The Education Advisory Panel of Hampshire County Council discussed the transformation of Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision, the current state of the SEN service, and initiatives to support the wellbeing of headteachers. Key decisions included noting updates on Hampshire's SEN transformation and SEND service, as well as initiatives to support headteacher wellbeing.

SEN Transformation

The panel received a presentation from the Director of Children’s Services on the County Council’s programmes to transform the provision of Special Educational Needs (SEN). The presentation highlighted the national context for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), noting that the number of children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) has doubled since legislative changes in 2015, but funding has not increased accordingly. The Department for Education has established two programmes, the Safety Valve and Delivering Better Value, to help local authorities manage their deficits.

The transformation projects were divided into three key areas:

• Right Support, Right Time
• Improve Outcomes, Control Costs
• Continuous Improvement

A significant project mentioned was Person Centred Planning, which focuses on a child’s needs and aims to reassure parents that their child’s needs will be met without necessarily moving onto an EHCP.

The panel noted the update on Hampshire's SEN Transformation.

Our SEND Service

The Director of Children’s Services provided an overview of Hampshire’s SEN Service, including the SEN Strategy for 2020-24. The presentation included data on EHCP requests and the timeliness of responses, noting that Hampshire currently maintains over 16,500 plans. Requests for EHCPs mainly come from schools and parents, with fewer requests from young people or external agencies.

The panel noted the update on Hampshire's SEND service.

Headteacher Wellbeing

The panel discussed initiatives to support the wellbeing of Hampshire's headteachers. The Director of Children’s Services shared that there has been an increase in headteachers experiencing significant anxiety related to their roles, leading to some leaving the profession. This issue is critical for maintaining a healthy school system and ensuring a strong workforce.

The presentation included a detailed response to the Coroner’s Report into the death of Ruth Perry, focusing on workstreams in place to support school leadership during Ofsted inspections. It was noted that Ofsted can contact the local authority if they have concerns about staff mental health or wellbeing during an inspection.

The panel noted the update on initiatives to support the wellbeing of Hampshire's headteachers.

For more detailed information, you can refer to the Minutes Public Pack 27032024 Education Advisory Panel.