Agenda item

Contact:         Jo-Anne Sanders, Service Director (Learning and Early Support)

The Panel considered a report which provided an insight into the national and local challenges relating to Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), presented by Michelle Lister, Head of Service Early Support and SENDACT.

The Panel were advised that:

• Kirklees had set out its inclusive ambitions in its ‘Big Plan’, the SEN Transformation Plan, which included performance data of initial assessment for EHCP and final plan compliance.
• Challenges were being seen nationally in this area of performance.
• The service recognised the challenges that had built up and actions had been taken to address these, including taking a partnership approach, with Health, and PCAN.
• It was recognised how difficult these challenges had been for the families of Kirklees, who had demonstrated patience while improvements were being made.
• In addition to improving compliance, there had been a focus on ensuring quality of planned support.
• SENDACT were working hard to support the Cluster arrangements which would help provide the right support as early as possible, and a report on this progress would be considered by the Children’s Scrutiny Panel at the next meeting in March 2025.
• There was the opportunity for the Panel to meet the SENDACT team.

The Panel asked if there was an expectation that more SEN children would attend mainstream school, and was this driven by funding? Michelle Lister explained that the service wanted to ensure that children were included in the right environment for their needs. Currently 4800 Kirklees young people, from Early Years to age 25, had EHCPs, with a significantly larger number accessing SEN support. Comparing data with other authorities, Kirklees schools were successful in including students with SEND. Some children needed additional support within mainstream schools, and investments had been made to create Additionally Resourced Provisions where specialist teaching could take place. The Panel was informed that independent provision was also sometimes required. Funding had to be considered and was monitored within the safety valve agreement to ensure a sustainable approach, but the priority was to ensure youngsters accessed education in suitable provision.

In response to a question regarding the availability of support required and outlined in the EHCPs, Michelle Lister explained that the EHCP Team would co-ordinate professionals to deliver support (Speech and Language Therapists, Educational Psychologists etc) and recognised that additional numbers of EHCPs would put pressure on those professionals. The Panel noted that there were further pressures, including 4,800 annual reviews being required, but were assured that all these issues were in view. Ambitions had been shared with key partners such as the Integrated Care Board (ICB), on how best to commission the professionals needed.

The Panel asked how the voice of the parent was included within the EHCPs, and was advised by Michelle Lister that in wider terms, PCAN had been involved in the quality compliance group and had been involved with recruitment to the team. Communication with parents was an area for improvement, and changes had been made to the communication system, with calls being put through more effectively. Jo-Anne Sanders advised that EHCPs should be co-produced with parents, and the Service was committed to providing a better experience. Where parents and carers were not satisfied, they could ask to meet with Senior Officers or Cabinet Portfolio Holders, or contact Kirklees Information and Advice Service, who could advocate for parents. The Panel was informed that PCAN offered challenge as well as support and brought experiences of parents and carers to the attention of the service. Investment had been made in a new IT system with a parent and partner portal, where parents would be able to see progress made by logging in, also allowing the team to concentrate on casework.

The Chair of the Panel commented that nationally there were challenges due to the rise in EHCP numbers, but that it was evident from the report that the service was working in partnership, using a systems-based approach, and focusing on quality, and thanked the Officers for their work.

RESOLVED –

(1)   The Panel welcomed the opportunity to meet the SENDACT Team and noted that this visit would be arranged.

(2)   The Panel noted the report and thanked Officers for their contributions.