Agenda item

Mark Cummins to report.

Recommendation:-  To receive the report and note the progress and next steps identified for the SEND Sufficiency Programme.

Consideration was given to the report presented by Mark Cummins, SEND Transformation Project Lead which provided an update in respect of the Special Educational Need or Disability (SEND) Sufficiency Programme.

Phase 4 of the programme was approved for implementation by Cabinet in June 2023 to support mainstream schools to meet a wider level of need and improve local accessibility within both mainstream and special schools.   

The report provided detail in relation to the key activities undertaken in implementing Phase 4 of the SEND Sufficiency programme which focused on resource provision development and the roll out of the Schools’ Accessibility Funding Programme across both mainstream and special schools.

Phase 4 included the development of a minimum of 10 resource provisions across primary and secondary mainstream settings creating 100 new SEND places with the aim of addressing gaps in provision between mainstream and special schools.

Following an expression of interest and due diligence process, 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 that building works will be completed so that the first places are available in September 2024. 

Five schools were working through the necessary approvals to support the opening of their resource provision and a breakdown of accommodation and projected places for the academic year 2024/25 were set out in paragraph 2.4 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.  

The Forum were advised that additional resource provisions and places would be developed during the 2024/25 academic year with a review of current capacity, provision mapping and analysis to be undertaken to inform the remaining provision roll-out. 

A second key aim of the SEND Sufficiency Phase 4 was the implementation of the Schools’ Accessibility 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. In June 2023 Cabinet approved the School’s Accessibility Strategy and Accessibility Capital Funding Framewor and since the launch, funding had been awarded to the following special schools: Nexus (Forest View) - £370k; Newman School - £15k; and Elements Academy - £67k.

Paragraph 2.10 of the report set out the details of the approved bids for the accessibility capital funding small grants’ programme. 

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.  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 2.9 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.

The Forum welcomed the update provided and noted the positive progress being made.

Agreed: That the activity undertaken, and progress made to date together with the next steps identified for the SEND Sufficiency Programme be noted.