Agenda and minutes

1.1       The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting on 21 December 2015.

2.1       A copy of the reports referred to below are contained in the minute book.

Disclosure by all Members present of personal interests in matters on the Agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the Member regards the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct

3.1       Councillor Field declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in item 5 (see minute 5) on the agenda. Councillor Field is the Chair of Battle Pre School.

Report by Director of Children’s Services

4.1       The Lead Member for Education and Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services which sought to approve the Guidance for Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) for 16-25 year olds with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND).

4.2       RESOLVED:               (1) to approve the Guidance for Education Health and Care Plans for 16-25 year olds with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) and endorse the overall approach; and

                                                (2) to delegate authority to the Director of Children’s Services to make operational amendments to the Guidance where necessary. 

Reason

4.3       The Children and Families Act 2014 places new duties on Local Authorities to support statutory EHCPs for young people potentially up to the age of 25. The guidance aims to support consistent decision making about the provision of services through an EHCP for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disability aged over 16. 

Report by Director of Children’s Services

5.1       The Lead Member for Education and Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services which sought approval for transfers between the blocks of the Dedicated Schools Grant.

5.2       RESOLVED to approve the inter block transfer of funds within the Dedicated Schools Grant of £257,000 to 2 year old funding and a further sum of £700,000 (rounded up) to the High Needs Block, making a total transfer of £957,000 from the Schools Block for 2016/17.

Reasons

5.3       The take up of two year olds accessing a funded place in East Sussex has risen from 72.24% to 86.24% for 2016/17 and there is a shortfall of funding between what ESCC pays and what it is funded for.

5.4       The pressures within the High Needs Block are significant and additional funding is required to support the increase in the number and cost of agency placements; the tutoring costs of unplaced pupils and the increase in place funding.

Report by Director of Children’s Services

6.1       The Lead Member for Education and Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services which sought approval for admission arrangements for the 2017/18 school year.

6.2       RESOLVED:               (1) to agree the proposed admission arrangements for the 2017/18 school year, including the following changes to the existing arrangements:

·        To restrict the application of the sibling link so that children living within the

community area for a given school are a higher priority than siblings living outside the community area but including the proposed clarification set out in paragraph 2.6;

·        To change the measurement of the home to school distance tie-break from shortest walking route to straight line; and

·        To allow applications received after the closing date due to verified house move or other material change of circumstances to be treated as on time if received before a second deadline.

(2) to agree the following:

·        The admission priorities as set out in Appendix 1, Agenda Item 6 (page 57)

·        The admission numbers as set out in Appendix 4, Agenda Item 6 (page 65)

·        The co-ordinated schemes as set out in Appendix 5, Agenda Item 6 (page 71)

Reason

6.3       East Sussex County Council has a statutory duty to determine its admission arrangements and consult on any proposed changes. Following consultation, it is the responsibility of the Lead Member to determine the admission arrangements for the school year 2017/18.  With regard to the specific changes made to the oversubscription criteria:

·        It is intended that the sibling priority and the proposal to allow late applications in respect of verified house moves will help ensure children are able to attend their nearest school.

·        the change to the method for measuring distance from home to school for the tie break (from shortest walking route to straight line) will result in operational efficiencies that will help mitigate against planned savings.