Meeting documents

To consider a report by the Director for Children's Services.

The Committee considered a report by the Director for Children's Services which provided an update on the significant progress which had been made with the improvement plan so far in enabling a three year improvement drive within the Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) Services for children and young people. It also included an update on the consultation with schools around the future relationship with the local authority and the support being provided to schools in the Weymouth and Portland area.

Members were reminded that the Ofsted inspection in January 2017 had identified four significant areas of weakness (strategic planning, low conversation rates, parental feedback and quality assurance) which had resulted in a statement of action to improvement performance.  Since then significant progress had been made in all four areas and a brief summary was provided.  Members were directed to look at the local offer for their electoral divisions.

Particular attention was drawn to transfers of children on statements to Education Health Care Plans (EHCPs) where conversion rates were completed by the end of March 2018 with additional funding provided by Cabinet.  Concentration was now on achieving targets for the three stages for the new EHCPs - at s6, 16 and 20 weeks.

With regard to the consultation with schools about their relationship with the authority, this would not proceed until two key appointments had been made - one was now in place, the other to be in place shortly.  The consultation would be carried out by way of workshops facilitated by the Staff College.

A number of senior schools in Weymouth and Portland had been deemed "inadequate" by recent Ofsted inspections.  Although some of these were academies with greater autonomy, the local authority was offering support to these schools to ensure that agreed actions plans were followed through as a means of improving standards and life chances for children,

In response to questions officers were confident that the local authority would fare well if another Ofsted inspection took place; would report the suggestion that school improvement services should help the Weymouth and Portland Schools at no cost; that Children's Services were working with Governing Bodies on solutions and identifying good practice and experience which could be shared; that every means available was being used to help these schools; that printed material was available for families with no access to the webpages; that the Dorset Parent Council were members of the SEND Delivery Group and were able to identify families with no internet access and facilitate their engagement; and that the advisory service focused on maintained schools with a view to early support being provided.  Members were reminded that it was the academies' decision as to whether they took advantage of support offered.

Attention was drawn to the fact that although there were some schools where improvements were needed, other Dorset schools had dedicated teachers who provided a good education for their pupils enabling them to achieve grades and secure university placements. 

Members were keen to hear more about the outcomes of the consultation workshop being held on 9 July 2018 and officers agreed to provide an update to be provided for the meeting on 10 October 2018.

With regard to the continued drive to raise standards in Dorset schools, members were asked to let officers know if they heard of any issues relating to schools in their electoral divisions in order to address these.

Resolved

1.   That the significant progress that has been made in improving the service provided to children and young people and their carers with SEND post the Ofsted inspection be noted.

2.   That the work that has taken place around the consultation on the future relationship with schools be noted.

3.   That the continued drive to raise standards in Dorset schools be supported.

4.   That an update report on the consultation workshop being held on 9 July 2018 be provided for the meeting on 10 October 2018.