Lead Member for Education and Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability
MINUTES of a meeting of the Lead Member for Education and Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability held at County Hall, Lewes on 13 September 2021.
++ The Lead Member was not present in person, but took the decisions remotely ++
Councillor Kathryn Field and Councillor Bob
Bowdler spoke on item 4 (see minute 39)
Councillor Kathryn Field and Councillor Alan
Shuttleworth spoke on item 5 (see minute 40)
Councillor Sam Adeniji spoke on item 6 (see minute 41)
36 Decisions made by the Lead Cabinet Member on 22 July 2021
36.1 The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 22 July 2021.
37 Disclosures of interests
37.1 There were none.
38 Urgent items
38.1 There were none.
39 Update to home to school transport policies for mainstream and SEND pupils
39.1 The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services regarding proposed amendments to the School Transport Policy, 16 to 19 SEND Travel Assistance Policy and the Post-19 SEND Travel Assistance Policy.
39.2 RESOLVED – to approve the proposed amendments to the policies listed above which include an amended appeals process and other minor changes which assist with accessibility and readability.
Reason
39.3 The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) has recommended the improvements to the Councils appeal process set out in the report. The other minor changes in the policies will assist with accessibility and readability.
40 Excellence for All strategy 2021 – 2023
40.1 The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services seeking approval of the content and to authorise the publication of the Excellence for All Strategy for 2021 – 2023.
40.2 RESOLVED – to approve the content and authorise the publication of the Excellence for All Strategy for 2021 – 2023.
Reason
40.3 The Excellence for All Strategy represents the key ambitions that the local authority and its partners share for education in East Sussex. It has been developed through analysis of current educational performance and a consultation process. The strategy provides schools, settings and colleges with a clear and timely message about the ways in which the local authority will support them and the local authority’s role as a champion for children and young people.
41 Lowering the age range at Cradle Hill Community Primary School
41.1 The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services seeking approval to publish a statutory notice in respect of a proposal to lower the age range at Cradle Hill Community Primary School from 4-11 to 2-11.
41.2 RESOLVED – the Lead Member approved:
1) to authorise the publication of a statutory notice in respect of a proposal to lower the age range at Cradle Hill Community Primary School from 4-11 to 2-11. The proposal will take effect from 1 April 2022: and
2) to delegate authority to the Director of Children’s Services to amend the proposal prior to its publication, if required.
Reason
41.3 The proposal to lower the age range at Cradle Hill Community Primary School
from 4-11 to 2-11 will enable nursery provision to be re-established on the school site. It will support the governing board’s vision to integrate, fully, nursery provision into the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) to offer high quality early education to families in the local area. Feedback from the initial consultation was positive, with all respondents supportive of the proposal. A local needs survey also indicated local support for nursery provision on the school site.