Agenda item

SBC had made progress to ensure that the Children and Families Act 2014 was being implemented. This legislation emphasised the need for a more collaborative and integrated approach to children and young people with SEN (e.g. greater interaction between schools and social services). The central ambition was to overhaul the support offered to those with SEN to achieve better outcomes through planning, assessing and reviewing the provision available. The legislation also covered those between the ages of 0 and 25 years old, emphasising that education was only one aspect of service provision rather than one conducted in isolation.

Plans were now assessed with partners, with the ambitions of the families central to the process. A pilot had now been completed and the information gathered was being analysed to modify the service. SBC was also working in conjunction with the Department for Education and other local authorities in Berkshire.

(At this point of the meeting, Cllr Abe left).

SBC was responsible for 932 children and young people with statements, and had a deadline of April 2018 to review these statements. This would involve consultation with parents and professionals. SBC was also working on personal budgets; these were presently received by 12 families, and any future applications would require consideration although none had yet been received. The fact that other Berkshire authorities had been receiving applications allowed SBC to use this knowledge to make its own preparations.

The Multi Agency Transition Group had agreed Transition Protocols which came into operation in Year 9. These reflected the Local Offer, which was publically available via the SBC website and had been designed on the basis of a wide range of input. SBC was also investigating the potential for joint commissioning arrangements, both in terms of other professions dealing with children and other local authorities. However, whilst the expectation at national level was that the changes would lower costs, the likely rise in demand and the fact that the age range had now expanded to 0 – 25 would have a financial impact (at least in the short term). The priorities for the next 12 months were outlined on pages 35 – 36 of the report in the agenda papers.

The Panel raised the following matters in discussion:

• Whilst responsibility for those aged 16 – 25 was new, there had been no cases in this age range with which SBC had not had prior contact (given that they were SEN pupils up to their 16^th birthdays). SBC was planning for different transitions for these young people, and was also receiving contact from young people who had previously been statemented and wished to be reappraised given the changes in legislation.
• The legislation allowed for the use of personal budgets through joint plans. However, they could not be used to buy school provision, and SENCO requests could not be imposed on schools. Therapies could be purchased using personal budgets, which was co-ordinated through a block booking.
• Provision for looked after children involved joint working with the relevant social worker; the restructured team also included those with social work experience, which bolstered the service.
• Work was being undertaken to identify young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs). In future, transitional reviews at the Year 9 stage would be used to resolve this.
• SBC was not actively seeking out young people with Asperger’s or other conditions which were not previously diagnosed. However, SBC would take referrals in these instances and would work with other services to help identify such cases.
• University entrants under the age of 25 would be covered by the plan. The Education, Health and Care Plan process would apply.

Resolved: that the report be noted.