with the Parent Support Adviser (PSA) or meet a member of the team for support and advice;

h.    a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) would be a key point of contact for parents for support as well Parent Support Advisers and the Educational Psychology Team.  They would provide the family the support throughout the statutory assessment and ensure the right resolution was agreed;

i.      roughly 75 per cent of schools employed a PSA either wholly as a PSA or amalgamated with another role;

j.      the parent would be asked to contribute information on their child’s needs and they have to respond within a set period of time.  A PSA would be available to help them make their submission.  If they don’t provide the information then a further reminder letter would be sent.  This would not delay the process for the child as information was received from other professionals;

k.    SENCO and the Parent Partnership would help and support parents that were literate and assist with the completing of any forms;

l.      children in early years would be identified by the health visitor.  Early years settings have the equivalent of a SENCO and if a young child had significant needs they would already be receiving an assessment;

m.   timely access to reports was important.  A senior medical officer now sits on the single multi agency panel and this had made a significant difference in gaining access records.

Agreed that –

1.    Special Educational Needs (SEN) Strategy to be brought back to a future panel meeting;

2.    figures on the current number of Parent Support Adviser (PSA’s) within Plymouth schools to be emailed to panel members.