Meeting documents

Led by Sarah Callaghan.

For information and discussion.

Ms S Callaghan, Service Director for Education, BCC, gave a review of the report circulated with the agenda.

Ms Callaghan highlighted the following:

• The percentage of out of county placements had remained at 17% despite significant increases in demand for autistic spectrum disorders (ASD), +93%, and special emotional mental health (SEMH), +40%. This reflected the work done to support students within mainstream schools and to reduce out of county placements.
• External independent placements made up 7% of all placements but 21% of total costs.
• There would always be occasions were more expensive, independent placements were necessary to best meet the child’s needs. However early intervention could help reduce the level of intervention later.

Ms H Slinn, Head of Integrated SEND, introduced herself to the forum for the first time. Ms Slinn highlighted the following:

·         The current cost of high cost placements by need could be found on page 59 of the agenda pack. As need was increasing Ms Callaghan felt these figures would be the best way to judge the impact of cost savings on a by placement basis.

·         BCC needed to ensure they made the best use of the 12 special schools they had within the county as well as supporting their mainstream schools to take SEN pupils where appropriate. Ms Slinn mentioned a new ASD toolkit, a dedicated clinical officer and the recent ASD conference as ways to take forward.

·         Any changes must place the needs of young people first. It was hoped that by developing a standardised cost for placements, through the banding system now being developed, BCC would be in the best position to understand and challenge provider costs.

·         Ms Callaghan added it was not possible to take pupils out of existing placements without proper consultation and discussion particularly with parents and could impact on initial cost savings. Part of bringing in new placements would be working with parents at an early stage.

The following was discussed as a result of questions from members of the forum:

• Ms Williams, Head of Finance, Childrens, BCC, confirmed it was possible to display details of numbers of placement by year groups. Members of the forum felt this would allow them to see upcoming trends and could show the impact of early invention if pupils did not move into long term high cost placements.
• Ms Callaghan stated that the KPI’s in the report were focused on finance to reflect the forums interest in how the additional funds they allocated were spent. Ms Callaghan explained her officers had access to a full data dashboard for reporting. When looking at outcomes indicators such as independent living, employability and the voice of the child were considered with oversight in these areas being taken to relevant groups rather than to the Schools Forum.
• Ms Slinn explained that the new Area Team Managers would use an annual review process to look at outcomes for children. Ms Slinn felt this would be an improvement to how reviews had previously been managed.
• Ms Williams and Ms Try would review the KPIs report to the forum and would take further details to Mr K Patrick, Chairman of the Schools Forum Funding Group.

ACTION: Ms Williams/Ms Try

• Ms Williams stated that the Government had called for evidence on High Needs spend. This was an open consultation and schools were encouraged to respond. BCC is also a member of the F40 group which is lobbying to secure additional funding. Ms Williams explained there £1.3m had been made available for 19/20 but it was not yet clear if this would be included in the baseline for future years.
• Ms Callaghan confirmed that in June 2019 several new members of staff with experience of a range of approaches from working different authorities had been appointed. It was hoped their experience would help Buckinghamshire with a fresh approach to high needs.

RESOLVED: Members of the forum NOTED the update.