The Children and Young People's Services Scrutiny Committee of West Sussex Council met on 12 June 2024 to discuss several key issues, including the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Improvement Plan, the Family Safeguarding Model, and the Performance and Resources Report for Quarter 4 of 2023/24.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Improvement Plan

Response to Area SEND Inspection Report

Councillor Russell introduced the report, highlighting that the West Sussex Local Area Partnership inspection outcomes reflected the self-evaluation carried out prior to the inspection. The partnership had to produce a strategic improvement plan, which was approved by the Department for Education (DfE) and published by the authority.

Brian Pope, the independent Chairman of the SEND and Alternative Provision Partnership Board, reported on the multi-agency board's efforts, which included representation from various sectors such as health, education, and social care. The board focused on refreshing the self-evaluation and developing a comprehensive improvement plan.

Members raised concerns about the pace and effectiveness of change since the 2018 inspection. Officers acknowledged that demand had outstripped capacity due to changes in legislation and better diagnostics. A system-wide review is being undertaken to improve service delivery.

Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) Recovery Plan

Councillor Russell highlighted the efforts to address the backlog in EHCP assessments. A root and branch review led to the reconfiguration of the team into smaller, more focused units. The SENAT team is committed to improving relationships with families and has implemented training to enhance communication.

Members asked about the timeline for clearing the backlog and achieving 100% of assessments within 20 weeks. Officers confirmed that the first milestone is to reach the national average by July 2025, with further targets to follow.

The committee resolved to acknowledge the priority and focus on the Improvement Plan, highlight the importance of clear communication with families, and request data on the number of children with an EHCP who do not have a place at their named school.

Review of Family Safeguarding Model

Councillor Russell introduced the report, which included an independent review by the University of Bedfordshire. The review showed that the model was beginning to work, and its recommendations would be incorporated into the continuous improvement plan.

Dr Bostock, co-author of the review, explained the findings, which included a clear strategic leadership approach and the value of the co-located multi-disciplinary approach. Members asked about the impact of lower-than-anticipated grant funding and the importance of balancing positive and negative feedback.

The committee resolved to support the implementation of the review's recommendations, acknowledge the importance of family feedback, and seek assurance that savings targets for 2024/25 would be met.

Performance and Resources Report - Quarter 4 2023/24

Councillor Russell highlighted the progress and challenges, including the projected overspend of £24 million due to increased demand and complexity of placements. The Dedicated School Grant deficit is predicted to increase to just under £74 million by the end of the financial year.

Members discussed various KPIs, including the attainment gap of disadvantaged pupils and the number of parents receiving grant funding for transporting their children to school. The committee agreed to monitor progress on these issues.

The committee resolved to request further detail on efforts to improve the attainment gap and monitor the progress of increasing the ratio of parental mileage for home-to-school transport.

For more details, you can refer to the minutes of the previous meeting and the Performance and Resources Report.