Archived decisions

APPENDIX

Best Value Review of the Education Other Than At School (EOTAS) Service

Service Improvement Plan September 2004 - July 2006 (n.b. some urgent actions have already started)

    1) Improve management information systems and analyses

Outcome: Establish a comprehensive electronic data/information management system to enable pupils at risk of exclusion, permanently excluded and unwell pupils to be identified and tracked and resources appropriately focused, monitored and evaluated.

Performance indicator

Data for Best Value Performance Indicators is accurate and easily available.

Extent to which pupil data can be accessed across the EOTAS service

Current Performance

BVPI 159 is currently reserved by District Audit

Data is held by individual centres/ areas only

Target Performance

No reservation by District Audit.

Data is fully networked across the EOTAS service.

Action

Lead person(s)

Target date

Cost

Service Improvement Plan Ref:

1.1

Establish a representative working group from EOTAS to work with IT services to review data/information requirements and identify short -term (to provide BVPI and Executive Member report data) and long-term (to provide more complex EOTAS provision and exclusions data) systems and providers.

Education Officer (EOTAS)

May 2004

Officer time

2.4 a)

1.2

Providers commissioned to establish short and long-term data/information management systems

Education Officer (EOTAS)

June 2004 for short-term provision. January 2005 for long-term system

Officer time.

Cost of new database systems (to be confirmed once systems are identified)

2.4 b)

1.3

Provide training for all staff involved in data input, report production and management data/information analysis

Education Officer (EOTAS)

September 2004 and ongoing

Officer time. Cost of training (to be confirmed once systems are identified)

2.4 c)

1.4

Transfer existing data to new database(s)

Exclusions Officers and Education Centre staff

September 2004 and ongoing

EOTAS staff time

2.4 d)

1.5

Establish better links with employers, post-16 providers, Connexions and Social Services' Care Leavers Service to track pupil destinations and progress

Education Centre Managers

September 2004 and ongoing

EOTAS staff time

2.4 e)

    2) Greater emphasis on re-integration:

Outcome: Provide permanently excluded and unwell pupils with the necessary skills and motivation to re-integrate to mainstream schools and to work in partnership with schools to ensure that re-integration is successful: Improved rates of re-integration.

Performance indicator

Use reintegration rates for 2003/04 academic year as a base.

Current Performance

To be confirmed once 2003/04 rates are known.

Target Performance

Improve re-integration rates by 5% p.a. in 2004/05 and 2005/06 academic years.

Action

Lead person(s)

Target date

Cost

Service Improvement Plan Ref:

2.1

Disseminate the EOTAS strategic document to EOTAS staff, schools, and other key stakeholders identifying clearly that the LEA and its schools actively support re-integration as the proper treatment route for permanently excluded pupils.

Education Officer (EOTAS)

July 2004

Officer time

1.1 a)-d)

2.2

Develop EOTAS curriculum packages that do not simply seek to replicate the national curriculum but focus on core skills, self esteem, emotional literacy and personal responsibility

HOS(P)s and ECMs, HIAS, HEPS and staff from mainstream schools.

January 2005

EOTAS Officer and staff time. HIAS time (via SLA), HEPS time (via SLA)

3.2 a)-c)

2.3

Develop a virtual learning environment (VLE) which provides access to high quality learning and curriculum resources.

Education Officer (EOTAS)

April 2005

Officer time. Cost of VLE co-ordinator, staff and resources (to be confirmed once systems have been identified).

3.3 a)-d)

2.4

Working with headteacher conferences, establish headteacher-led re-integration panels (with common terms of reference) across the LEA.

HOS(P)s

December 2004

Officer time

1.6 a)-c)

3) Earlier involvement to tackle behavioural problems:

Outcome: Working in partnership with schools and other stakeholders to ensure that all young people have an entitlement to a high quality education and to minimise the risk of exclusion. Fewer pupils permanently and fixed-term excluded.

Performance indicator

Use the 2003/04 academic year permanent and fixed-term exclusion levels as a base:

Current Performance

To be calculated once the 2003/04 figures are known

Target Performance

I. reduce the number of permanent exclusions by 10% per annum for 2004/05 and 2005/06

II. to reduce the number of days lost to fixed term exclusions by 5% per annum in 2004/05 and 2005/06.

Action

Lead person(s)

Target date

Cost

Service Improvement Plan Ref:

3.1

1.1a-e

Agree with schools a whole authority statement of intent that clearly identifies the shared responsibility of schools and the LEA for minimising the risk of exclusion and the actions that will be taken to achieve this.

