Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Children and Young People’s Services.

Recommendations

That Cabinet:

1.    Note the activity undertaken and progress to date on SEND Sufficiency Phase 4.

2.    Note the key outcomes for SEND Sufficiency Phase 5 as included in the Safety Valve Agreement and agree for an additional paper to return to Cabinet once an initial feasibility has been completed.

Consideration was given to the report which provided an update in respect of Special Educational Need or Disability (SEND) Sufficiency following the update received by Cabinet in June 2023. The report also detailed the key activities undertaken in implementing Phase 4 of the SEND Sufficiency programme focusing on resource provision development and roll out of the Schools’ Accessibility Funding Programme across both mainstream and special schools. The report also identified key activities and outcomes that were currently in the process of development as part of a further Phase 5 SEND Sufficiency linked to the Safety Valve Agreement.

From 2018 onwards, Cabinet had approved four previous Phases of SEND

Sufficiency, each targeted at addressing incremental rises in SEND cohorts and creating or improving specialist education provision. The first three Phases of the SEND Sufficiency programme had created 401 additional school places in Rotherham. A further breakdown of the different Phases was set out in paragraph 1.5 of the report.

Phase 4 of the programme was approved for implementation in June 2023 with the main aim of SEND Sufficiency Phase 4 to support mainstream schools to meet a wider level of need and improve accessibility within both mainstream and special schools. Phase 4 included the development of a

minimum of 10 resource provisions across mainstream settings creating 100

new SEND places. A second main aim of SEND Sufficiency Phase 4 was

the implementation of the Schools’ Accessibility Funding Framework across

both mainstream and special schools.

Following the expression of interest process and due diligence, the first Phase of resource provision implementation took place in Spring Term 2023. This included the approval of new resource provision at Thrybergh Academy and

Dalton Foljambe and additional places at Wales High School resource provision. It was anticipated the building works would be completed so that the first places for children were available in September 2024. There were currently 5 schools working through approvals to support the opening of their resource provision. Further details were provided a paragraph 2.1.3 of the report. Subject to completion of building works and necessary DfE approvals, eight provisions for Phase 4 were scheduled to be completed by September 2024 with the additional 100 places being delivered in a staged way over the remaining two academic years.

In June 2023 Cabinet approved the School’s Accessibility Strategy and Accessibility Capital Funding Framework. The intention of Schools’ Accessibility Funding was to support schools to meet a wider level of SEND need through adaptations to existing buildings. Since the launch, funding had been awarded to the following special schools: Nexus (Forest View) - £370k; Newman School - £15k; and Elements Academy - £67k. Paragraph 2.2.5 of the report set out the details of the approved bids for the accessibility capital funding small grants’ programme.

The Safety Valve Agreement recognised a Phase 5 of SEND Sufficiency. The

main focus of Phase 5 was to provide increased sufficiency of places and

condition improvements within the specialist provision. Phase 5 would cover three core elements: Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) growth; Newman School; and Pupil Referral Unit Development. Additional details of these elements were set out in paragraph 2.2.8 of the report. SEND Sufficiency Phase 5 projects were currently forming part of a feasibility study which would be completed during Spring Term 2024. The study would identify appropriate options for development including identifying appropriate school

assets which could be developed, capital investment required and timescales

for delivery. On completion of the feasibility study a further Cabinet report would seek appropriate approval to implement Phase 5.

Resolved:-

That Cabinet:

1.    Note the activity undertaken and progress to date on SEND Sufficiency Phase 4.

2.    Note the key outcomes for SEND Sufficiency Phase 5 as included in the Safety Valve Agreement and agree for an additional paper to return to Cabinet once an initial feasibility has been completed.