Agenda item

[Rob Hart, Rob Hart, Head of Service Inclusion and Empowerment, and Katrina Mccormick, CCG SEND Lead, to present report]

Rob Hart, Head of Service Inclusion, presented the report on Wolverhampton’s self-evaluation of services for special educational needs and disabilities in preparation for an inspection by Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (OFSTED) and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in 2021. In preparation for the planned inspection detailed work has been done to complete a self-evaluation exercise to identify areas of strength and for development as part of Wolverhampton’s process of continuous improvement. The current self-evaluation was signed off by members of SEND Partnership board in August 2020.

The inspection will evaluate how effectively the Council and other local partner agencies in the local area are meeting their respective responsibilities to children and young people who have special educational needs and/or disabilities.

The Head of Service Inclusion outlined work done since the five year SEND Strategy was drafted in response to the SEND reforms. The Head of Service Inclusion presented a short video to summarise the development of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) and to set out the range of work being done in Wolverhampton to achieve the priorities detailed in the SEND strategy.

The Head of Service Inclusion commented on the findings of carer and parents and the work done to help children with educational needs and disabilities and their families to access the right level of support needed. The aim is to achieve change by talking and listening to people and help children and young people to live ordinary lives and take part in everyday social and leisure activities. The findings from a survey highlighted the need for more social and leisure options for young people and to overcome barriers due to issues such as the lack of transportation and financial challenges.

The Head of Service Inclusion commented on the importance of young people being able to access fun activities.

The Head of Service Inclusion commented on another finding from the survey which identified areas in need of improvement such as education support employment opportunities.

The number of children with special educational needs is increasing and this is predicted to increase in the future. There is concern about the number of children in this group who have excluded from school population. There was also concern about the number of young people in the criminal justice system and in care and child protection plans. There is a commitment from members of the Partners in Education Health to promote inclusion and maximise opportunities for children and young people to become more independent with a focus on abilities and disabilities. Details about the Wolverhampton Local Offer document is available online.

The Head of Service Inclusion referred to the video presentation which set out the some of the challenges and also the Council’s priorities in relation to special educational needs and disabilities in the City. The inspection of the local area’s effectiveness will not focus on any particular service and will consider how effective how partner organisations are working together to implement the SEND reforms introduced in 2015. The review will also include assessing the work of health providers and commissioners and also public health.

Wolverhampton is one of only two areas in the West Midlands who are still waiting to be inspected. The Head of Service Inclusion advised the panel that the document is part of our preparation for the inspection and highlighted the importance of having a self-evaluation of the service.

The Head of Service Inclusion offered reassurance to the panel that the necessary work has been done to prepare for inspection and that there is shared understanding among partners of our strengths and also areas for development. There is also a commitment to drive improvements forward.

Cllr Dr Mike Hardacre, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, emphasised the importance of work done to prepare for a joint inspection by CQC and OFSTED during 2021. The Cabinet Member advised the panel that EHCPs are regularly reviewed and offered reassurance of a commitment to get children and young people the right provision and support at an early stage. The Cabinet Member suggested the reporting the findings of the inspection report when published should be presented to a future meeting of the panel.

The panel welcomed the report and supported the work done to prepare for the inspection.

Resolved:

The panel agreed to note the report.