Agenda item

To report on the outcome of the consultation on the Special, Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Strategy for Haringey for 2022 to 2025 and the written statement of action in response to the findings and recommendations from the local area inspection of SEND services. 

Jackie Difolco, Assistant Director for Early Help and Prevention, reported on the outcome of the public consultation which informed the SEND strategy for the next three years and which also reflected the written statement of action in response to the OFSTED inspection of SEND. 

A number of informal engagement sessions had taken place with parents and carers at the Markfield Centre regarding the five priorities in the strategy.  Presentations were also made to boards of partners as well and there was a public consultation.   The SEND strategy and the Written Statement of Action in response to the OFSTED inspection were aligned so that they complemented each other.   Nearly 100 responses had been received to the consultation from parents, carers and practitioners.   Over 80% had believed that Priority 1 was the most important and almost all were in favour of the strategy being adopted.  However, many questioned the capacity of the SEND Partnership to deliver the strategy and there was also dissatisfaction with the Council’s SEND service.  In addition, there were concerns regarding transitions and post 16. A key element of the strategy was that the community needed to be at its heart.

The SEND Executive had approved the final strategy.  All of the feedback from the consultation had been included in the final draft as well as the findings of the SEND evaluations, the OFTSTED inspections and the Amaze report on parental participation.  Additional funding had been made available to the SEND service in the Council’s budget and there was to be an uplift in the High Needs Block of Dedicated Schools Grant.  In addition, the CCG had made funding available to reduce the waiting time for autism assessments.   Work to deliver the strategy was already taking place.  Annual reports on progress would be produced and the strategy would be published on the Local Offer webpage.

In respect of the OFSTED inspection, there had been three issues that had been identified as requiring to be addressed in the Written Statement of Action:

1.    The poor quality of EHC plans and the annual review process especially as children and young people prepare for adulthood;

2.    The lack of partnership working and poor communication and co-production with parents, children and young people. This includes communication through the local offer; and

3.    Unacceptable waiting times for Autism Spectrum assessment and insufficient support whilst waiting for a diagnosis.

A number of actions to address these had already been taken.  The WSOA had been developed using the same principles as the SEND strategy.  Feedback from a number of sources had been incorporated and six workshops had taken place with parents, carers and partners.  The WSOA was in excess of 30 pages long but a summary had been developed and published on the local offer website.  In addition, the website now also contained a wide range of additional information.  Progress with the implementation of the WSOA was monitored through key performance indicators covering a number of areas and hard and soft outcomes.  These included waiting times for autism assessments, completion of EHC plans and listening to parents and carers.

The SEND Executive Board was accountable for progress.  Feedback was obtained from the Parent Carer Forum and there were now two representatives from it on the SEND Executive.  Progress had already been made with the WSOA. This had included improvements in waiting times for autism assessments and in completion of EHC plans.  There were regular meetings with the PCF.  Work was also taking place with Islington, who had been appointed as the Council’s partners in practice.  In addition, a preparation for adulthood workshop had been undertaken and Schools SEND Support guidance had been developed and published.

The Chair welcomed the strategy and the progress made with the implementation of the WSOA.  In answer to a question, Ms Difolco stated that there was a section of the strategy that dealt with transition to adult services and a separate preparing for adulthood strategy was being developed.  This was due to be consulted upon in the early part of the summer. The draft strategy could also be considered by the Panel together with the Adults and Health Scrutiny Panel.

The Panel commented that the progress that had been made was encouraging but that it was important that momentum was not lost.  It was also important that the Panel was able to hear the views of parents and carers and on a regular basis.  Having a co-opted Member of the Panel representing SEND parents and carers would assist in this process. 

Amanda Bernard, Interim Chair of the Parent Carer Forum, reported that there was a clear need for 16+ to be addressed.  Many young people were currently falling through the net and some were not getting the placements that they required.  There was also a need to address early years and waiting times for EHC plans as well.   It was important that the voices of families were heard.  The truth and reconciliation sessions that had taken place with the Council had enabled mistrust to be addressed and grievances to be aired and there needed to be further opportunities for this.  Parents of SEND children needed to manage their time carefully and sufficient notice needed to be given of forthcoming meetings.  This needed to be conveyed to external agencies.  A minimum of 21 days notice was normally necessary. 

In answer to a questions regarding commissioning, Ms Difolco reported that the Council currently commissioned a range of services.  A new joint SEND commissioning strategy was being developed between the Council and the CCG.   This would look at the level of need and of demand for services.  Consideration could be given to extending the use of the voluntary sector as part of this. 

The Panel noted that each scrutiny panel was entitled to appoint three non voting co-opted Members.   Such appointments were normally taken at the first meeting of the new Municipal Year and the decision to appoint formally someone would therefore be for the new Panel to make.  Non-voting co-opted Members were different in status to the statutory education co-opted Members of the Panel, who were appointed externally and able to vote on education matters.

In answer to another question, Ms Difolco acknowledged that that the documentation could be more accessible.  However, a WSOA on one page had been developed and progress reports would be kept brief.  In respect of the financing of EHC plans, a package of support was developed covering a number of bands.  Banding arrangements had been in place for some time and similar systems were also used by other local authorities. They were also communicated to schools.  It was agreed that they would be provided to school governing bodies so that they were made aware of them as well.

AGREED:

1.    That the draft Preparing for Adulthood strategy be considered jointly by the Panel with the Adults and Health; and

2.    That details of the banding arrangements for the provision and financing of support required in EHC plans be shared with school governing bodies.