Agenda item

Cabinet Portfolio:               Children’s Services and Neighbourhood Working

Strategic Directorate:         Children and Young People’s Services

OSMB considered a paper which highlighted the increase in numbers of Education and Health Care Plans, the growth in demand for specialist provision and the resulting financial implications for the High Needs Block of the Dedicated Schools Grant.  The High Needs Block Recovery Plan aimed to bring in-year expenditure in line with the annual budget allocation and focus on a longer-term plan to contribute to reducing the cumulative deficit.  

Phase 1 of the SEND Sufficiency Strategy was in place and Phase 2 would be coming in to help mitigate against high unit costs.  Nevertheless, the report showed a variance from the recovery plan of £1.9m with £3.3m estimated pressures on the High Needs Block, even allowing for money being redirected from the Schools Block.  Particular pressures were in relation to social care placements, Independent Specialist Providers and provision at Pupil Referral Units (PRUs).

Rotherham’s PRUs (Aspire and Rowan) had both achieved good Ofsted inspection ratings.  In addition to meeting mainstream school exclusion provision the PRUs were good at responding to those with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs, which added to the pressures on places as they supported both cohorts.  Budget pressures were not solely attributable to permanent exclusions but also to the growing numbers with SEMH needs.  The service needed to review specialist places and the current offer to ensure it met local needs, as well as looking at funding, work which was taking place through the SEND Sufficiency Strategy and another piece of work due to commence. 

A question was asked about the prospects of being able either to extend the building at Rowan or to build another classroom to accommodate more children and reduce the need for out of borough provision.  It was confirmed that the review of alternative provision would consider those arrangements and if funding became available for capital investment the service would be well placed to act following positive engagement with providers.

Members sought assurances that Children and Young People’s Services (CYPS) would be able to get a grip on the continued overspend in the face of ever growing demand and expensive out of borough places and that the service was doing all it could to address these issues.  Various factors were involved including budget allocation and the SEND Code of Practice which had a strong emphasis on parental preference and was quite difficult to challenge.  If parents expressed a strong wish for specialist provision, there was a risk of this resulting in a costly case at tribunal if not provided.  Several actions as outlined in the report would come together like a jigsaw puzzle over time resulting in a levelling off of demand and a balanced in-year budget.  However, officers were cautious over the timescale for reduction of the deficit.

Resolved:

1)    To note the growth in Education Health and Care Plans in Rotherham and the increased demand for specialist education provision.

2)    To note the financial model proposed in the High Needs Block Deficit Recovery Plan.

3)    To note the arrangements for the management of the Dedicated Schools Grant deficit.

4)    To note the recent Education and Skills Funding Agency Consultation on changes to the conditions of the DSG Grant.