Issue - meetings

For the Board to receive a progress report on the implementation of the SEND Written Statement of Action

Consideration was given to a briefing of the Interim Director of Children’s Services on the progress made on the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Services against the Written Statement of Action (WSOA).  This document had been jointly developed by the Council and the Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group, following the Ofsted inspection in October 2017.  A full progress report would be presented to the Board in January 2019.

The Interim Director of Children’s Services presented the information and addressed the enquiries of the Board Members.

The Board was informed that the Department for Education (DfE) and NHS England conducted by-monthly monitoring visits to assess Oldham performance on the five key areas outlined in the WSOA. It was reported that the outcome of the latest review (i.e.: September 2018) had been positive; it had been agreed that four of the five priority areas of the WSOA were RAG (Red, Amber and Green) rated “Green”, with recognition of the work being progressed on the remaining “Amber” priority area in relation to Education Health Care Plans.

The DfE and NHS England had acknowledged that there was a clear and accountable ownership of the SEND agenda across the local SEND partnership, with commitment on a continued focus on SEND from senior leaders. It had also be noted the involvement and engagement of parents and carers in the SEND governance structure, in ensuring a truly collaborative and co-productive system.

The DfE would draft a final report on Oldham’s progress against the WSOA to submit it to the Minister. The outcomes of this report would be communicated to Oldham Council via letter from the Minister.

The Board was also informed that, last week, the DfE had announced a programme to revisit local areas that had produced a WSOA. The programme would start in December 2018 and, in Oldham, it would run parallel to the current SEND review. Oldham was likely to be visited by the DfE in March 2019.

The Chair of the Board thanked the Interim Director of Children, Oldham CCG and the other partners and stakeholders for the work done so far to bring the SEND agenda forward.

RESOLVED that:

1.    The content of the briefing be noted;

2.    The positive progress made against the Written Statement of Action (WOSA) since the last update in September 2018 be noted;

3.    A detailed update would be provided to the Health and Wellbeing Board once the Minister has provided a response to the report from the Department of Education on Oldham’s progress against the WSOA.