Agenda item

The minutes of the High Needs Block Working Group held on 7 July 2022 are attached.  The Forum will also receive an update on behalf of the Working Group.

Cate Mullen (Head of SEND and Inclusion) gave an update on behalf of the High Needs Block working group and referred to the minutes of the meeting held on 7 July 2022.  Cate highlighted the following:

• Three DfE documents were published in June/July 2022 relating to creating sustainability in high needs and these had been discussed by the working group;

• A total of ten recommendations where highlighted in the documents and the High Needs Block working group focused on the following three at their meeting on 11 July 2022:

Recommendation 6: Local authorities should review and further develop their approaches to partnership with key stakeholders, taking into account some of the positive practices described in this report (in addition to any broader policy emphasis on this area).

Recommendation 8: With regard to developments in local mainstream provision, investment should be targeted at strengthening inclusion, with impact monitored and evaluated at that level.

Recommendation 9: Local authorities should set out more clearly their expected pathways for young people with different levels of need, ensure that these are presented earlier and more clearly to young people and their parents, and evaluate quality and outcomes on a more regular basis. Pathways should be realistic but ambitious.

·               One of the two DfE programmes run was the Safety Valve Programme which was available to the local authorities with the highest high needs deficits.  There were two principal goals identified during the programme which were crucial for the LA’s ability to reach sustainable positions were:

-       appropriately managing demand for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), including assessment processes that are fit for purpose

-       use of appropriate and cost-effective provision - this includes ensuring mainstream schools are equipped and encouraged to meet needs where possible, whilst maintaining high standards for all pupils

·               It was identified that achieving those goals required: Early intervention focus, increased SEN support offer, a review of EHCP assessment processes and thresholds, culture change and work with school leaders and appropriate and through provision mapping, with potential development of more local provision;

·               Delivering Better Value was a new programme that aims to support LA’s to improve delivery of SEND services for children and young people while ensuring services are sustainable.  This programme will provide dedicated support and funding to 55 LA’s with less severe deficits than those in the Safety Valve programme of which Wiltshire is one of them.  Newton Europe, in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), will work with the DfE to deliver the programme;

·               The DfE was engaging with Schools Forums as part of the development of the programme and it was expected that local Schools Forums would be consulted as part of the diagnostic phase;

·               There were three tranches to the programme and Wiltshire are part of tranche 2 which was starting to be set up now with the diagnostics running from February to July 2023.  The work of the programme would be completed by April 2024.  The first trance going through the diagnostics now were seeking detailed information at a child level to understand the patterns and trends in how the use high needs block funding.

Resolved that Schools Forum:

1. Note the minutes of the meeting of the High Needs Block working group held on 7 July 2022.

2. Note the update on behalf of the High Needs Block working group.