Agenda item

Ms Abi Preston, the Council’s Director of SEND and Education, noted that the Hillingdon Local Area SEND and AP Strategy 2023-2028 had been a collaborative effort (not solely Council-owned) and highlighted the importance of partnerships in addressing SEND issues.  The updated Strategy had incorporated alternative provision elements that aligned with national SEND and AP improvement guidelines.

Initially, a draft Strategy with three key priorities had been developed but, after considering consultation feedback from parents, families and schools, broader ambitions had been identified.  The Strategy aimed to achieve several key ambitions, notably emphasising early intervention, inclusive education, tailored provision for Hillingdon children and ensuring children lived happy and fulfilled lives within their communities.

Ms Preston advised that there had been extensive data analysis to ensure that the Strategy aligned with local needs and national SEND and AP improvements, including Green Paper developments.  Challenges highlighted by schools had centred on national priorities such as increased inclusion in mainstream schools and funding constraints which could not be changed at a local level.

Action was now being taken to establish a systematic approach to SEND, collaborating closely with counterparts from the local area, and included the development of systematic leadership training and updating the funding model (the current model was eight years old).  Additionally, new needs and provision matrices were being created for a uniformed approach to supporting children and clear admission guidance was being produced for special needs schools.

Concerns were raised about funding pressures in mainstream schools and the increasing complexity of student needs.  Ms Preston advised that collaborative work was being undertaken with these schools to deal with these issues as one size would not fit all. 

Although Harefield had a low total number of EHCPs, the number per 100,000k population was high.  It was noted that there was a gender imbalance with regard to EHCPs, particularly related to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), with more boys identified than girls (possibly as a result of girls being more likely to mask their needs).  The Board noted that the Strategy did not include ethnicity data due to the document's comprehensive nature – 32% were White British with the next highest group being Any Other Asian Background.

The Board asked about the support available for families and primary carers within the Strategy, emphasising early intervention and the need to ensure that families could access necessary information and support.  Children and families were central to everything in the Strategy and the collaboration undertaken between health services and voluntary sector partners had been integral to addressing waiting lists and providing timely support.  Thinking about the challenges, it would be important to ensure that families had access to information but that the support available would develop over time to meet the needs. 

There was acknowledgment of the collaborative approach taken and the need to continue refining pathways for families to access support whist waiting for assessments without solely relying on diagnoses.  Clarity was needed on how partners could provide and promote this support.

RESOLVED:  That the Local Area Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Strategy 2023-2028 be noted.