Agenda item

The Cabinet Member with the Adult Social Care Portfolio introduced the report of Director of Children and Adults Services (previously circulated) requesting that consideration be given to consulting on the updated Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Strategy 2019/22 (also previously circulated), which summarises the strategic plan for delivering better outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and outlining the proposed amendments to the application of the High Needs Block, in relation to children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

The submitted report stated that the strategy proposed a local vision with priorities for the future provision and development of services to support children with SEND; the Government funded schools via the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) to enable them to educate all children and young people including those with SEND; the current funding model for children with SEND in Darlington did not follow best practice and lacked transparency and fairness; amendments had been made, with the agreement of schools to enable the ‘money to follow the child’ but more changes were required to deliver a fair and transparent funding system; expenditure on SEND within the DSG was projected to considerably overspend; and that an approach to funding and service provision were proposed as part of the amended strategy, which would improve the transparency of the system and reduce overall costs.

Discussion ensued on involving heath in the Strategy; the importance of identifying children with special educational needs at an early stage; and the number of out of area placements.

RESOLVED - That the revised draft Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Strategy 2019/20, as appended to the submitted report, and proposed amended funding arrangements, as detailed in the submitted report, be agreed for consultation.

REASONS – (a)  The strategy provides a framework to drive the work of the SEND partnership in Darlington through to 2022 to deliver the best possible outcomes for children and young people with SEND and their families.

(b)  To enable the proposed Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Strategy 2019/22 and the proposed amended funding model to be further considered.