Minutes of the SEN Reorganisation Steering Group

9 January 2004, 10.30 am

Committee Room 3, City Hall 

Present:	Mark Carriline			Assistant Chief Executive
		Phil Green 			Education Director
		Rob Malley			Schools Reorganisation Team
		Susan Milnes			HR		
		Clive Halliwell			Education Bradford		
		Brian Dobson			Schools Reorganisation Team
		Jackie Walters			Office of Education, Community and Social Care
		Sue Ilett			Airedale NHS Trust
		Sheila Rye			Early Years and Childcare Service
		Sharon Cooney			Social Services
						
Apologies:	Cath Dew			Bradford Social Services
		Liz Singleton			Education Client Team
		Susan Gill			Bolling Special School
		Gary Bowden			Netherlands Avenue Special School
		Jean Racktoo			Airedale NHS Trust
		Margaret Robinson		Bradford City PCT/Speech Therapy	
		Hazel Smith			Education Bradford
		Ronnie Hartley			Early Years and Childcare Service	
		Liz Andelin			Bradford City PCT
		Matt Burghardt			HR
  
 

1

Minutes of the Last Meeting

These were accepted as a true record.

2

Matters arising

Item 4 – MC - An invitation will be extended to a representative from Social Services to attend the meeting to update on Identification Referral Support in the near future.

3

BSF Pathfinder Update (PG)

A number of meetings about to take place with the DfES – 13 January concerning progress so far and 14 January networking with other BSF Pathfinder authorities.  Meeting also on 22 January where the LEA should receive detailed Capital and Revenue information for Phase 1.  Initial indications look promising.

Report going to Executive on 20 January to approve in principle the programme -  subject to finances being acceptable. May also go to Education Overview and Scrutiny. 

JW – Another DfES meeting scheduled concerning consultation on the LEP module on 15 January.

JW working on scheduling a meeting in February with local partners on BSF.  This would include industry, health, EYCS.  It was also suggested that voluntary bodies and partnerships be invited, along with appropriate trusts and national organisations.

 

4

SEN Review and Consultation Update

Consultation re Guard House proposal underway.  Meetings have already taken place and further meetings scheduled.  All relevant Keighley area Councils informed.

 

Deaf provision paper accepted by EPP on 18 December.  Official consultation begins on 19 January and will run through the spring term.  A very broad timeline at present :

Paper to EPP in the summer term reporting on the above.
Autumn term – formal consultation on the configuration of deaf provision.

 

Concerning Designated Specialist Provision (DSP), there will be a report going to EPP on 29 January finalising most of the direction for increasing/decreasing specialist provision.  CH outlined the current/proposed provision:

 

Girlington Primary caters for the deaf – separate process
Green Lane Primary for speech and language – a need to increase provision in the north of the District
Denholme Primary for ASD – a need to increase provision in Denholme together with further provision necessary in the south/east of the District
Nab Wood (Secondary) deaf provision – separate process
The Grange (Secondary) for ASD – further provision required in the north to complement the Grange provision in the south
Beckfoot and Bradford Cathedral College (Secondary) for physical disability provision – at present an over capacity.  Proposed to reduce the number of places at Cathedral.

 

A review of learning support services will go to EPP on 29 January.

 

PG added that the LEA is devising a strategy to ensure better accessibility within schools.  Many schools have completed their accessibility audit and those which have not are about to receive reminders.

 

BD, as secretary to SOC, explained the role of SOC (School Organisation Committee) within the SEN Review.  On 5 February there will be a training session for members. The SOC will make the final decision around 21/23 July.  If the decision is ‘no’ it will be referred to the adjudicator.  MC explained that voting will be within blocks, eg the LEA block, the Diocesan block and so forth.  It will require unanimity from all blocks to achieve a positive decision.

 

5

Subgroup Updates

 

PG tabled the latest timeline produced by LS explaining that it was recognised that this was work in progress with inevitable changes.  He requested that comments be brought back to the next meeting.

 

Buildings (RM) – Nothing to report.

 

Vision into Practice (CH) – Draft specification now ready to test in schools.  List of suggested schools tabled.  Visits will be made this term and as a result the specification may then be amended.  In the summer term, after checking out the schools visited, other partners, such as health, will be involved.  MC suggested deleting New Croft High in Salford from the visiting list and adding Oakwood and Springwood. CH requested that any other recommendations be passed to him.

 

Buildings Transition (BD) – Temple Bank now within the practical scenario.  Meeting with staff on 12 January and with Governors on 27 January.  It has not been necessary to produce a separate school closure booklet.

 

HR (SM) – Met with the Unions (OJC) 8 January.  Looking into the budget where more work is required than initially thought.  HR subgroup meeting next week.

 

Training (CH) – Updated Training and Support Group Training Programme tabled.  CH requested that the previous programme be destroyed.  Potential providers column updated.  This will now be passed to schools to action.  Meeting arranged with Leeds University for the end of January concerning severe learning difficulties.  CH confirmed that co-located training and continuous professional development (CPD) was also included.  SR emphasised the current substantial programme for CPD within EYCS which should be included within the overall programme.

 

Communications (JW) – The Council marketing team will assist with the Bulletin.  Nothing to report on the website – delay due to restructuring of Council website.

 

Early Years (SR) – Remit, Accountability and Key Principles of Early Years subgroup tabled and the meeting briefed. 

 

Points from the recent subgroup meeting:

 

Decision to hold termly evening meetings involving parents and professionals
Agreement that the age range of the new Primary Special Schools must be 2 – 11.  Bradford has a higher than national rate of children aged 2+ with PMLD.  (CH commented that it is difficult to predict numbers and location of young children with PMLD from year to year.)
A need to build in flexibility between specialist and mainstream provision
It was acknowledged that there may be significant differences in the proposed 3 sites (but access issues need to be consistent across the District)
The subgroup recognises the potential of some new Children’s Centres being resourced for SEN, but stressed the low level of new revenue funding attached to Children’s Centres.  SEN resources should follow the child.
The prescribed information for the statutory notices for the new special schools must indicate nature and location of any alternative provision for pupils attending existing schools.
Wider agenda still around funding for pre 5s SEN and pathway and equity of provision.  Subgroup has accepted EYCS offer to find and fund some outside help for this work.
Remember the needs of the under-twos.

 

It was agreed that the 3 schools will provide for years 2 – 11.  This needs to be addressed when considering exemplar designs.

It was also agreed that Maggie MacDonald would represent Early Years on the Vision into Practice subgroup.

 

Health (CH for LA)

 

Group continuing to work on the mapping exercise. 

At the moment no recognised commissioning process – agreement that this needs to be addressed.

 

6

AOB

 

CH – The Transition (Pupils) Subgroup established with Glen Allgood, Education Bradford as Chair and Hilary Morrison representing Special School HTs.  At the moment seeking parental representation.

 

7

Date and time of next meeting

 

Friday, 23 January, 10.30 am, Committee Room 3, City Hall.

 

 

 

 

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