Agenda item

The Select Committee received an update on the progress made to date addressing the two remaining recommendations from the Written Statement of Action (WSOA) that had formed the priorities identified in the Accelerated Progress Plan (APP) being monitored by the Department for Education (DfE).

The Committee was reminded that the APP was developed to ensure that significant improvement continued to be made in relation to area 3 (Education, Health & Care (EHC) process and quality of plans) and area 5 (Achievement of children and young people with SEND, including the high rates of fixed term exclusion and persistent absenteeism), the two remaining areas requiring improvement identified following the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) reinspection in September 2019

As a result of Covid which had seen the closure of all schools in England during the first national lockdown and the cancellation of national performance tables and national examinations for all Key Stages, the actions identified in area 5 had been updated and agreed with the DfE to reflect the significant challenges presented by this situation.  Work to improve the achievement, attendance and reduce exclusions for children and young people with SEND, as identified in area 5, had continued, and a Graduated Response Toolkit that would assist schools and other settings to put in place effective special educational provision through a graduated response had been developed and made available.  The Assistant Director was able to advise on positive outcomes from a formal monitoring review meeting with the DfE held on 14th January 2021.

Despite the challenges provided by the Covid, actions related to area 3 had proceeded at pace.  Quality standards continued to be reviewed and raised through rigorous audit processes and a quality assurance workshop with the DfE advisor and representation from across the local partnership to review the quality of EHC plans confirmed this view.

Despite the third national lockdown starting in January 2021 with schools reducing their opening to vulnerable children and critical workers, attendance in Oldham schools had been above the national average for children with an EHC plan or supported by a social worker. A strong multi-agency approach to encouraging attendance and safeguarding Oldham children and young people has been introduced to discharge our statutory safeguarding duties alongside schools and other key partners.

Due to the disruption caused by Covid and the refocus towards greater system-wide improvement, the SEND strategy and development plan, including outcomes to be delivered by the end of 2021 updated and approved by the SEND Partnership Board to become operational in January 2021.  The Committee received a paper showing the principles and priorities behind the SEND strategy and development plan.

Members welcomed the report and improvements, and expressed appreciation of the staff dealing with vulnerable children.  The Assistant Director indicated that the improvement journey was not complete and undertook to report further to the Committee.

RESOLVED that

1.            the SEND Local Partnership be commended for maintaining the significant ongoing improvements to quality and consistency of Education, Health and Care plans being delivered and quality assured through effective partnership work. In addition to the strong positive focus on attending schools and settings, despite the challenges presented by the Coronavirus situation;

2.            update reports be submitted to the Committee in August 2021 on (i) the completion of the actions identified in area 3 and continuing progress made to improve attendance, reduce exclusions and raise achievement for children and young people with SEND; and (ii) on the SEND strategy and refinements made to deliver strong recovery for children and young people with SEND.