The Education, Skills and Growth Overview and Scrutiny Panel met to discuss communication and engagement strategies related to special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services with representatives from Berkshire Healthcare Trust and NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board (ICB). The panel heard a presentation on strategic priorities, engagement, feedback mechanisms, and work with young people, carers, and schools. Councillors then asked questions about the presented information.

SEND Services and Communication Strategies

The panel received a presentation from Karen Cridland, Director of Children, Family and All Age Services at Berkshire Healthcare Trust, and Tracey Faraday-Drake, Director for Children, Mental Health and Learning Disabilities at NHS Frimley, regarding communication and engagement strategies and priorities related to SEND services. The presentation covered the Frimley health strategic priorities, engagement and co-production, feedback mechanisms, and work with young people/carers and schools.

Key discussion points included:

• Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS): The PINS initiative, a national programme, has secured funding for another year, after which NHS England will evaluate its impact.
• Extending Successful SEND Projects: While SEND initiatives often have a defined lifespan, there's potential for continuation if evaluations demonstrate clear benefits and alignment with existing services.
• System-Wide Changes: Coordinating changes across families, schools, voluntary organisations, local authorities, and health services poses a significant challenge.
• Financial Risk (Right to Choose): A rapid intervention introduced cost caps for private providers within seven weeks to meet a September deadline.
• Support for Individuals Awaiting Assessment: Concerns were raised about providing adequate support for individuals awaiting assessment, medication, or review, particularly within ADHD pathways.
• Right to Choose Pathway: Referrals to private providers for services like ADHD and autism assessments can only be made by GPs for individuals of all ages, but strict eligibility criteria apply. Those not meeting the criteria receive a letter outlining alternative support sources.
• Consistency Across Neurodiversity Programme: A working group is developing a standardised early identification tool to ensure consistent outcomes across settings.
• Data Collection and Evaluation: Efforts are underway to improve data collection and evaluation, particularly for school-based initiatives like the PINS programme, by layering multiple data sources.
• Commissioning and Cost Control of Private Schools: An indicative activity plan has been implemented to review the activity levels of 14 key providers across East and West Berkshire and agree to fund a set number of assessments. A commissioning framework is being developed to standardise costs and ensure quality, with referrals primarily through GPs.
• Nursing Support: One nurse practitioner supports the autism pathway for children under five, while specialist nurses are involved in both autism and ADHD pathways for ages 5 to 18.
• Voluntary and Community Sector Organisations: A mapping exercise is underway to identify high-quality services and gaps in provision, aiming to strengthen collaboration with both small community groups and larger third sector organisations.

Councillor Jodie Watts, Chair of the Education, Skills and Growth Overview and Scrutiny Panel, welcomed Karen Cridland and Tracey Faraday-Drake to the meeting.

Apologies

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Gareth Barnard and Councillor Patrick Smith.