Education Officer (EOTAS); ACEO (Inclusion), Headteacher conferences

December 2004

Officer time

1.1 a)-e)

3.2

1.3 a-d

Define and share with schools and other stakeholders the roles and responsibilities of all staff working in EOTAS (through a local directory of EOTAS services).

EOTAS Management Team

January 2005

Officer time

1.3 a)-e)

3.3

A. a-e

B. a-d

C. a-e

Reduce the number of permanent exclusions by brokering;

- Outreach by behaviour support staff

- A rapid response system to address the needs of pupils who are at the point of exclusion.

- Inreach to Education Centres

- LEA facilitated managed moves

HOS(P)s, ECMs and Exclusions Officers

September 2004 and ongoing

Officer and EOTAS staff time

D. a)-e)

E. a)-d)

F. a)-e)

3.4

1.5 a-c

Develop a coherent and transparent set of triggers for differential levels of intervention by EOTAS staff.

EOTAS Management Team

January 2005

Officer time

1.5 a)-c)

3.5

2.4 a-e

Establish a comprehensive, electronic information management system to enable pupils at risk of exclusion to be identified early and resources appropriately targeted.

See section 1

2.4 a)-e)

3.6

3.11

Focus preventative work on the needs of Looked after Children and pupils with identified Special Educational Needs (especially those with Behaviour, Social and Emotional Development needs)

HOS(P)s, CBSTC, ECMs: Corporate LAC Team

September 2004 and ongoing.

Officer and staff time

3.11

3.7

4.2 a-b

Develop an LEA-wide strategy for engaging with the LSC, FE colleges and Connexions so that opportunities for accessing college placements at Key Stage 4 are available

Education Officer (EOTAS); ACEO (Inclusion)

December 2004

Officer time

4.2 a)-b)

3.8

4.3 a-b

Develop partnerships and closer working with the business community and other cultural and sporting agencies in order to provide a wider and richer curriculum for children out of school.

Education Officer (EOTAS)

September 2004 and on-going

Officer time

4.3 a)-b)

3.9

3.5 a-e

Integrate the work of BESD and MLD special schools into the system of behaviour support.

HOS(P)s, CBSTC, Senior Inspector, SEN, ACEO (inclusion)

April 2005

Officer time and HIAS SLA

3.5 a)-e)

4) Minimize the gap between exclusion, or the ability to attend school due to illness, and the provision of an appropriate EOTAS programme:

Outcome: Children and families are contacted within 5 school days of a referral to EOTAS and that provision is made available at the earliest opportunity and within statutory timescales.

Performance indicator

    1. Children and families are contacted within 5 school days of a referral to EOTAS

    2. Using the 2003/04 academic year as a base, ensure that all pupils receive provision within 16 school days and that some pupils receive provision within 10 days.

Current Performance

    1. New performance indicator

    2. to be confirmed once 2003/04 figures are known.

Target Performance

    1. 100% of children and families contacted within 5 school days of referral.

    2. 100% of pupils have provision within 16 school days of referral.

    10% of pupils have provision with 11 school days of referral.

Action

Lead person(s)

Target date

Cost

Service Improvement Plan Ref:

4.1

2.4 a-c

Establish a comprehensive, electronic information management system to identify and track pupils referred to the EOTAS service so that EOTAS provision is made available at the earliest opportunity

See section 1

2.4 a)-c)

4.2

3.12

Establish systems in Education Centres for children and families to be contacted within 5 school days of the receipt of a headteacher's letter of exclusion or a medical (including emotionally vulnerable) referral.

HSO(P)s, Exclusions Officer and ECMs

December 2004 and ongoing

Officer and EOTAS staff costs

3.12

4.3

3.13

Further evaluate the establishment of a `rapid response' system to speed up the availability of provision.

See section 3.3

3.13

    5) Clearer focus on the needs of individual children:

Outcome: Provision for every child is clearly set out and related to identified individual needs.

