Agenda item

The Director of Service – Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) and the Service Delivery Manager for SEND introduced the report on the SEND provision within Hillingdon.

An update was provided on the SEND provision within Hillingdon and on the support available for children and young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN) support.

It was noted that transformational work had continued to develop with more education settings now accessing pre statutory pathways despite financial pressures and the Covid 19 – pandemic. Although there had been an increase in early intervention and children accessing pre – statutory support, it was noted that there were still systemic funding pressures in SEND and these were being challenged both nationally and locally.

The Committee was provided with a context of the SEND reforms and it was highlighted that the London Borough of Hillingdon had seen a growth rate between 2014 – 2021 of 90% in comparison to London. The Committee heard information in relation to the impact of the pandemic, the SEND service, the SEND Advisory Service, the Educational Psychology Service and next steps.

The Committee noted the progress with Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) assessments. In response to questions around support packages available for residents and access to services, it was explained that success was measured through provision and how well the provision was delivered. Although there were six pupils out of provision through statutory school age, within that cohort pupils still had access to home education whilst the most appropriate provision was being sought. Once an appropriate setting had been finalised, the responsibilities were then discharged onto that provision. There had been recent development to expand the pre - statutory support available through the stronger families work where the most appropriate provisions could be triaged.  Work was being done to address the identified gaps. It was agreed that further information would be provided in relation to performance indicators around how many people were looking for support packages and how many people were unable to access services.

The growth in the spending and the breakdown of SEN numbers by schools data was considered. Members enquired whether there were incentives in place for schools to have pupils with EHCPs. It was explained that the percentage of the pupils with EHCPs was against the percentage of pupils on that school roll and that data was used by the Council to consider how support could be best provided. Where there was a disproportionate number of pupils with ECHPs, work was being done to work with schools and representatives to address this. Support to all settings was provided by the SEND service and feedback was provided to schools and parents with follow up phone calls. A training plan had also been developed for SEND coordinators and SEND leads.

In response to questions around the support provided to pupils with EHCPs who home were educated, it was confirmed that a guidance had been developed with the Participation Team for parents who home educated children. There were home education officers to guide parents to ensure that the right provisions were provided. It was noted that electively home educated children with EHCPs were not provided with local authority funding as the local authority did not have a legal duty to arrange special educational provision,  however guidance was provided. These EHCPs were also reviewed more often.

The Committee heard what EHCP reviews involved and was advised that best practice learning and in-house services all played a significant role.

It was noted that there were some discrepancies in the audit of school’s information that detailed the number of children with EHCPS. Officers were asked to review the statistics provided. Further information was requested on the number children waiting for placements to meet their needs and the most recent up to date information on the audit of school information. Members were informed that the data was obtained from the census earlier this year and it was accepted that there could be a difference in information before the Committee.

It was reported that the Council had implemented a scheme whereby schools that past the three percent threshold of their population of pupils with EHCPs or early support funding received funding of an additional £6000 per pupil. The engagement of governors was important and, since April 2021, a permanent team had been recruited to manage caseloads.

In response to queries in relation school places, the key challenges were explained noting that many specialist schools were close to being full. A strategy was being developed to focus on schools with high percentages. Surveys and annual review projects had been initiated to ensure that every EHCP had been reviewed and children and young people were placed in the right provisions. 

Questions were asked around the action had been taken following the completion of assessments and what challenges were predicted for the future. Although 20 week performances looked positive and there was engagement with early support funding, it was acknowledged that there were still challenges in the context of policies and the growth of EHCPs.  Engagement with school settings was significant. Further information regarding modelling growth, case load numbers and parent carer forums would be circulated to Members. 

It was noted that in cases where early support funding was not appropriate due to complexity of the long term needs and waiting for assessments, exceptional funding could be considered as part of the process. There was a national shortage in educational psychology and ways on how to train and retain them was ongoing. The framework for local area inspections had not yet been published and it was conducted by the CQC and Ofsted and wider stakeholders. Further information was requested on short break services and what was being done to ensure that this was being offered to all children with additional needs. 

The Committee welcomed the thorough and wide-ranging report. It was encouraged by how the service had transformed, particularly in light of the growth of numbers and ongoing challenges. For future reporting, figures and bar charts differentiating progress made and case studies were welcomed.

RESOLVED: That the Committee noted the contents of the report.