Issue - meetings

Report by the Director of Children’s Services.

29.1     At its meeting in June 2017, the Committee requested that a report which evaluates the impact of the measures set out in the Department’s Action Plan be brought to its March 2018 meeting.  A summary of the key points discussed by the Committee and the Department’s responses are set out below:

• High Needs Funding Block.  The Committee noted that for the 2017/18 financial year it had been necessary for the Department to make a transfer of approximately £4million to the High Needs Funding Block.   With this in mind, the Department were asked to comment on how certain it is that it would not be necessary to move further monies between funding blocks during the course of the coming financial year.   In response, the Department confirmed it is as confident as it can be that the budget is sufficient to meet the current levels of demand.  However, relatively small increases in demand could still create significant budgetary pressures.  Furthermore, and under the Government’s ‘Fairer Funding’ formula, a local authority’s ability to transfer between funding blocks is now capped (there are three funding blocks: the Schools Funding Block, the High Needs Block and the Early Years Block).  As a result, the maximum that can now be transferred, with the agreement of the Schools Forum, is circa £1.2m.   The Government do not provide additional funding if the budget is insufficient for the actual level of demand.  Therefore any shortfall has to be met from elsewhere within the Department’s budget, or ultimately the Council’s wider budget.    
• Building capacity and inclusive ethos in mainstream schools.    Whilst supportive of the Department’s goals in this work strand, the Committee requested more detail about the challenges schools are facing when building capacity for children with special educational needs.  The Committee also wanted to understand the potential impact of this work strand on individual children.  In response, the Committee were informed that the Department are working with schools to help them have both a better understanding of the resources already available to them and how to use those resources more cost-effectively.  It should also be noted that when compared to its statistical neighbours, East Sussex has a higher than average proportion of its school age population with an Educational Health and Care Plan (EHCP).  This is despite there being little evidence which justifies East Sussex having this higher rate.  Furthermore, and even with the additional expenditure the higher rates of EHCPs generates, East Sussex cannot point to universally improved outcomes.  Indeed other LAs have found different ways of supporting children to have good outcomes, with a significantly lower rate of EHCPS.   As a result, the Department believes it can generate higher rates of good outcomes with a combination of building capacity within mainstream settings and more targeted use of EHCPs.
• Transformation Grant.   In response to a request, the Committee were informed that the £0.5m transformation grant has been targeted at increasing the capacity of the Educational Psychology Service.  This additional capacity is being used to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29

Report by the Director of Children’s Services

29.1   At its meeting in November 2016, and as part of its engagement with the Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR) process, the Committee requested further detail from the Department about the reasons why there has been a significant increase in demand and associated costs for the ISEND service.  

29.2         In response to this request the Committee were presented with a report summarising the pressures faced by the ISEND service and what steps the Department are taking to address these issues.    A summary of the key points discussed by the Committee and the Department’s responses are set out below:  

·      Improving confidence as a way of reducing demand.   The Committee asked for more detail regarding the issue of improving parental confidence in local provision.   This issue relates to the Department’s finding that there is a direct correlation between parents’ lack of confidence that mainstream provision can meet the needs of their child and an increased demand for statutory assessment, additional resources and specialist provision.   It is important therefore that all staff who have contact with parents over SEND related matters have an informed understanding of what can be offered locally and the positive impact this can have on children with SEN.  This understanding is important as without it, some staff may inappropriately be advising parents to seek additional resources via an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).  Given this, the Department are seeking to provide guidance to all relevant staff who may influence parental expectations and with it their confidence levels regarding SEND provision.

·      Budget Capacity.   The Committee asked whether the Department are confident that the additional resources it has identified will be sufficient going forward.  In response, the Director of Children’s Services commented that the Department cannot guarantee that further resources will not be required.  However, the Department believe it has developed an effective plan which it hopes will result in significant reductions in demand.  The Director noted too that Ofsted are satisfied with the Department’s approach to this issue.    The Director also commented that there appears to be a long standing culture of less inclusiveness within the county, with some schools more willing than others to embrace teaching children with SEND.  This less inclusive culture has also helped drive up the unusually high rates of referral within East Sussex.  However, the Department are encouraged by recent feedback from groups of Head teachers who are now challenging this culture and it is believed that this will also help reduce demand, and with it the pressures on the ISEND budget. 

·      Increase in the range and severity of needs.   The Committee asked for clarification as to whether the nature of demand has changed over time and whether in recent years there has been an increase in the number of children with more severe needs.    In response, the Committee were informed that there is evidence that both the range of needs and their severity have indeed increased.   With regard to severe needs, there are a range of factors influencing why there are now  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29