Performance indicator

IEP and/or PSP in place for all pupils in EOTAS provision

Current Performance

Most pupils have an IEP and/or PSP

Target Performance

By August 2006, 100% of pupils have an IEP and/or PSP prior to the start of their EOTAS provision and these are regularly reviewed and updated.

Action

Lead person(s)

Target date

Cost

Service Improvement Plan Ref:

5.1

3.14 a

Review and re-publish policy and strategy documentation re: EOTAS assessment and provision.

EOTAS Management Team

December 2004

Officer time

3.14 a)

5.2

3.14 b

Share revised documentation with parents, schools and other stakeholders.

EOTAS Management Team

February 2005

Officer time

3.14 b)

5.3

Establish protocols for improved inter-agency working, particularly with LAC Corporate Team, YOT, Social Services, Health, Youth Service and Connexions. (ref: 1.5, 3.6, 3.7)

EOTAS Management Team

March 2005

Officer time

3.8 a)-c)

3.11

4.1 a)-c)

5.4

3.2 a-c

Develop and improve the curriculum on offer in Education Centres to ensure flexibility to meet individual needs. (ref: 2.2)

HOS(P)s, ECMs

January 2005 and ongoing

Officer and EOTAS staff time

3.2 a)-c)

6) Seek the views of children and parents and listen to them:

Outcome: The views of children and parents involved with EOTAS are actively sought and are used to enhance and improve provision leading to improved engagement in education.

Performance indicator

1. Children (and parents) are more engaged in learning, as evidence by improved levels of attendance, re-integration and educational outcomes. Use 2003/04 academic year figures as base.

Current Performance

1. to be calculated once 2003/04 figures are known

2. to be calculated once 2003/04 figures are known

3. new performance indicator

Target Performance

1. overall attendance figures by 5% over the period 2004-06

2. improve re-integration rates by 5% per year for 2004/05 and 2005/06

3. all pupil IEPs or PSPs are agreed and signed by parents/carers.

Action

Lead person(s)

Target date

Cost

Service Improvement Plan Ref:

6.1

Listen to the views of children and parents through regular sampling (e.g. exit questionnaires) and incorporate them into future planning.

HOS(P)s and ECMs

April 2005 and ongoing

Officer and EOTAS staff time

4.5 a)

6.2

Review and re-publish EOTAS documentation to ensure that parents with communication and/or literacy difficulties are not excluded.

EOTAS Management Team

December 2004

Officer Time

4.5 b)

6.3

Develop new EOTAS documentation in partnership with parents.

EOTAS Management Team

January 2005 and ongoing

Officer Time

4.5 c)

6.4

Develop ways of consulting with young people in EOTAS in order to gain their views

EOTAS Management Team

January 2005 and ongoing

Officer Time

4.5 d)

    7) More effective monitoring of home education:

Outcome: Improved frequently of visits, advice and support to home educating families leading to improved engagement in education.

Performance indicator

Frequency of LEA monitoring visits during the home education of the child.

Current Performance

children/families are visited approximately every 24 months.

Target Performance

By August 2006, children/families are visited approximately every 12 months.

Action

Lead person(s)

Target date

Cost

Service Improvement Plan Ref:

7.1

4.6 a

Review and republish LEA advice and guidance to home educators.

EOTAS Management Team

December 2004

Officer Time

4.6 a)

7.2

4.6 b

Research ways of reducing inspection visit costs in order to increase the number and frequency of visits.

Education Officer (EOTAS)

March 2005

Officer Time

4.6 b)

8) Over-arching Service Issues:

Outcome: Improvements in the effectiveness and quality of service provision.

Action

Lead person(s)

Target date

Cost

Service Improvement Plan Ref:

8.1

1.7 a-d

Formulate recommendations on the rôle of Education Centre Management Committees to include an extended brief to oversee all behaviour support activities and to include increased headteacher membership

Education Officer (EOTAS)

December 2004

Officer time

1.7 a)-d)

8.2

3.7 c

Review the Performance Management Review procedures for EOTAS staff and use these to develop strategies to address:

1. improving recruitment and retention

2. induction procedures

3. improving training and development opportunities.

4. establishing better communications re: service priorities

5. addressing morale issues

EOTAS Management Team

March 2005

Officer time

3.7 c)