Agenda item

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting the Board with information as part of its Inquiry into Preparing for the Future, Supporting Special Educational Needs and Disabled Young People.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which presented information as part of the Board’s Inquiry into ‘Preparing for the Future, Supporting Special Educational Needs and Disabled Young People’.

The following information was appended to the report:

-  Local Authority Disabled Children’s Charter

-  Responses to Every Disabled Child Matters (EDCM) Charter Commitments

-  Making Leeds a great place to learn for all our children and young people: the Leeds Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Strategy 2014-17

-  Leeds Local Offer Annual Feedback Report

-  Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) Review Report – Special Educational Needs Statutory Assessment and Provision (SENSAP), Complex Needs Service

-  Children and Young people with SEND – Demographic information

-  Leeds SEND attainment and attendance data

-  National Sensory Impairment Partnership (NATSIP) benchmarking data.

The following were in attendance:

-  Councillor Jane Dowson, Deputy Executive Member (Children and Families)

-  Sue Rumbold, Chief Officer (Partnership Development and Business Support)

-  Barbara Newton, Head of Service (Complex Needs)

-  Andrew Eastwood, Head of Service (Learning Improvement)

-  Hannah Lamplugh, Voice and Influence Lead.

The Board received a brief presentation on recent voice and influence work that had been undertaken, particularly in terms of improving services for children and young people with SEND.

The key areas of discussion were:

·  Clarification sought about feedback on the EHCP.  The Board was advised that feedback from partners and young people cohort had been positive.  The Board requested a copy of the EHCP template and details about the action plan that was being developed.

·  Confirmation of a multi-agency approach to the assessment process.

·  The importance of tracking destinations and preparing SEND young people for adulthood.  The Board sought clarification about restorative approaches to service provision by Adult Services and how this differed from Children’s Services.  The Board was advised about support available to those with severe complex needs and other vulnerable groups.  In addition, the Board was advised that preparation for adulthood and the work of the Transitions team was being discussed at the December Scrutiny Board.

·  The different settings to support SEND young people with their educational or life skills development.

·  An emphasis on providing services with people and not to them.

·  A rise in the number and complexity of children and young people with SEND and the challenges associated with balancing increased need, available resources and school places.

·  Ensuring that young people felt empowered and involved in discussions about service delivery.  The Board was advised that an advocacy service was in place to support this process where necessary.

·  A request that the outcome of priorities identified by children and young people in a recent ‘Make Your Mark’ ballot be brought back to the Board.

·  A further request that attendance and attainment data be included in the next inquiry session.

·  Concern that some of the information contained within the SEND Strategy Action Plan was in need of updating.  It was requested that an updated version be brought back to the Board.

·  The Leeds Local Offer, ‘You Said We Did’ Annual Report 2015 regarding feedback about the local offer website and the documented response.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the issues raised as part of the Board’s Inquiry be noted.

(b)  That the above requests for information / updates be provided.

(Ms K Jan joined the meeting at 10.20am, during the consideration of this item.)

(Councillor J Elliott left the meeting at 11.15am and Ms C Bewsher at 11.40am, during the consideration of this item.)