Agenda item

Before the Select Committee received the presentation regarding the Additional Learning Needs review, the Chair allowed a Select Committee Member to raise an issue with the Cabinet Member in respect of Additional Learning Needs (ALN) provision in Caldicot Comprehensive School.

The Select Committee Member had expressed concern that there will be a reduction in the provision of ALN in Caldicot School for the academic year 2018. Caldicot Comprehensive School has a Special Educational Needs referral unit and for some years has run the ‘buffer’ class which is a class comprising of about 20 children who have an average range academically but have complex and comorbid conditions. These children have been supported extremely well in the ‘buffer’ class by the teacher and teaching assistant. Parents, children and staff all believe this is the best way for these children to be educated in order to achieve their academic potential. It is believed that due to funding cuts, the ‘buffer’ class will not be run from 2018 onwards.

The Cabinet Member stated that there have been some changes to the way in which ALN provision is provided in Caldicot Comprehensive School.  In the new building of Caldicot Comprehensive School, the Authority has provided additional ALN provision which does provide a reduction in Caldicot School as additional support is being provided in Monmouth Comprehensive School.  As there has been a reduction in provision at Caldicot Comprehensive School there has been a change in the way the provision is being funded.  The changes are being brought in over the next two years.  There is a capacity of 55 places in the new unit in Caldicot Comprehensive School and there are currently 42 students being educated within this unit.  The decision to allocate funding for students with more moderate needs is made by the school which equates to a sum in the region of £195,000. The Cabinet Member stated that he would be content to meet with the Select Committee Member and / or with the school to discuss this matter further.

The Head of Achievement and Attainment informed the Select Committee that the new Caldicot Comprehensive School has a Special Needs Resource Base (SNRB) of 55 places.  Last year, 75 places were identified within Caldicot.  With the new build, there is a reduction in the numbers in the Caldicot area.  However, overall in Monmouthshire, the number of SNRB places are being increased to 110.

The unit funding for Caldicot Comprehensive School, for this year, has been £275,000 for the unit itself and for the children that the Authority knows have the appropriate diagnosis and the appropriate statements to facilitate access to that provision.  In addition, there is an additional amount of band funding which will either be an extra 100% support for a teaching assistant or 75% support for a teaching assistant. This current year, the figure equates to in the region of £195,000.  In year adjustments have been made in the region of £20,000, providing the school with £215,000 to organise as it wishes.

In addition to the £215,000 funding, there is an additional £48,000 that is allocated to Caldicot Comprehensive School, which is the school’s delegated lump sum. 

Caldicot Comprehensive School has access to a lot of funding in order to meet the needs of its students.  The school has the funding within its budget to continue providing its ‘buffer’ class.

The Chair thanked the Cabinet Member and Officers for responding to the question raised in respect of ALN provision in Caldicot Comprehensive School.

Context:

To scrutinise the progress made to date in respect of the Inclusion review and to receive a presentation in respect of this matter.

Key Issues:

·         Aims for the future:

-       To secure equality of access to education.

-       To deliver high quality and inclusive curriculum for all learners.

-       To educate Monmouthshire’s young people in their local communities where possible.

-       To support learners and their families across the county.

-       To provide opportunities for young people to access support when they need it and return to their community school.

-       To meet the need of current and changing needs.

·         The proposed changes to the current model will ensure that the key principles for the future generation act will be met.

·         Meet the rights of the child under the UN convention on the rights of the child.

·         Address the ten aims of the new Additional Learning Needs act.

·         Next steps:

-       Develop costs for all models.

-       The Children and Young People Select Committee will play an important part in deciding the final model and will be a key partner for consultation.

-       Consultation will take place on a number of proposals with a wide audience which will include elected Members, parents, schools, governors, the Health Board and advocacy groups.

Member Scrutiny:

·         With regard to the placement of the additional units for ALN, it was noted that it was currently too early to identify where these units will be accommodated.  However, the Authority needs to look at its estate within education and also broadly across the Council to ensure value is maximised.

·         The Central Team, comprising of Educational Psychologists, Advisory / Assessment Teacher, Speech and Language Therapist, CAMHS Worker, Social Worker and Nurse, can be called into schools by Head Teachers when required.

·         The ALN Inclusion review will mitigate the very high cost placements that exist out of County.  This will enable the Authority to keep Monmouthshire’s children within County and therefore making budget savings from having fewer Monmouthshire children having to go out of County. It is anticipated that the service will be managed within existing budget provision.

·         With regard to the model of having short term placements, there will be an expectation for schools to be able to send another member of staff with the pupil over the period of time in order for capacity to be built within schools.  The new Model will enable the Authority to do this effectively.

·         A clear timeline for the implementation for the review will be presented to the Select Committee in due course.

·         When the new Model is implemented, the Authority is duty bound to work across multi agencies which will involve the wider range of professionals.  The new Model is set up to look at identifying need collectively to work together in the best interest of the child.

·         The Authority is very good at allocating statements of special educational needs on time.  However, the Authority ensures that statements issued are appropriate containing all information received, even if it means waiting a little longer before issuing.  Officers work closely with parents regarding this matter.

·         Currently, the Authority has 26 weeks to issue a statement of special educational needs.  Under the new model individual development plans will be looked at.  The turn-around time for one of these plans is 10 weeks. Therefore, there is a need to have robust measures in place to ensure this service works effectively.