Agenda item

·       Chris Harrison: -

o   Locality models update;

o   High Needs’ Block Focus Group update. 

Chris Harrison, Inclusion Policy Lead, was welcomed to the meeting.  Chris had prepared an update in relation to his work on SEMH and the developing locality models, and also on recent SEND / High Needs’ Block work in the absence of Paula Williams. 

SEMH update: -

Chris provided an update to the Rotherham Schools’ Forum on the developments in the South, Wickersley Multi-Academy Trust and Central SEMH partnerships.  This included the initial thinking about how many PRU and Partnership Places each of the Partnerships would commission, and the funding requirements to achieve this.  It was envisaged that the Partnerships would become operational from 1^st September, 2016, meaning that a 7/12^th contribution would be required from the 2016/2017 High Needs’ Block.  During 2017/2018, and future years, the funding requirement would be 100%.

Based on the early structure and spend of the three Partnerships, discussions were held on the implications for Rotherham’s Aspire PRU and its ability to provide approximately 50-55 places from September, 2016.  Assessment of all existing placements within the PRU had taken place to check whether it was still the right setting for individual pupils currently there. 

Questions were raised on the following areas: -

·       David Naisbitt asked whether the PRU could operate safely and effectively on the proposed number of places from September, 2016? – Paul Bloor, PRU Representative, noted that the reduced admission number would require a significant number of pupils to be reintegrated into mainstream school or college, whilst leaving the PRU operating at capacity and unable to accept new cases without further reductions of the pupils currently attending.  The PRU did not know which buildings were available for September, 2016. A reduction in pupil numbers accessing the PRU would lead to a reduced staffing establishment, and appropriate HR processes would have to happen.  How would the staffing establishment be managed if schools’ requirements increased/decreased over the school year/s?;

·       What was the physical capacity of the PRU?;

·       Comparison of the cost of a place at the PRU and the places available via the marketplace?;

·       How to ensure that the places commissioned via the marketplace were delivered to the same memorandum of understanding as those provided by Rotherham providers;

·       Balancing the school-led and commissioned system with the statutory duties of the Local Authority towards permanently excluded children. 

SEND – High Needs’ Working Group: -

Information was shared on the initial meeting of this group, including the clearer presentation of the spending within the High Needs’ Block and the placements/special school places that it funded.  Funding had been re-allocated to different settings to create places for vulnerable groups.  Transparency was increasing to enable stakeholders to understand what was being funded from the High Needs’ Block.  Rotherham’s High Needs’ Block was the fourth lowest funded Block in the nation.  This then impacted on the allocations to the special schools. 

David Naisbitt thanked the working group for their initial efforts and urged them to continue this work. 

Resolved: -  (1)  That the information shared be noted. 

(2)  That further updates be provided to the Rotherham Schools’ Forum’s next meeting.