The Committee received and commented on the report that outlined a review into the Special Educational Needs (SEN) services in the Borough, detailing the consultation process which will underpin the review and inviting the Scrutiny Panel to comment on and add to this process. A summary of the comments made by the Committee is set out below:

The Committee noted that:

·         A review of the SEN services in the Borough (along with relevant associated services, such as children with disabilities social care services) has been commissioned by the Director of Children’s Services. The reasons for conducting this review at this time are:

§  Part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014 came into force in September 2014 and introduced new ways of assessing children with special educational needs. The review will help to assess the impact of and the compliance with this important new legislation;

§  Increasing levels of demand for SEN services in the Borough. There has been a significant increase in the numbers of children and young people assessed as having special educational needs in the Borough;

§  Changes in the demographic make-up of the Borough which are leading to changes in both the size of the demand, as well as the nature of that demand;

§  The impact that this additional demand is having on budgets, both in absolute terms and also in terms of the challenges which are projected in the immediate future, including the reassessment of schools funding by the Department for Education (DfE) and the reductions in Local Government and other public sector central Government grant funding; and

§  The fact that there has not been a comprehensive review of the SEN services within the Borough in the last 15 years.

·         A key guiding principle for this review is that the views, experiences and expectations of families, children and young people of and for SEN services is paramount and the reviewer will be constructing a programme of interviews and meetings with service users in order to put them at the centre of the review;

·         The review will consider all aspects of the commissioning and the delivery of SEN services in the Borough and will embrace all partners, including the Health economy, independent sector providers, Council services, school services (both in and out Borough) and, very importantly, families, children and young people involved with these services;

·         The review is intended as a broad scoping exercise which is timed to help influence planning for the 2017/18 financial year and beyond;

·         Recommendations will be made for any further work which may need to be conducted in order to reach decisions about future services and to implement changes. This may include the outline plan for a further commissioned period of study/review/implementation/coordination;

·         There are three major transitional points in the education system: when pupils move from nursery to primary school, from primary school to secondary school, and from secondary school to college. These three “major” transition points are a particular focus because transitioning students often experience significant academic, social, emotional, physical, or developmental changes that may adversely affect their educational performance. During these transitions, for example, students may move from a familiar school to an unfamiliar school, where they encounter new teachers, peers, academic expectations, social issues, and school configurations that increase the likelihood they will feel overwhelmed, anxious, frustrated, or insecure.  Therefore, consideration needs to be given to ensure that the transition is as seamless as it can be;

·         There is a need to look at how inconclusive education is developed and how children are supported;

·         Not every family finds local schools to be culturally receptive to their needs for example those children who have mental; physical and emotional needs;

·         How services are being developed to address these specific needs e.g. The physical and mental trauma of Female Genital Mutilation; 

·         That LBTH has a highly regarded Parents Support Service and that the Service is constantly looking at ways to support local families; and

·         There would be a future report on the development of support with particular reference to the provision for Early Years.