Witnesses:
Gabrielle Close, Interim Head
of SEND Operations
Robert Kitt, Senior Category Specialist
Liz Mills, Assistant Director Schools &
Learning
Linda
Kemeny, Cabinet Member for Schools, Skills and Educational
Achievement
Mary Lewis, Cabinet Associate for Children, Schools and
Families
Declarations of Interest:
None
Key points raised in the discussion:
- Officers highlighted
that there had been a significant increase in Special Educational
Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Transport costs. Officers had
recognised a need for a more fundamental and joined-up change to
the SEND Transport system was required and had commissioned a new
team with a new programme, the SEND Transport Commissioning
Programme October 2016, to resolve the underlying causes of this,
while maintaining high standards of service.
- Officers noted that
this was a collaborative approach between the service, schools and
partners; such as Family Voice. It was emphasised that the SEND
Transport Commissioning Programme team was working closely with
these stakeholders to find new solutions to pilot in the first and
second quarters of the next financial year, after further
consultation has undertaken with schools.
- Officers highlighted
that the SEND Transport Commissioning Programme team was improving
information sharing amongst partners and stakeholders of the
Council as a result of the new co-ordinated system and it was
agreed that there would be an ongoing process of
improvement.
- Officers explained to
the Board that there were several potential new schemes that were
being considered for pilots, including:
- Schools commissioning
their own transport services;
- The leasing of a
suitable vehicle to families;
- The implementation of
a Social Impact Bond (SIB) to help fund training for young people
with SEND to use public transport independently; and
- The utilisation of
community transport organisations.
- The Board queried the
use of Social Impact Bonds and if there would be any cost savings
from using “in-house” services. Officers noted that
there were no available “in-house” staff to deliver the
scheme, with specialist training, and that as a result this scheme
would require external resources. The Board questioned whether the
SEND Transport Commissioning Programme team could undertake a cost
analysis of whether the training of staff or the implementation of
a SIB would be more efficient.
- Officers highlighted
that cost savings had been made by undertaking a more thorough
study into the needs of individual children as a result of the new
co-ordinated system. It was also noted that a dynamic purchase
system to improve competition between prospective providers was in
place to improve cost savings.
- It was questioned by
Members whether there were any links with the County’s
independent schools in relation to SEND Transport provision.
Officers agreed that although the Transport Co-ordination Centre
(TCC) work closely with independent schools already, there was more
potential to be realised from the independent school
sector.
- Members questioned
the high spend on SEND Transport per child in comparison to other
Local Authorities. Officers highlighted that there was a large
proportional number of children with complex SEND requirements in
Surrey. Members queried whether it was possible for the service to
provide a comparative breakdown of Surrey County Council and other
comparable local authorities, to ascertain their provisions and if
the service could adapt any of their provisions into their own
offer.
- Officers noted that
Surrey offered children with SEND requirements a positive deal.
Officers highlighted that this had led to more children with SEND
requirements coming into the county than are leaving, presenting
the service with a net gain of children with SEND
requirements.
- It was highlighted by
officers that SEND Transport was required to meet targets set in
the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) and that the overspend had so
far been reduced and that the service was aiming to be on target as
part of the five year plan.
- The Board queried
whether the SEND Transport Commissioning Programme team could
circulate to the Board the SEND Transport Commissioning Document,
to highlight budget pressures and possible solutions. Officers
agreed to circulate this information to the Board.
- Officers highlighted
that the service was working closely with parents of children and
young people with SEND to look into their involvement with SEND
Transport provision. It was also noted that the service would be
working more to better determine the requirements of the individual
child.
- Officers assured the
Board that children with SEND provisions that came from outside of
Surrey were the responsibility of the Local Authority that they
came from.
- The
Cabinet Member
for Schools, Skills and Educational Achievement highlighted that
they were confident with the direction of travel with regard to
SEND Transport provision and were satisfied that the service was
adopting a positive model for change.
Recommendations
- The Board recommends
that Officers provide a comparison chart of neighbouring and
comparative local authorities and their provision of SEND Transport
services, including: the total number and percentage of children
and young people with SEND, the cost of SEND Transport services,
and details of their local offer.
- The Board recommends
that Officers complete an evaluation of the pilot schemes to be
launched in April 2017 before a wider implementation in September
2017, and in doing so, provide the Board with their findings and
explain any modifications to the schemes.
- The Board requests
that Officers circulate the SEN Transport Commissioning Programme
document.