Agenda and minutes

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests.

a)  To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 13^th February 2025

b)  Matters Arising

The Minutes of the meeting held on the 16th of January 2025 were agreed and signed as a true record.

Subject to Minute 66, it was confirmed that a letter had been sent to Natalie Rock, Head of Stoke Park School, and representatives of the other education partnerships, formally thanking them for their work, and noting the challenges faced and improvements made.

Briefing Note of the Director of Children and Education.

The Education and Children’s Services Scrutiny Board (2) considered a Briefing Note and a presentation of the Head of SEND and Specialist Services on the planned process that is underway, to coproduce a new Local Area SEND and AP strategy, which will reflect both the local and national context of increased demand and complexity of needs.

Officers summarised that the joint strategy would have a clear focus on the Government’s anticipated direction of travel, workforce capacity, sufficiency of specialist provision, joint commissioning and preparation for adulthood within a financially sustainable envelope. Most importantly, it will be coproduced with children, young people, their families and all partners.

The briefing note updated Members on the background and national context to the strategy with the current SEND statutory system being enacted in 2014. In 2019 an All Party parliamentary committee published its report, concluding that the system was not fit for purpose. In response the Government committed to a major review. Consultation on reform to the system began in March 2022, “SEND Review: right support, right place, right time” and a SEND and alternative provision improvement plan was published in March 2023.

In December 2024, the current Education Committee launched a new enquiry, focused on “finding solutions to the crisis in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision.

Officers therefore stressed that system reform will take time. Within this context demand for support across the system, but particularly for children and young people with an Education Health and Care Plan; continues to grow significantly year on year both nationally and locally. As a consequence, the SEND system has become financially unsustainable and increased demand for both service and provision has created sufficiency challenges.

The Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, alongside the Director for Education and Children, both indicated the challenges in this complex area. They also recognised the importance of co-production with children and young people as well as partnership working with schools to design a strategy that works for everyone.

In considering the Briefing Note and presentation, the Board questioned officers, received responses, and discussed matters as summarised below:

·  SEND training for school drivers and the involvement of the NHS and safeguarding officers to ensure children with health care plans have a comfortable journey to school.

·  Difficultities in quantifying the SEND offer through reports and figures alone.

·  Community inclusion in the SEND offer – criticism received from young people to enable them to do everything their peers do, and exploring avenues of a SEND ‘safe spaces’ initiative for and in co-production with the children and young people of the City.

·  The success of the supported internships program.

·  The involvement of Speech and Language UK in the provision of the SEND strategy – their role in growing the skills of especially nursery staff, how they’re supporting school programs, and the impact they have on school budgets.

The Cabinet Member thanked the Board for their wide-ranging questions and support.

RESOLVED that the Education and Children’s Services Scrutiny Board (2):

1)  Considers the information  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72.

Report of the Director of Children and Education

The Education and Children’s Services Scrutiny Board (2) considered a report due to go to Cabinet on the 18^th of March 2025 of the Director of Education and Children outlining support for children who are unable to attend their education setting under Section 19 of the Education Act 1996.

The report updated Members on the background and context for the Council’s statutory duty to make arrangements for the provision of suitable education at school or otherwise than at school for those children of compulsory school age who, by reason of illness, exclusion from school or otherwise, may not for any period receive a suitable education unless such arrangements are made for them.

The local authority is responsible for arranging suitable educational provision for children of compulsory school age (5-16 years) who are unable to attend school due to physical or mental health needs, exclusion, or other legitimate reasons. This duty does not apply to children under five or those ceasing to be of compulsory school age within six weeks, unless they have relevant examinations to complete.

Officers highlighted that all local authorities must have a publicly accessible Policy Statement outlining their compliance with Section 19 duty. The Council has introduced a new integrated Policy ( attached at Appendix A to the report) to ensure compliance with legal obligations for children unable to access full education due to illness, exclusion, or other barriers. This Policy provides clarity for schools and parents regarding when the duty applies and the Council’s approach to fulfilling its responsibilities.

Before implementing provision under Section 19, the Council expects schools to have followed statutory guidance, including the SEND Code of Practice, and made reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010. The Policy details the Council’s decision-making process for determining when Section 19 applies and the type of provision to be made. This may include advising and supporting schools in making reasonable adjustments or securing Alternative Educational Provision where necessary.

In considering the report, the Board questioned officers, received responses and discussed matters as summarised below:

·  The affordability of the policy and its impact on the high needs block in schools.

·  Adapting the report to include a glossary of key terms and making the flowchart at Appendix A more user friendly.

·  The over representation of children from white British backgrounds being excluded from schools.

·  The process for sick children who have been absent for more than 15 school days.

·  Exclusions amongst SEND children being due to them not having the correct need.

·  The process for adopted children receiving their statutory free school meal if they’re absent from school due to sickness.

·  Excluded children’s backgrounds of family separation and domestic abuse and provision to help them stay in school – Coventry alternative provision support, adapting school curriculums to meet children's needs, early intervention as part of the multi-agency panel, and the role of the youth justice service to provide mentor schemes and help children in any way we can.

The Cabinet Member thanked officers for their report and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73.

Briefing Note of the Director of Law and Governance

Any other items of business which the Chair decides to take as matters of urgency because of the special circumstances involved.

There were no items of public business.