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PG – 28 January is a firm date for publishing the Notices and special schools will be informed of this at their meeting on 11 January.

CH – Concerning Health therapy provision – DW taking the lead on this for Education working with PC, with CH and Glen Allgood also in the loop.  CH asked Health reps for any relevant national data .  NS suggested looking at Authorities with similar problems – the statistical neighbours for Health are Birmingham and Tower Hamlets.

JR – Health Commissioners need to be made more aware of the building plans.  SB to liaise with MJC.  MJC – meeting already taken place with Health reps with a follow-up meeting shortly.

SG enquired about the progress on Remodelling the Workforce.  SM fully understands the time pressures and work is being done at an intense level. Information will be in schools within the next few weeks.

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Comments:

CH – a crucial issue remains of the relationship between schools within the co-location process.  PC – met yesterday concerning this and meeting with HTs at the end of January.  PG – the need to write into the Notices the agreed co-ordinated arrangements for sites and the building programme.  MJC  - The flexibility of space and accommodation needs to be built in.  CH – Care required with wording on Notices as original consultation took place 19 months ago.  Legal Services to assist with wording.

GB – need also to focus on social aspects as well as the building issues.

MJC enquired about the timescales for completion of the co-location sub group workstream, the preferred options from which would inform the output specification.  PG – possibly by the end of this term.  It was agreed that there should not necessarily be a single model for all 6 sites.  Once the temporary Governing Bodies are in place and development groups established, these can be factored in to the BSF Project Group where all schools can work together or individually as appropriate.  Crucial that both the relevant special school and the mainstream school work together since one impacts upon the other.

MJC – the project is still awaiting the DfES for Building Bulletin 77 – now pushing for an end date.

PG stated that there is now a different arrangement for Targeted Capital Funding and that this avenue is now closed for the primary sector in 2005-6.  However, capital receipts from the sale of school buildings should more that compensate for this.

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The Deaf Consultation finished on 20 December.  Fewer responses than Phase 1 but the engagement more meaningful.  Taking the firm proposals to Executive in February.

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Health (JR) – Health Workshop in December well attended.  Many issues raised relating to commissioning and equity of provision.  A working group formed to develop a strategy paper for consultation by Easter with a final version by November.

There is now the question of the role of Health for Commissioning capital funding. MJC – a good opportunity for joining up funding streams.  At present in discussion with libraries and Sure Start. CH – Debate necessary concerning the responsibility of funding from the various agencies.  NS – the need to return to basics – the medical facilities in many schools, including those in the mainstream, are appalling. PG – the key link is MJC and the Commissioners via SB.

Early Years (CH for RH) – All proposed co-located sites have now been visited.  A paper going to EPP in February to formally consult in Early Years phases to be clear by September 05 what is proposed to be developed.

CH – re DSP – still looking for a volunteer primary school to host ASD.

PG to discuss with Cllr Dale Smith what is necessary to go to EPP.

Communications (MJC) – MJC and PC at present working on a job specification for a new communications appointment to work 50% for SEN Reorganisation and 50% BSF.  This person/ MJC or an appropriate representative of the BSF project team will attend Steering Group meetings in the future.

HR (SM)

·        Majority of work completed on prescribed information for the Notices.

·        Officer meeting held before Christmas.  Assimilation information being passed to Trade Unions.  PG – Important that once the temporary Governing Bodies are established and HTs are appointed, that staff  know where they will be based in September 2007. SM – It is anticipated that staff will be asked for preferences before the end of this term.

·        Senior HR post – interviews week commencing 10 January.

·        Remodelling the Workforce – see Matters Arising above.

The Timeline (PC) – The updated version was tabled and discussed.  Those in red denote critical items.  Down arrows denote sequentially linked items.  PC commented that the system will only accept specific dates.  Some very tight timescales were noted such as the appointment of the Temporary Governing Bodies.  This, and the appointment of the HTs critical for other items to remain to time.  It was agreed that the timeline should be brought to each Steering Group meeting.  Hard copies to be distributed with the minutes.

Buildings – No update.

Vision into Practice (CH)

·        Met before Christmas to update progress regarding social organisation in terms of co-location/V into P.  Progressing to the point of being able to hand over to the Co-location Development Group.  Ready to begin parental visits to certain identified schools.

·        Training support to be discussed at the special schools HTs meeting next week.  Common training day for October 2005 now agreed.

·        Met with Bradford College.  Some concern that progress is not being made fast enough – suggestion that staff from the College become involved in pushing further training and support.

·        PG to check the figure agreed at FSG for training - £130,000?

Pupil Transition (CH) – Further consideration given to the problem of some pupils needing to move twice in a short space of time during reorganisation.  It is planned to give parents information relating to their child’s placement by the end of this month.  Options available to minimise movement:

·        Pupils stay on in Yr6/7 allowing only one movement.  Is there sufficient primary accommodation and staffing to allow for this?  Being investigated further by the Group.

·        The meeting this week, with one parent present, tried to consider all options, keeping the highest level of flexibility possible.  Proposed to conduct a feasibility study for all primary pupils staying on into Yr 7.

·        An appreciation by all that this is a very complex area where the needs of the children are paramount.

·        The publication of the Notices will also be affected by these considerations.

Comments:

JR suggested drawing up criteria and scoring each child to assist decision in moving once or twice.

NS – some children are very vulnerable, particularly those with autism and flexibility is essential.

PG – Any decisions will impact on other support services/agencies.

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