The Education Attainment Improvement Board of Tameside Council met on 11 June 2024 to discuss updates on the SEND Written Statement of Action, the Childcare Sufficiency Assessment Annual Report 2023, and various education updates. Key decisions included supporting the refreshed integrated SEND & AP Improvement and Delivery Plans and approving the Childcare Sufficiency Assessment Annual Report 2023 for publication.

SEND Written Statement of Action (WSOA) Update

The Assistant Director for Education presented a report on the progress of Tameside's SEND Written Statement of Action (WSOA), which addresses weaknesses identified in the 2021 Ofsted inspection. The report highlighted the incorporation of the WSOA into a refreshed four-priority action plan:

1. Increasing and improving inclusion of children and young people in mainstream settings.
2. Increasing confidence of parents and carers in services and systems.
3. Involving children and young people with SEND and their families in decision-making.
4. Improving the quality, accuracy, and timeliness of identifying and assessing needs.

Each priority area is co-chaired by the Assistant Director of Education and the Deputy Chief Executive of the Integrated Care Board (ICB), with strategic leaders from the local area partnership contributing to the delivery of actions. Exception reports will be presented to the Local Area Partnership Board to ensure progress.

The launch of a new Local Offer website is scheduled for March/April 2024, providing accessible information about available provisions. The Tameside Graduated Response has completed its first stage of co-production with schools, and a multi-agency partnership conference is planned for 20 March 2024.

The demand for Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) increased by 30% between 2022 and 2023, impacting the service's ability to meet statutory timelines. New processes and team structures have been introduced to address this, with the proportion of EHCPs finalised within 20 weeks improving to 46%.

A multi-agency placement, provision, and transport panel was established in November 2023, and its impact will be reviewed at the end of March 2024. An EHC Quality Assurance Framework was introduced in spring 2024 to improve the quality of plans and outcomes for children and young people.

The next steps include refining the SEND & AP Improvement and Delivery plans and Performance Scorecard, focusing on service improvement, and preparing for upcoming Ofsted monitoring visits.

The Board noted the progress and supported the refreshed integrated SEND & AP Improvement and Delivery Plans and Self Evaluation Framework (SEF).

Childcare Sufficiency Assessment Annual Report 2023

The Assistant Director for Education presented the Childcare Sufficiency Annual Report 2023, which analysed the supply and demand for childcare in Tameside. The report indicated a contraction in the childcare market due to lower birth rates and reduced demand, with a reduction in the number of Private Day Nurseries, Pre-Schools/Playgroups, and Childminders.

Despite the reduction in providers, the number of childcare places remained relatively stable, positively impacting parental choice. Hourly rates paid to providers will increase in April 2024, and the rollout of 30 hours of childcare for children aged 2 and under is expected to have a positive impact.

The report recommended additional analysis with early years providers, continued monitoring of childcare places, and detailed analysis of Out of School Care. The Board approved the publication of the Childcare Sufficiency Assessment Annual Report 2023 on the Council’s website¹.

Education Update

The Assistant Director for Education provided updates on leadership changes, Ofsted inspections, the Priority Education Investment Area (PEIA) update, and KS4 outcomes. Key points included:

• Leadership changes with the departure of the Assistant Director of Education, the Strategic Head of SEND, and the Head of Access and Admissions.
• Ongoing education priorities: Literacy, SEND, and Attendance.
• 18 Ofsted inspections during the current academic year, with 12 schools graded as Good.
• PEIA priorities focused on early/primary literacy outcomes and significant improvement in KS4 English and Maths outcomes.
• Various projects under PEIA, including Making it Real, Helicopter Stories, and the Harmony project, showing favourable engagement data.

KS4 outcomes showed slight improvements in some areas but highlighted ongoing challenges, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and those with additional needs. The Board discussed strategies to address these issues and noted the report.