Agenda and draft minutes
PDF 68 KBVenue: Ashcombe Suite, County Hall, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 2DN
Contact: Andrew Spragg or Rianna Hanford ,
| No. | Item |
|---|---|
|
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
Minutes: Apologies were received from Mary Reynolds, Simon Parr acted as her substitute.
|
|
|
MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING: 10 JULY 2014
To agree the minutes as a true record of the meeting. Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 10 July 2014 were agreed as a true and accurate record. |
|
|
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.
Notes: · In line with the Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012, declarations may relate to the interest of the member, or the member’s spouse or civil partner, or a person with whom the member is living as husband or wife, or a person with whom the member is living as if they were civil partners and the member is aware they have the interest. · Members need only disclose interests not currently listed on the Register of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests. · Members must notify the Monitoring Officer of any interests disclosed at the meeting so they may be added to the Register. · Members are reminded that they must not participate in any item where they have a disclosable pecuniary interest. Minutes: No declarations of interest were received.
|
|
|
QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
To receive any questions or petitions.
Notes: 1. The deadline for Member’s questions is 12.00pm four working days before the meeting (Friday12 September 2014). 2. The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting (Thursday 11 September). 3. The deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting, and no petitions have been received. Minutes: A question had been received from Ben Carasco. A written response was tabled at the meeting, and is attached as an appendix to these minutes. A supplementary question was asked concerning the number of allegations and incidences of Child Sexual Exploitation that were known in Surrey. Officers responded that this question was best directed to the Surrey Safeguarding Children Board, as the multi-agency statutory body. It was noted by the Committee that the annual report of the Safeguarding Board would be considered at the Committee’s meeting on 29 November 2014.
|
|
|
RESPONSES FROM THE CABINET TO ISSUES REFERRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE
The recommendations made at the last meeting will be made to Cabinet on 23 September 2014, alongside the Cabinet paper on the recommissioning of Services for Young People. A response will be included in the next Committee meeting papers. Minutes: There were no referrals to Cabinet at the last meeting, so there were no responses to report.
|
|
|
SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND DISABILITY UPDATE
Purpose of the report:
This report provides an overview of the changes required in relation to the services for children and young people in Surrey with Special Educational Needs and / or disability.
The meeting will be structured in the following way:
Understanding the role of the Council in the SEND support system
In attendance –
Surrey County Council officers and Cabinet Members
Understanding families’ experiences in the SEND support system
In attendance –
FamilyVoice Representative The Parent Partnership Representative
Understanding partners’ roles in the SEND support system
In attendance –
School Phase Council representatives Further Education College representatives Guildford & Waverley CCG
Additional documents: Minutes: Witnesses: Nick Wilson, Strategic Director of Children, Schools and Families P-J Wilkinson, Assistant Director for Schools and Learning Susie Campbell, Surrey SEND Pathfinder Manager Helen Plank, Chair of Family Voice Andrea Collins, Deputy Chair of Family Voice Ron Searle, Vice Chair of Surrey Secondary Phase Council, and Headteacher of Warwick School David Monk, Chair of Surrey Special Phase Council Kate Keane, Chair of Surrey Primary Phase Council Gwen Hurrion, Associate Director of Student Support, East Surrey College Sarah Parker, Deputy Director of Commissioning: Children and Transformation, Guildford & Waverley CCG
Key points raised during the discussion: 1. Officers informed the Committee that the Special Educational Needs & Disability (SEND) reforms were still relatively new, and that their implementation over the coming months would highlight any requirements to improve the system that had been developed through the SEND pathfinder. It was highlighted that report set out the governance arrangements that would provide oversight of the implementation of the SEND reforms. 2. The Committee was told that the spirit of the legislation was to ensure clearer pathways to accessing SEND support, and to encourage greater choice for families. Officers expressed the view that this would be achieved through partnership working, supported through the use of a joint Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. 3. The Committee was asked to note that the four key changes outlined in the reforms included a greater involvement of parents and children in the assessment process; greater involvement from education, health and social care partners in the assessment process; an emphasis on personalisation; and an extension of SEND provision to young people aged 25 years old. Officers commented that there was no significant extra resources provided by central government to meet the cost of these reforms, following implementation, and that budget allocation would be more challenging as result. 4. The Committee raised a question concerning the resources available to implement the reforms. Officers explained that the Designated Schools Grant of £730 million broke down into 3 separate elements, one of which was the High Needs Block. The Department for Education had indicated that the expectation was £125 million of the Designated Schools Grant should be allocated to the High Needs block. It was highlighted by officers that the present High Needs block allocation in Surrey was higher, with an additional £10 million being used. The Committee was informed that there were measures identified to help reduce this additional spending over the coming few years. Officers commented that the current system was heavily reliant on independent SEND school provision to meet current SEND supports needs. It was highlighted that the SEND reforms could potentially encourage greater re-integration of students with SEND requirements back into mainstream school provision. Officers commented that in most circumstances this would be undertaken, where appropriate, when a child made the transition to secondary education. Officers explained to the Committee that the notional SEND funding was allocated to ensure an even distribution of resources for each Surrey school. 5. The chair of Family Voice introduced herself ... view the full minutes text for item 49/13 |
|
|
PERFORMANCE AND FINANCE SUB-GROUP
Minutes: Key points raised during the discussion: 1. The Committee discussed the establishment of a performance and finance sub-group and the elected members were: Zully Grant-Duff, Denis Fuller, Colin Kemp, David Goodwin and Chris Townsend. Resolved: · That the Committee agree the membership of a performance and finance sub-group, as set out by the Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
|
|
|
RECOMMENDATION TRACKER AND FORWARD WORK PROGRAMME
The Committee is asked to monitor progress on the implementation of recommendations from previous meetings, and to review its Forward Work Programme. Additional documents: Minutes: Key points raised during the discussion: 1. The Committee was informed that the independent review of residential care homes was available and would be considered at a future meeting. 2. It was noted that School Place Planning is not included on the forward work programme, and officers agreed to ensure this was included as an item at future meeting. The Committee discussed the possibility of establishing a separate sub-group to discuss school attainment outcomes. Officers agreed to explore the proposal further with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman.
|
|
|
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Committee will be held at 10.00am on Thursday 27 November 2014. Minutes: The next Children and Education Select Committee will be held at 10.00am on Thursday 27 November 2014. |