Agenda item

Cate Mullen (Head of SEND and Inclusion) will give a verbal update on behalf of the High Needs Working Group. 

Cate Mullen will also give an update on the and Delivering Better Value in SEND Programme and some guidance summary notes are attached for information.

Cate Mullen, Head of SEND and Inclusion, presented an update on behalf of the High Needs Block Working Group alongside further updates on the DBV in SEND Programme, SEND Peer Review, and SEND Ofsted/CQC reports. The following was highlighted:

DBV In SEND Programme

·       The background of the programme was briefly explained, and it was noted that it was split into two different phases; Diagnostic and Implementation, which when combined would take approximately two years. Members were informed that Wiltshire Council’s diagnostic phase would be starting in August 2023, and if all went to plan, officers could submit a grant application by Christmas 2023 and upon approval, would then move into the Implementation phase.

·       Further details of the Diagnostic phase were then given, and it was explained that its aim was to ensure that local HNB Sustainability Plans were informed by a solid evidence base regarding the current and projected HNB expenditure and activity.

·       Through this phase, officers would receive support from financial, practice, and change advisors to:

o   Identify roots causes and underlying cost drivers.

o   Create mitigating solutions and reforms.

o   Assess current capabilities.

o   Facilitate engagement of families and delivery partners.

o   Develop a quality assured HNB Sustainability Management Plan.

·       The funding criteria for the implementation phase was then explained, and it was noted that the Council would need to demonstrate that they:

o   Know the priority changes needed to impact on key HNB sustainability measures.

o   Have worked collaboratively with delivery partners and parents.

o   Have co-produced an aligned mitigation plan.

o   Have identified the necessary resources needed.

o   Have a realistic activity plan to implement high impact changes.

o   Have leadership capacity and necessary governance arrangements in place to successful take implementation plan into next phase.

·       Slides taken directly from the DBV team (and included within the Agenda) were then displayed, with comments from Wiltshire Council officers in the blue boxes included for further information. These slides outlined the specific tranche and wave that the Council were a part of, a roadmap and indicative timeline of the Diagnostic Phase, and an introduction on the Case Reviews aspect.

·       Case Reviews were then explained in more detail; in short, the Council would work together with schools, settings, and others to look at individual case level data for children with SEND, bringing a collective focus on the individual experiences and outcomes for these children and young people.

·       An example Case Review was shown, but it was highlighted that the programme gave the ability for the Council to amend the process depending on areas of focus and what works best and most effectively for officers within Wiltshire.

·       Furthermore, officers would give significant consideration as to how these reviews would work in practice, ensuring that officers were not overloaded and respecting the relevant stakeholders’ availability, while maintaining the appropriate level of time and attention dedicated to each individual case.

·       It was noted that the Case Reviews were scheduled to begin in the second week of September 2023, but due to the pressures across the education system during that time, officers were keen to rearrange this to the end of September 2023. However, officers would soon be meeting with DBV officers to work towards finalising the timeframes in more detail.

·       It was confirmed that officers had been successful in securing Transformation Funding from the Council which had been used to appoint a range of roles such as a Sustainability Strategic Lead Officer (High Needs Block), Finance Lead Officer, Data Officer, and Mitigation Lead Officers. These additional resources could therefore allow the Council to undertake the DBV to the level of scrutiny and detail needed to be successful.

·       Members were encouraged to contact Ben Stevens, the Sustainability Strategic Lead, with any further questions or if they would like to be a part of those case conversations, however it was clarified that the opportunity would be available to all schools and settings. Email: ben.stevens@wiltshire.gov.uk.

SEND Peer Review

·       Members were informed that the SEND peer review would be taking place between 13-16 June 2023 and would be looking at 5 key lines of enquiry:

o   The impact of effectiveness of the local area partnership.

o   The early identification of SEND/support through a graduated approach across the local area partnership.

o   Voice and engagement of service users and families.

o   The neurodevelopmental pathway in Wiltshire – process and lived experience for CYP in Wiltshire.

o   Joint commissioning arrangements across the local area in Wiltshire.

SEND Ofsted/CQC

·       Members were informed that 5 reports had been published for Hartlepool, Brighton and Hove, Cornwall, Warrington, and Nottinghamshire, with examples of each of the 3 possible outcomes seen:

o   “Arrangements typically lead to positive experiences and outcomes”.

o   “Inconsistent experiences and outcomes”.

o   “Widespread and/or systemic failings leading to significant concerns about the experiences and outcomes”.

In response to a question regarding SEND Ofsted/CQC, officers noted that they recognised that there was always scope for improvements for Wiltshire families’ SEND experiences and although officers aspired to be within the top tier, they felt they were more realistically placed within the middle outcome. However, once further inspection reports were published, officers would get a better sense of where they were likely to sit. It was also highlighted that as the framework looked at the whole of a local area, it sometimes presented a challenge to effectively demonstrate joined up and effective working across the County.

Furthermore, although it was assumed that those Local Authorities also within the DBV would have similar overspend percentages to that of Wiltshire, a correlation between overspend and performance was not as linear as often expected. This was noted as being an historical issue within Wiltshire, as 50% of the funding formula for the HNB is based on a past number of what were called ‘statements’, thus not being representative of the County as a whole, in the present. Therefore, it could be said that other Local Authorities could have a more accurate funding formula, and as a result have more balanced figures. 

Following which, it was:

Resolved

1)    The Schools Forum noted the update on behalf of the High Needs Block Working Group.

2)    The Schools Forum noted the update on the Delivering Better Value in SEND Programme.