Agenda item

To consider a report presenting the committee with an early draft version of the Inclusion and Belonging Special Educational Needs and Alternative Provision Strategy (SENDAP) 2025-2030 for initial discussion and comment.

Members considered a report presenting the committee with an early draft version of the Inclusion and Belonging Special Educational Needs and Alternative Provision Strategy (SENDAP) 2025-2030.

The Assistant Director for Education and Skills and the Head of Integrated SEND provided an overview, with contributions from a representative of Parent Carers Forum York. In response to questions from the committee it was noted that:

·       The biggest risks to the strategy from the national level would be if the government failed to undertake a full financial impact assessment of its forthcoming proposals to ensure there was sufficient funding to make the changes a success; this would have an immediate and tangible impact, and it was important that changes were made cautiously and considerately. 

·       The strategy represented a local co-produced response with sufficient flexibility to adapt to anticipated national changes, with the emphasis on supporting children and young people in their local mainstream school.

·       There was a focus on ensuring access to educational opportunities for children and young people who were not in school and engaging with families who were harder to reach. Feedback had been gathered and while there would be challenges there would be an emphasis on building trust and communication.

·       In terms of reflecting real world experience, the strategy provided a broad framework, and an action plan to address specific issues would sit alongside it. This would entail a partnership response with early intervention at its core.

·       The SEND family hub in Clifton was now in the implementation phase, with a formal opening event planned for 20 September. The hub had been designed to be accessible and easy to drop into, with the Parent Carer Forum hosting front of house navigators to help people feel better connected with services.

·       With reference to the strategy’s first pillar of changing society for inclusion, a recent conference on inclusion had been well-attended by school leaders and work was being done through a sub-group with teachers from the York Schools and Academies Board (YSAB) to help reset culture in schools. This was not just about funding; leadership and culture within schools was important while bringing parent and teacher knowledge together could help unlock learning for children.

·       It was recognised that a better understanding was needed of the barriers to some children attending school; professionals did not have all the answers and families were often best placed to identify problems, and a strength-based approach would be taken to individual needs.

·       There was optimism that health colleagues would remain fully committed to partnership working through the SEND Partnership and SEND remained a statutory function of the Integrated Care Board (ICB).

·       Parent carer wellbeing had been a major theme for the Parent Carer Forum over the last few years, and the new hub would help more parents feel supported.

·       The need to embrace a culture of inclusion as a city was emphasised, and the Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education offered his thanks to education staff for the work being done in bringing partners together through YSAB.

·       Consultation would continue over the next few months prior to the strategy being considered by Executive in October; it was suggested that further scrutiny might be considered once the national picture was clearer.

Resolved:  To note the early draft of the Inclusion and Belonging, Special Educational Needs and Alternative Provision Strategy 2025-2030.

Reason:     To keep the committee updated on the development of the Strategy.