Archived decisions

Chairman:

p Councillor Mrs. C. A. Leversha

Vice-Chairman :

p Councillor Mrs Anna McNair Scott

Councillors:

Co-opted:

p F. Allgood

p F. Allgood

p T. Blackshaw

p C. Bailey

p D Mayer

p D. Blampied

p U Topp

p Mrs E.M. Byrom

p B. D. Dash

Officers:

p P. Edgar

John Coughlan - Director of Children's Services

p K. Evans

Pam Robinson - Deputy Director Children and Families

p Mrs J. K. Frankum

John Clarke - Deputy Director Education and Inclusion (Item 3a)

p K. Gill

Eric Smith (Minute No. 5)

p Mrs K. Heron

Joanna Wardle (Minute No. 5)

p G. M. Hockley

Fliss Dickenson (Minute No. 5)

p R. J. Kimber

Howard Firth (Minute No. 10)

p Mrs P. G. Peskett

p S. H. Reid

p J. K. West

p S. Wheale

1.

APOLOGIES

Apologies were received from the Executive Member for Children's Services and the Executive Member for Education.

2.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or personal

Prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should, normally

at the time of the debate, declare their interest and, having regard to the circumstances

described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct,

consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed.

Councillor K. Gill declared a personal interest in Minute No. 5 below as his wife was

the former head teacher at Woodcock Primary School.

3.

MINUTES

The Minutes of the Children's Services Policy Review Committee held on 18 July 2006 were signed as a correct record.

4.

CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman welcomed Members to the newly constituted Committee and briefly explained the new ways of working, in particular she explained that information despatches would be co-ordinated by Democratic Services and would be an opportunity for Members to receive updates on issues with a view to items being included on the future Scrutiny Work Programme.

5.

REVIEW OF EDUCATION PROVISION FOR DEAF AND HEARING IMPAIRED CHILDREN

The Committee considered the report and recommendations to the Executive Member for Children's Services (Item 3 in the minute book) on the outcomes of consultations on key issues relating to the provision of deaf and hearing impaired (HI) children and the options for the future pattern of provision for deaf and HI children.

The Director of Children's Services informed the Committee that the proposals to re-organise provision would establish a broader range of communication modes offered to children in resourced schools, and greater involvement of parents in decisions affecting the way their children learn to communicate.

It was explained that at present there was separate resourced provision in mainstream schools for children using auditory/oral communication and for those children who used sign language. This meant that children were possibly changing school if they wished to learn and use sign. Under the proposals provision would be integrated enabling resourced provision at schools to offer a wider range of communication modes.

It was further explained that the proposals to establish three pyramids of provision to serve the south, centre and north of the county would ensure a good geographical spread and accessibility as well as continuity of provision for children between primary and secondary school.

In addition, the proposals also included the development of support services for pre-school children and their families, through the County Council's network of Children's Centres as well as through the use of trained support workers.

The recommendations from officers to the Executive Member for Children's Services are set out below:-

1) that the Communication Policy forms the basis for the County's strategic development of services and provision for deaf and HI children.

2) that resourced provision for deaf and HI pupils is developed to provide a wide range of communication modes, including both auditory/oral and signed methodologies in all provisions.

3) that resourced provision is consolidated in three school pyramids: in the north, south and west of the County.

4) that further consultations take place with the governing bodies, staff, parents and other interested parties on detailed proposals for the closure of resourced provision for deaf and HI children at Park View Infant, Park View Junior and Woodcot Primary schools and at The Westgate School and Aldworth Science College, with effect from August 2008.

5) that headteachers and governing bodies of primary (including infant and junior) schools linked to Henry Beaufort School be invited to consider developing resourced provision, to open in September 2008 (or as soon after as possible), and consultations take place with the governing body, staff, parents of the school and with other interested parties on detailed proposals for the establishment of resourced provision for deaf and HI children.

6) that a report on the outcome of these consultations be made to the Executive Member for Children's Services in 2007, prior to the publication of statutory proposals.

7) that resourced provision be maintained at Medstead Primary School until any further review of deaf and HI provision.

8) that the County Council's Children's Services Department continue to develop support services for pre-school children and their families, which provide access to comprehensive support and advice services for parents of deaf/HI children and provide communication support to those families in line with the Communication Policy.

The Committee debated in considerable detail the report and recommendations to be put before the Executive Member for Children's Services on 12 October 2006. In particular the Committee expressed concern about the inadequate consultation on a pyramid model and the manner in which the outcomes of the recent consultations were reported to interested parties. In light of representation letters received about consultations, the Director of Children's Services reported that the Executive Member for Children's Services was minded to re-consult on the details of a pyramid model.

PRC Recommendations:

The Committee supported recommendations 1, 2, 6 and 8 above and advised that the Executive Member for Children's Services replace recommendations 3,4, 5 and 7 with the following wording:-

"The Committee agrees with the Executive Member for Children's Services proposal to reconsult on the details of a pyramid model but should separate this process from the consultation about individual schools and ensure it is comprehensive and includes Members, MP's and other interested parties"

6.

PRIORITISING TOPICS FROM THE BRIEFING

The Chairman thanked those Members who had returned their priorities list to date and prompted others to complete the list within a further two weeks. Once finalised all Members would receive a copy, together with the Scrutiny Work Programme.

7.

8.

REVIEW OF ADMISSIONS POLICY

A briefing paper outlining the proposed approach for the review of the County Council's Admissions Policy was circulated at the meeting. It was explained that the best approach would be to have a two hour workshop with the three Members of the Admissions Forum along with the Chairman of the Forum and other interested Members.

PRC Recommendations:

Members agreed to put this approach forward to the Policy & Resources Policy Review Committee

THE SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS STATUTORY ASSESSMENT PROCESS

The Committee considered the response from the Executive Member for Children's

Services (Item 5a in the Minute Book) to the recommendations made in the report of 22

May 2006 from the Children's Special Needs Task Group concerning the Special

Educational Needs Statutory Assessment Process.

The Committee noted that a progress report on the Parent Partnership Service and the use of

the Inclusion Partnership Agreement would be available in July 2007 and it was

suggested that this item be incorporated into the Information Work Programme.

9.

EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

RESOLVED:

That in relation to the following item the public were excluded from the meeting, as it

is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the

proceedings, that if members of the public were present during the items there would be

disclosure to them of exempt information within Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A

to the Local Government Act 1972, and further that in all the circumstances of the case,

the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in

disclosing the information, for the reasons set out in the report.

10.

RESIDENTIAL CARE REVIEW (EXEMPT)

The Committee considered the exempt report and recommendations to the Executive

Member for Children's Services (Item 7a in the Minute Book) concerning future options

for Residential Care.[SUMMARY OF EXEMPT MINUTE]