Agenda item

To consider a report from the Executive Director for People, Children.

Members considered a report from the Executive Director for People, which set out the cohort of children and young people that Dorset Council intended to place at the new special school at the Dorset Centre of Excellence.  It also included the types of special educational needs that the setting will be able to provide for and the process of transition and induction.

Areas of discussion/questions

The possibility of children returning to mainstream education.  There were examples happening locally that some do return to mainstream. However, the expectation is that the majority of children would continue their education at the Centre of Excellence.

How much notice needs to be given for those children currently out of county but aiming to join the Centre of Excellence. A managed transition would take place which involved working closely with the child and family.

It was hope that parents would see the opportunity for their children at the Centre of Excellence.

Following a question about the governance arrangements at the Centre, officers explained the distinction between commissioning and governing.

The Commissioning Bard were currently working on a Shareholder Agreement.

Assurance sought from officers that when looking at the pupils attending the preference would be given to those children who resided in Dorset. Offices advised that as the Centre was so close to the border of Wiltshire there would inevitably be some children from over the border but the majority of places being commissioned would be for Dorset children.

From an educational aspect the centre would cater for those aged 5-19 although the statutory duty for care of SEND children was 0-25.

In respect of any analysis that had been carried out on the proportion of young people being educated out of county that could come back to Dorset, the Corporate Director for Education undertook to provide a full response outside of the meeting.

Conversations were ongoing about the school nurse and many other specialist roles working in partnership at the Centre and who would pay for them.

Helpful to add in the Health and Wellbeing section of reports which part of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) was being addressed.

Would the initial intake of 60 be increased over the years? The Corporate Director advised they would start with an initial cohort of 60 to ensure a managed transition. Over time he anticipated the school growing to 280 places. There were 250/300 children currently being educated out of county at present.

Initially day placements would be offered at the Centre.

There were residential facilities on site but this would continue to be looked at.

Moving children was disruptive, assurance was sought there would be a balanced decision to move a child. The Corporate Director wanted to ensure that the Centre of Excellence was the most appropriate setting for a particular child. Communication with families would be key.

The Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help highlighted that the Centre of Excellence wanted to meet the needs of our children in Dorset. There would be a phased approach to capacity at the Centre. Following a question about those children being educated out of the area seeming to attract a higher rate of funding, he explained that for a number of reasons out of county placements had a higher premium.

‘Minded to’ Recommendation

That the Committee noted and supported the work being done to identify and place children with SEND at the new Dorset special school at the Dorset Centre of Excellence in Shaftesbury.

The Executive Director of People, Children, having heard the debate, confirmed the ‘minded to’ Recommendation, under delegated powers on behalf of the informal meeting of the People and Health Overview Committee.