Parent Forum July 2014

Transcription

1 Parent Forum July 2014 Update on the Special Educational Needs and Disability Reforms In Derbyshire

2 : Update Support & Aspiration Project Board established, membership includes representatives from Health, Education, Social Care and Parent/Carers. Chaired by Kathryn Boulton Assistant Director for Schools and Learning. Having parents in the room at all stages of developing these reforms has been an advantage to the work. They have advised, debated and challenged us and have brought their expertise to the discussions. Co-production is now embedded into our practice and will remain so.

3 The current system of SEND support is complicated, expensive and delivers poor outcomes. Parents struggle to find the services that should be helping them, have to battle to get the help their children need, and have to tell their stories time and again. Moving from children s to adults services can be very difficult. English LAs spend over 5 billion a year on SEND provision, and yet those with special needs are far more likely to achieve poorly at GCSE, Not be in Education, Employment or Training, or be unemployed. These issues affect a lot of people: 1 in 5 children are currently identified as having some form of SEND, with 2.8% having a more complex need.

4 The need for change The main difference between parents, patients and professionals is one of power. Professionals act within a system, backed up by laws, regulation, colleagues, and resources, training, status, clerical support, large offices, long words and emotional distance. Parents only have their love for their child, and their desire that that child should be given the best possible chance to have a good life. How is partnership possible in such an unequal state of affairs? It is only possible if everyone involved is willing to examine the values and beliefs that lie behind all our actions. Micheline Mason, Disabled Parents Rights Campaigner

5 Feeling in control???

6 Where are we up to in Derbyshire? There is a new 20 week process for EHC Needs Assessment. We have bought the Derbyshire Education, Health and Care Plan today for you to see. Paperwork and information to request an EHC Needs Assessment will be put on the website. Included in the referral pack will be an Impact Assessment, which we hope will be a useful tool in deciding how to support a child or young person s SEN or disability needs and whether a referral for an EHC Needs Assessment is appropriate

7 Where are we up to in Derbyshire? A new post of EHC Needs Assessment Facilitator is being proposed to facilitate the EHC needs assessment, to ensure that parents, children and young people are involved in the assessment and decision making process; that Person Centred planning is evident; that advice about Personal Budgets is available and to ensure that the family have a single point contact during the assessment process.

8 Local Offer The Local Offer will provide families with one place where they can go to find out about what is expected to be available. The Local Offer will be mainly web based Local Offer, it will be a really useful resource for all of us. All schools will have to publish a SEN Information Report on their website. There is likely to be a launch event in the Autumn.

9 Consultation Consultation took place between April 11 th and June 4 th 2014 to seek the views of families about services in Derbyshire to inform the development of the Local Offer. Views were also sought on the format of Derbyshire s EHC plan. The majority of the feedback was positive; over 80% of respondents felt that the draft plans placed the child, young person and family at the centre of assessment and that their views were valued.

10 Consultation Families felt that Multi-Agency involvement and services working well together made the most difference to them. Education services were also highly valued by families. Families also placed a large value on access to short breaks. Respondents were in favour of exploring how we could support some children and young people without the need for an EHC needs assessment.

11 Person Centred & Outcomes Driven planning Better communication and greater parental engagement are key to a number of developments that seek to put the child and the family at the centre of the planning process. Focus on outcomes, aspiration driven Person - centred, family - centred approaches/systems Greater parental choice and control

12 Schools must: Support & Aspiration What will this mean for schools? meet their Equality Act duties for pupils with disabilities use their best endeavours to meet pupils SEN. Schools no longer have to record pupils as school action or school action plus ; inform parents when pupils receive support for special educational needs and involve them in reviews of progress; admit a young person, where the school is named in an EHC plan co-operate with the local authority in developing the local offer; Produce and publish online a School SEN Information Report appoint a suitably qualified or experienced member of staff as SENCO have regard to the new 0-25 SEND Code of Practice.

13 SEN information requirements; the school contribution All schools must publish on their websites information which will explain how they meet the needs of pupils with SEND. Questions like: How does the school know my child need extra help? What should I do if I think my child has SEN? Who can parents contact for further information? What training have staff supporting pupils with SEND had or receiving?

14 Four key elements of good to outstanding practice: What would a good early years, school or college look like for children and young people with special educational needs and or disabilities? A whole setting ethos that respects individuals differences, maintains high expectations for all and promotes good communication between teachers, parents and pupil Knowledgeable and sensitive staff who understand the processes of learning and the impact that special educational needs and/or disabilities can have on these Creative adaptations to classroom practice enabling children with special needs and/or disabilities to learn inclusively and meaningfully, alongside their peers Access to additional learning programmes and resources to support the development of key skills and strategies for independent learning when outcomes for the child/young person are not being met.

15 Three questions to ask: 1. What do you want your child to be able to do (in 12 months) that s/he cannot do now? 2. What support does s/he need to achieve these outcomes (i.e. to be able to do this)? 3. Which services/people are best placed to provide that support?

16 A period of Transition 2014 April 2018 By September 1 st we must publish, following consultation, a draft plan of our transitional arrangements. Any child/young person with a statement of SEN will AUTOMATICALLY transfer to an EHC Plan. This does not supersede the normal review process, if a child/young person s needs change. Young people receiving support in Further Education and training through a Learning Difficulty Assessment have fewer rights and protections than young people with statements. To address this disparity transfers must be completed by 1 st Sept 2016.

17 A period of Transition 2014 April 2018 Transfer reviews should take place prior to: Early Years to school (even if same institution) Infant to Junior Primary to Middle Secondary to post 16 Mainstream to special and vice versa Anyone transferring to an EHC plan has the right to request a personal budget.

18 A period of Transition 2014 April 2018 Transfers should take place at points of significant review; in advance of transfer to next phase and at Year 9. In addition LAs should transfer the following CYP each year: All children in year 6 All children in year 11 not just those moving institution Those moving between authorities. In 2014/15 LAs should transfer Children with statements in year 9 in 2014/15 CYP with SEN leaving custody between Sept 14 Apr 2015 CYP issued with a draft EHC plan

19 A period of Transition 2014 April 2018 We would like hear your views about the Transitional arrangements.

20 Derbyshire: by September 14 The Local Offer will be Live Frequently Asked Questions with responses will be published Guidance will be issued about Personal Budgets

21 Derbyshire Propose A Local Support Plan within the Local Offer LONGER TERM AIM Based on a needs led graduated response Propose to introduce a process for ASSESSING and PLANNING for those whose needs can be met without an EHC plan. They would be able to access support locally without going through the statutory process and have a Local Support Plan. Services which can be accessed to be set out in the Local Offer.

22 Kathryn Boulton, Assistant Director for Schools and Learning Vicky Pealing Support & Aspiration Project Manager Lisa Buttery Parent Forum Co-Ordinator website address for Support & Aspiration Website address for Parent Forum