Issue - meetings

(1)    That the Council enter into contracts for 2 years from 1 September 2013 with 63 providers as named in item 12, the confidential annex to this report, all of which are existing Independent Specialist College providers providing post-16 further educational services to young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, on terms to be agreed with Legal Services for both existing and new placements with these providers.

(2)     That the estimated value of these contracts over a two year period will not exceed £18.1m.

Reasons for Decisions

The recommendation ensures continuity of provision for young people already in placements that will continue into the academic year 2013-14 and provides a contractual basis for new placements starting in September 2013.

The new contracts will ensure 2 academic years are contracted with providers and this encompasses the variations in provider college holiday periods. No service will be required from the providers in the period from 31 July 2013 to 30 August 2013.

The current value of these contracts is £9,048,947 for a full academic year.

[The decisions on this item may be called in by the Children and Education Select Committee]

The Cabinet Member for Schools and Learning introduced the report and said that the Children and Families Bill was proposing a more integrated approach to provision for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) across the 0-25 age range and that this report set out the changes.

Funding of education and training for young people aged 16-25 was changing. Previously this funding was allocated to providers by a national body, The Education Funding Agency (part of the Department for Education – EFA). From 1 September 2013, an element of the funding would be passed to Local Authorities to fund the commissioning of provision for young people resident in their area. The commissioning duty passed to Local Authorities in April 2010 and the change in the funding would now complete the shift to local commissioning arrangements.

The report outlined these changes and seeks agreement to new contracts for the education and training provision for young people in 63 Independent Specialist Colleges (ISCs) for 2 years from 1 September 2013, details of which were set out in agenda item 12, the confidential annex pertaining to this report.

The Cabinet Member for Business Services said that it was essential to agree the recommendations today, in order that there was a seamless process in place for these young people’s educational needs.

The Cabinet Associate for Children, Schools and Families referred to the positive comments from the recent Peer Review, relating to young people with SEND, as detailed in paragraph 13 of the report.

RESOLVED:

1.       That the Council enter into contracts for 2 years from 1 September 2013 with 63 providers as named in agenda item 12, the confidential annex to the report, all of which are existing Independent Specialist College providers providing post-16 further educational services to young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, on terms to be agreed with Legal Services for both existing and new placements with these providers.

2.      That the estimated value of these contracts over a two year period will not exceed £18.1m.

Reasons for Decisions

To ensure continuity of provision for young people already in placements that will continue into the academic year 2013-14 and provide a contractual basis for new placements starting in September 2013.

The new contracts will ensure 2 academic years are contracted with providers and this encompasses the variations in provider college holiday periods. No service will be required from the providers in the period from 31 July 2013 to 30 August 2013.

The current value of these contracts is £9,048,947 for a full academic year.