Agenda and minutes

To note any changes in membership of the Panel made in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4.3.

Apologies were received from Councillor Kolker and Councillor Odgers and the Panel noted that in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rules 4.3 and 4.4, Councillor Osmond replaced Councillor Odgers, for the purposes of this meeting.

In accordance with the Local Government Act, 2000, and the Council's Code of Conduct adopted on 16th May, 2007, Members to disclose any personal or prejudicial interests in any matter included on the agenda for this meeting.

NOTE: Members are reminded that, where applicable, they must complete the appropriate form recording details of any such interests and hand it to the Panel Administrator prior to the commencement of this meeting.

Councillors Osmond, Morrell, Turner and Willacy declared non-prejudicial interests in relation to the scrutiny inquiry in view of their relationships with members of their family who were in receipt of or provided special educational needs.  Councillor Mrs Damani declared a non-prejudicial interest in relation to the scrutiny inquiry in view of her working relationship with the witnesses.

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the Inquiry Meeting held on 4^th November 2010 and to deal with any matters arising, attached.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 4^th November 2010 be approved and signed as a correct record.  (Copy of the minutes circulated with the agenda and appended to the signed minutes).

Report of the Head of Corporate Policy and Performance, providing feedback from members on their school visits to see specialist units in action and detailing information outlining the future, nationally and locally, for SEN, disability and emerging issues from Government, attached.

The Panel considered the report of the Head of Policy and Performance, introducing  the 3^rd meeting which comprised two presentations and  verbal feedback from members who visited Bassett Green Primary School, Hardmoor Early Years Centre, Highfield CE Primary School, Mason Moor Primary School and Springwell School to see the schools in action, with a particular focus on their specialist units or provision for special educational needs, attached.

The Panel received the following presentations:

(i)  Julie Wharton, Special Educational Needs (SEN) Inspector and Julia Katherine, Principal Educational Psychologist -  The emerging national picture for special educational needs.

The Panel noted that:-

·  Academies would need to follow the legislation and guidance that applied to maintained schools in relation to admissions and responding to the needs of pupils with SEN and with effect from January 2011 and Special Schools could become Academies;

·  standards funds targeted at pupils with SEN would cease and be replaced by a single grant paid directly to schools;

·  the Green Paper was due to be published in April 2011 and would result in substantial changes to the statementing process;

·  children with SEN would be able to obtain their own pupil premium-style payment giving parents (not schools) control over the funding and these grants would follow the child wherever they were being educated.

·  funding would be allocated according to the severity of the child’s needs;

·  School Action and School Action Plus might be disbanded and “pupil profiles” identifying the severity of needs would be the model adopted.  There were 12 bands of needs;

·  there would be a new role for educational psychologists who would be independent from the Local Authority;  and

·  mediation would be introduced for parents/carers who were unhappy with their child’s support as it was felt that the tribunal process was too bureaucratic.

(ii)  Donna Chapman, PCT Lead Commissioner – Children, Young People & Maternity Services, SCC/Southampton City PCT – The future model of delivery and developments from the health perspective and how the Health White Paper will impact on service delivery for children with SEN

The Panel noted that:-

·  new commissioning and provider arrangements would be put in place which would enable medical and educational models to be better integrated, with specific reference to children with SEN;

·  the Local Authority’s role in relation to children with SEN would decrease and there would be more emphasis on parent’s relationships with schools;

·  there would be new roles and powers for Local Authorities and greater “patient power”;

·  although the pace of change could not be controlled there was a strong desire from all multi-agencies and schools to adopt the process and there were good examples of successful multi-agency working across the City;

·  there would be a strong focus on early years and foundation stage to provide children with the best start in life by early intervention and specific attention would paid to vulnerable groups as well as early identification and support for carers; and

·  local service reviews were in progress on  Children and Adolescents Mental Health Services (CAMHS),  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.