Agenda item

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 greater numbers of children within this group.   One factor relates to advances in medicine which has resulted in more children surviving conditions which previously would have foreshortened their life expectancy.   For example, there has been a significant increase in the numbers of children who require assistance with their breathing who attend school.  In terms of the range of needs, it is also clear the numbers of children with social, emotional, and mental health issues has increased too.   However, whilst the Department accept that there has been an increase in these types of need, the rate of increase within East Sussex is significantly higher than the national average.   

·      Sharing best practice and outreach.   In response to a question regarding sharing best practice, the Committee were informed that many schools are keen to share knowledge and experience where possible.  The Department is also investigating whether some providers within the county have capacity to expand their offer so as to help ensure there is sufficient, quality provision available across the county.  

·      Impact of legislation.   The Committee sought clarity as to whether, in the Department’s view, theChildren and Families Act 2014 has led to improvements in SEND provision in East Sussex.  In response, the Department confirmed that implementing the requirements of the Act has indeed led to improvements for families.

·      Increase in costs.   The Committee asked for confirmation as to what specific types of demand have been the primary cause of increased costs.   In response, it was confirmed that most significant increase in costs relate to:

o        Independent school placements:

o        placements 16-19 and 19-25; and

o        the top-up for children in mainstream provision.

29.3        The Committee thanked the Department for the detailed report and requested that given the importance of this area and the continued pressures the service is experiencing, that the Work Programme be updated to include ISEND service demand as an area which the Committee might want to investigate further in due course.

29.4     RESOLVED to:

1)           Note the increasing demand for SEND provision across the county and the proposed priority areas for action in order to address these demands.

2)           To request that the work programme be amended to include reference to ISEND service demand as a subject for possible future scrutiny work.