Issue - meetings

To note the Strategy regarding the Special Educational Needs and Disability and Alternative Provision

The Cabinet Member: Education, Employment & Visitor Economy presented the report of the Director: Education & Skills. The report provided the outcome of the recent local area SEND inspection and sought approval of the SEND and alternative provision (AP) strategy.

The Strategy set out the local vision for children and young people aged 0-25 years with special educational needs and / or disabilities and for children and young people who need to access alternative provision. The strategy recognises that many children who attend AP will have SEND and it was noted that AP included a range of providers outside of mainstream education.

Cabinet Members welcomed the report and thanked officers, partners, parents, carers and the children and young people for their involvement. Members discussed the outcome of the recent OFSTED inspection.

The Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group welcomed the report and commended the work of the Council in it’s SEND provision and noted the impact of SEND and mental health has on school attendance.

In response to a question by the Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group, it was confirmed that the dashboard was a national scheme and it was hoped this would be in place by the end of the year. The data was formally reviewed termly, however, was regularly monitored.

The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group welcomed the report.

RESOLVED – that:

a)    The recently revised Special Educational Need and Disability (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Strategy (Appendix A of the report), recognising this as a local area partnership document between children / young people, parents, the Council, NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICA and other key partners, be approved;

b)   The outcome of the recent local area inspection of SEND undertaken by OFSTED / CQC, which:

a.    Resulted in the Council achieving the highest possible result;

b.    Judged our SEN arrangements to typically lead to positive experiences and outcomes for children and young people who have SEN and / or disabilities;

c.    Recognises that appropriate action is being taken where improvements are needed

be noted;

c)    The letter from the Minister of State for Children, Families and Wellbeing, Claire Coutinho MP (Appendix C of the Report) congratulating the Council for the outcome of our inspection that recognised many positive aspects of our local area practice, alongside areas in need of improvement be noted;

d)   Telford & Wrekin Council has recently been selected by the Department for Education (DfE) to lead the new SEND pilot for the West Midlands, as part of its £70 million investment into a change programme in respect of the national SEND and AP system be noted.