Minutes of the SEN Reorganisation Steering Group

1 October 2004, 10.30 am

Future House 

Present:	Mark Carriline	 (Chair)	Assistant Chief Executive
		Phil Green 			Education Director 
		Susan Milnes			HR
		Susan Gill			Bolling Special School
		Jackie Walters			Office of Education, Community and Social Care
		Matt Burghardt			HR
		Ronnie Hartley			EYCS	
		Sue Ilett			Airedale NHST
		Brian Dobson			Schools Reorganisation Team	
		Margaret Robinson		City PCT, Speech Therapy	
		Jean Racktoo			Airedale NHS Trust
		Cath Dew			Social Services
		Pauline Chilvers		Education Client Team			
		
Apologies:	Gary Bowden			Netherlands Avenue Special School
		Clive Halliwell			Education Bradford
		Nicky Symons			Bradford Hospital Trust
		Liz Andelin			Bradford City PCT
		John Lambert			Special School Governor

                       

1

Minutes of last meeting

 

These were accepted as a true record.

 

2

Matters arising

 

There were no matters arising outside agenda items.

 

 

Pauline Chilvers was welcomed to the Group.  Pauline replaces Liz Singleton in the Education Client Team as Lead Officer for the Reorganisation.

 

3

BSF Pathfinder Update (PG)

 

Executive approval given on 17 September to the Phase 1 financial model.
The Outline Business Case and the Strategic Business Case approved by the Treasury Policy Review Group giving a significant start to the procurement process for the private partner.
Bidders’ day proposed for early November inviting potential bidders to listen to Bradford’s ideas.  Now arranged for 10 November.
Still anticipating Phase 2 schools announcement in October.
PG has written to reassure Special School headteachers and teacher unions that reorganisation plans are going ahead as planned and that any rumours to the contrary are misinformed.
SG asked that all groups be informed of this positive stance.
MC added that there is significant lobbying taking place on behalf of our special school proposals with senior officials and Ministers.  Cllr Dale Smith (Education Portfolio) has written to all local MPs asking them to apply pressure to David Miliband’s office.
MC – The key to the procurement process is to have the Local Education Partnership in place.  There will be a rigorous process in securing a suitable private partner which will involve members of the Steering Group and Special School Headteachers.
MC agreed that any selection process for the private partner would take account of the difficulty that special schools headteachers would have in attending all necessary meetings.
PG reminded the group that the timeline would need to be updated.  PC to email the original timeline to sub-group leaders for them to adjust.

 

4

SEN Review and Consultation Update (PG for CH)

 

Concerning the SEN Review Consultation, three reports are going to Executive on 12 October:

  1. Early Years – to ensure nursery provision from 2+ years.  RH – another report likely to go to Executive in December.
  2. DSP – requesting approval for the new proposals for the DSP facilities.
  3. Deaf provision – approval to consult on proposals for deaf provision.  If carried, this will run from half term to the end of term.

 

5

Steering Group Sub-group Updates

 

Health (JR) – Planning a Health Education workshop looking at health provision to support the special schools, after which a draft strategy will be drawn up for consultation.  Commissioning will probably be a shared responsibility.  MC to follow-up with LA.

 

Early Years (RH) – Sub-group met on 24 September and discussed the proposed Children Centre Plus locations.  Now in a position to indicate the 6 sites as:

Strong Close Nursery School

Canterbury Children’s Centre

Relocation of St Edmund’s Nursery School to the old St Philip’s site, Girlington

West Bowling Woodroyd

Barkerend Sure Start

Owlet FamilyCentre/Sure Start Shipley: The subgroup may need to look at this area again

 

RH attending design meetings at centres where there are capital builds to ensure specifications meet CC+ requirements.   RH requested a discussion with PG/MC concerning:

·        capital/revenue implications;

·        implications for resourced nurseries.

 

RH arranging to meet mainstream Primary Heads to discuss current and proposed EYs provision as this information will need to be fed into the design brief for the new schools.

 

SI asked if further discussion had taken place regarding the relocation of Airedale CDC.  RH to raise with the Children Centre Strategic Reference Group and Early Years subgroup.

                       

Communications (JW) 

·        For those who would like feedback, CH has made notes from the visit to Cromwell Special School in Tameside.  PC commented that certain aspects of the build were very poor with the post 16 provision being the best.

·        Phase 2 schools meeting – 6 October.  There will be 6 workshops including ones for Bradford and Keighley.

·        MB and colleague attending the BSF Project Group on 9 November to discuss HR models.

·        Continuing to work with partners re funding streams.

·        Meeting held between the Library Service and Buttershaw School concerning the possibility of a new library on the Buttershaw site.  This is being pursued.

 

HR (SM)

·        Hardware/software in place in the Education Client Team office for database development for the special schools’ reorganisation.

·        Consulted with special school HTs concerning organisation structures.  Drafts being taken back to the Joint OJC and sub-group.

·        Developing a detailed presentation for OJC looking at information from the survey and how it will inform the criteria for the assimilation process.

·        MB – attendance at the BSF Project Group in November to consider various employment models within the procurement process in terms of costs, pensions, employment rights.  Consideration given to previous contracts with their pros and cons re the employment of non teaching staff.

MB reassured SG that in terms of staffing structures, the above can only provide recommendations to Temporary Governing Bodies but would, at least, provide them with a steer.  SG suggested that the process of determining staffing structures be included in the timeline.

 

Buildings Transition (BD) – The group has not met recently.  Minor changes made to the school closure booklet.  Temple Bank closure – everything just about complete with all staff in place. The accommodation at Guard House due to be finished on 15 October although staff and pupils already in place at the start of term.  PG commented that the feedback from the closure changes received so far has been positive.  A letter of thanks has been sent to the staff of the three partner schools for the positive way in which they have handled the implementation. PG also reported that the achievement of VI pupils at Hanson at GCSE was 66% 5 grade A – Cs.

 

Vision into Practice (PG for CH) – Tameside visit already commented on by PC in the meeting.

MC stated that the Deaf Provision item at Executive is likely to promote lively debate.  PC reported that Cllr Dale Smith suggested a possible meeting prior to Executive with interested parties although Cllr Smith cannot be available.  PG to consider.

 

Training and Pupil Transition – nothing more to report at this stage. SI commented that parents from the year 5 cohort are becoming anxious.  PG suggested that a letter be sent to parents once the funding is known.

 

 

6

AOB

 

SG suggested that Dominic Wall, as the newly appointed Inclusion and Development Manager at Education Bradford, be invited to the next meeting to report on his first impressions on the proposed SEN reorganisation.  Agenda item for the next meeting.

 

7

Date and time of next meeting

 

Friday, 5 November, 10.30 am at Future House.

 

 

 

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