Agenda item

To consider progress with the review of alternative provision in Haringey and its implementation.

Charlotte Pomery, Assistant Director for Commissioning, reported on the review of Alternative Provision (AP) that was currently taking place.  AP was used for pupils who, because of exclusion, illness or other reasons would not otherwise receive suitable education.  It could play an important role in enabling children and young people to remain in mainstream schools.  Schools and AP providers had been visited as part of the review.  Processes and interventions had also been looked at as well as the reasons why school pupils might come to be excluded from school. 

She reported that the borough currently had 16 AP providers, some of which were within Haringey and some that were elsewhere.   In 2018/19, there had been 19 pupils who were placed in AP.   In addition, there were 50 pupils who attended the Octagon Pupil Referral Unit and the Council’s Tuition Service also provided for 55 pupils. 

The review had been timely as the National Review of Exclusions, led by Sir Edward Timpson, had recently been published.  In addition, the Council had also recently agreed its “Young People at Risk” strategy, which adopted a Public Health approach to improving outcomes.  Disproportionality was a particular concern and it had been noted that all of the young people currently at the Octagon Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) were from Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities.  Best practice from London and elsewhere had been looked at as part of the review.  The aspiration was for fewer children and young people to go through to the PRU.  A set of principles were being worked on and these would focus on needs rather than behaviour, although this was still important.   AP needed to be part of an overall support system. 

There was a long list of findings from the review to date.  Amongst these were the following:

·         Schools could move pupils to other schools to avoid exclusions.   There was nevertheless more that schools to do to avoid exclusions, such as reviewing behaviour policies and the use of restorative justice.   Inequalities also needed further consideration, including how unconscious bias could be avoided;

·         Some schools had adopted whole school approaches to autism, mental health and wellbeing and disability, but this was not consistent;

·         It was noted that a grant of £1m had been receded from NHS England to develop and test mental health support.  In addition, action had been taken to address waiting times for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS);

·         The primary outreach service was very well regarded and provided good advice and support to schools and staff teams.  However, there was no outreach service for secondary schools;

·         Gaps had been identified in AP for primary school children but the number of children requiring it was small; and

·         More could be done to obtain and listen to the voices of parents and carers. 

Information and data on the numbers and circumstances of managed moves or activities which could be seen as “off rolling” in the borough were not available although it was understood that both might occur.   The Timson review had recommended that the practice be discouraged.

Ms Pomery reported that the recommendations of the review were currently being worked upon and a report would be submitted to Cabinet before the end of the year, including an action plan. 

Panel Members suggested that Councillors would benefit from receiving a presentation on school exclusions, including their impact on BAME communities and the influence of social class.  Officers indicated that they would welcome the opportunity to share the information to date with all Councillors.

Ms Graham commented that school governors had an important role as they were involved in decisions to exclude.  It was important that they were well informed and were able to provide effective challenge to Headteachers.  Parents also needed to be supported effectively and consideration could be given to funding additional amounts. 

AGREED:

That a briefing be arranged for all Councillors on school exclusions and that this include equalities issues, such as their impact on BAME communities and social class.