Minutes of the SEN Reorganisation Steering Group

18 July 2003

Saville Room, City Hall

 
Present:	Phil Green (Chair)		Education Director 
		Ronnie Hartley			EYCC
		Liz Singleton			Education Client Team
		Clive Halliwell			Education Bradford
		Hazel Smith			Education Bradford
		Sue Mawson			Head of Financial Services
		Rob Malley			Schools Reorganisation Team
		John Lambert			Special School COG
		Brent Fitzpatrick		Special School COG
		Susan Milnes			Human Resources
		Matt Burghardt			Human Resources
		Susan Gill			Bolling Special School
		Sue Ilett			Consultant Paediatrician			
		Brian Dobson			Schools Reorganisation Team
		Jackie Walters			Strategic Support Officer (Education)
Apologies:	Mark Carriline			Assistant Chief Executive
		Margaret Robinson		Bradford NHS Trust
		Sheila Slater			LSCWY
		Liz Andelin			Bradford NHS Trust
		Sue Bottomley			Bradford NHS Trust
		Jean Racktoo			Bradford NHS Trust
		David Muir			Thorn Park Special School

 

1

Minutes of the Last Meeting

Please change 6. to ‘need to consider impact of special school places in the Airedale area’

2

Matters Arising

Matt Burghardt to be added to the circulation list.

Subgroup 4: No consultation sub-group. Communication sub-group to be led by Jackie Walters.

Temple Bank: Internal meetings with/on behalf of the school and staff continue. The procedures/processes put in place will inform the wider SEN reorganisation.

3

Pathfinder Update

· Meetings with DfES - continued commitment of £2.2bn (£1.2bn PFI + £1bn funding) to BSF programme over 5 years in Bradford. National programme to consist of a mix of rebuild and refurbishment.

· Detail on specifications drafted by subgroup (Vision into Practice) being requested by DfES. Exemplar designs to be developed from Autumn Term 2003. Discussed potential of involving architect experienced in Special School design. DfES designs expected in 2004.

· Common issues are arising within Sheffield LEA (another Pathfinder).

· DfES:

- clear that secondary special schools can be included within Pathfinder.

- Decision on primary special schools awaited. Targeted capital if not via pathfinder.

· Facilities Management decisions to be made by Phase 1 schools by Christmas 2003 whether PFI or traditionally funded scheme. A common package has to be agreed across all schools. All schools can consider an FM contract whether financed through PFI/Pathfinder/traditional funding – this includes the primary co-located sites.

4

SEN Update

· Consultation returns coming in. Admin staff typing up responses. All meeting minuted. Database used to enable analysis and feedback.

· Health have been ignorant of meetings and would have valued greater notice. Hazel outlined the procedure for Health colleagues: 30 forms despatched with offers of further copies where required. Health concerned that representation on the Steering Group focused on speech therapy.

· Clive reinforced that Bradford & Airedale representatives are aware that they are representing therapy groups beyond their own.

· Complexity of the health system requires that we focus on one individual able to link across the district. Action: Julia Raines to be approached and invited to join the Steering Group.

· Feedback from Susan Gill (Bolling) – some mixed messages reported. Hazel responded by clarifying that the same messages have been given at each meeting. Education Bradford working as a team to ensure this.

· Primary sites are confirmed as feasible on Bradford Moor/Lapage and Heaton (Belle Vue site). Riddlesden St Mary’s Governing Body has confirmed that they are in agreement in principle. Scoping visit to the site on 21 July.

· Support Services – review has started and will continue over the Autumn Term. Low incidence services first (ASD, PD, HI and VI). Report after half term. Tom Richardson commissioned to coordinate the review.

5

Subgroup Reports

Buildings:

Meeting on 17th Sept. Work on specification process being undertaken. Hazel’s group to feed into this. This clashes with Hazel’s next meeting. Rob to liaise with Hazel.

Vision into Practice:

Good response. Schools shared vision of SS & curriculum and built up a shared specification for one room as an example, a staffroom. Group members to work up further specifications before the next meeting (17 Sept).

Health members are on the group and will be invited once the educational group has produced initial specifications.

Hazel to liaise with Health to ensure appropriate membership of subgroups when discussion focuses on therapy/health-related issues.

Transition:

Group not convened yet.

Brian to produce remit in September.

HR:

Matt reported – subgroup met on 17 July to agree a remit. ID need for an SNA. Susan Milnes to be involved.

Keith Fair to be added.

Action: Jason Patefield to be asked to be on HR.

Dates agreed to September – linked with SEN Reorg dates.

3Rs (Redeployment, Redundancy and Retraining) agreement with Unions sets out protection that Council employees have. Forms baseline of discussions in September. Latest version to be forwarded when available.

Communication:

Groups to produce own minutes/records. Subgroup leaders to send outcomes to appropriate groups. Different subgroups will need to disseminate information to groups at different levels eg staff/schools. HTs are key to disseminating information to staff, parents and governors and have established their own website.

Communication brief for one member in each subgroup.

Action: Subgroups to inform Jackie of the list of interest groups.

Action: Subgroups to identify member for communication group.

Action: Minutes from HR group to be circulated to schools before end of summer term. All documents to be presented with ‘subject to outcomes of consultation …’ clause.

SEN Training Group:

Action plan tabled – a good ‘model’ for others to follow. Copy attached.

Sue Ilett – highlighted opportunity for joint work on this.

EYCC – links with EYCC and Social Services highlighted.

John Lambert – suggested this group should have mainstream staff involved. Clive assured group that mainstream staff to be involved in developing the programme at the appropriate time.

Susan Gill (Bolling) suggested developing Action Plan to networking with mainstream schools, possibly via MSG structures.

Jackie – asked mainstream training programme arrangements. Hazel highlighted current training focused on MLD/mild autism as within EB’s programme. EB to develop joint training to share special school staff expertise.

Mainstreaming of Standards Fund may be discontinued by DfES – this includes the SEN training budget.

6

AOB

Dates of future meetings – Sept to Dec 2003 circulated and attached.

 

 

Attached documents

Training sub-group action plan

Meetings Sept – Dec 2003

Agenda for next meeting

Jobs lists

Send agenda and minutes of sub-group meetings to Jackie

Communicate information to groups you represent

Subgroup leaders to identify communication sub-group member and to notify Jackie

Completion of timelines after first meeting with group

Completion of action plans by mid-September

 

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