Agenda item

Barnsley SEND and Out of Borough Placements

To consider a private report of the Executive Director Core Services and the Executive Director People (Item 6 attached) in respect of Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities in Barnsley

 

Minutes:

The Following witnesses were welcomed to the meeting:

 

Margaret Libreri, Service Director – Education, Early Start & Prevention, BMBC

Councillor Sarah Tattersall, Cabinet Support Member for People (Achieving Potential)

Richard Lynch, Head of Barnsley Schools Alliance, BMBC

 

The Service Director introduced the report and provided an overview of the current population of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Barnsley against the national and local context.

 

It was reported that there is an upwards trajectory of requests for assessments, in line with national trends.  This is due to many contributing factors.   

 

In Barnsley the absence rate for children with an EHCP is lower than national, but for children at SEN support stage it is almost 1% higher than the national average, which is a cause for concern as those in need of support are more likely to be absent or disengage from school.  School attendance for children and young people with SEND is a challenge.  Under the new system the age range for children and young people with SEND has been extended from 0 – 25, which is well beyond school age.  More children with SEND are now being identified in primary school and often before children enter formal education.  Developmental delays can be identified at the mandatory 2 ½ year old check. The role of family centres has changed along with a change in funding and a change in the process for assessment. 

 

A discussion took place regarding school exclusions and the level of monitoring of day to day practice.  Members were reassured that when a concern is raised this is always followed up and this is something which Ofsted is increasingly focussing on.  In terms of Elective Home Education (EHE)  many schools are now trying to actively discourage this and to give parents a ‘cooling off’ period.

 

With regard to specialist out of authority placements for Barnsley children and young people with SEND, Members felt that opportunities to provide such placements in Barnsley should be explored.   However, because of the low numbers of children and young people placed out of authority, this would not be financially viable.  Similarly, the number of children with SEND from other authorities who are placed in Barnsley is very small. 

 

The process for providing information and supporting parental preference in choice of schools was explained for the benefit of Members, together with information about the Placement Sufficiency Strategy.  The EHCP team helps to guide parents through the process.  There is a SEND Improvement Programme and update report which identifies priorities on the basis of performance data and feedback from partners and service users.  This will be shared with Members.  

 

 

RESOLVED that

 

(i)            The report be noted;

 

(ii)          Witnesses be thanked for their attendance and contribution;

 

(iii)         Councillor Daniel Griffin to provide evidence to the service regarding his concerns on practices in schools;

 

(iv)         Service to provide the Committee with a copy of their Service Improvement Plan;

 

(v)          Service to provide the Key Stage 4 Progress 8 scores to the committee;

 

(vi)         Service to report back to the committee on how they challenge exclusions in the Borough and how this is then deal with, and

 

(vii)        Service to report back to the committee as to what data is available regarding off-rolling in Barnsley schools.

 

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