Children's Services Management Team sponsor:

Pam Robinson - Deputy Director of Children's Services Telephone: 01962 847991; e-mail: [email protected]

Contact: Eric Smith, Education Officer SEN Telephone: 01962 846245; e-mail [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 The Executive Member is asked to approve the attached Strategy.

1.2 This Strategy supports the Corporate Strategy in the following ways:

"Making Hampshire safer and more secure for all"- by enhancing the quality of educational provision for children with special educational needs (SEN), including those with behaviour, emotional and social difficulties, and contributing to multi-agency support for families;

"Maximising well-being" - by enabling more children to receive appropriate education and support within their local community; and

"Enhancing our quality of place" - by improving quality and range of local provision for children with SEN.

1.3 The Strategy contributes directly to the five desired outcomes for children and young people identified in Every Child Matters by supporting the development, and enhancement of the quality of provision for children with special educational needs (SEN), in both special schools and, through partnership working, mainstream schools.

1.4 By supporting the further development of the range and quality of educational provision in Hampshire's special schools, the Strategy should also contribute to a reduction in the need for the County Council to place children, and for parents to seek placement, in non-maintained and independent schools.

2 Background

2.1 In 2004 central government published its strategy for SEN in `Removing Barriers to Achievement'. In 2003, DfES had also published the Report of the Special Schools Working Group. Both these documents outline government's intended future role for special schools. Special schools should deliver both high quality of education for the pupils on their roll and increased partnership working with other schools, both mainstream and special, to contribute to the overall enhancement of the range and quality of education of children with SEN.

2.2 Drawing on these documents and on best practice both within and outside Hampshire, this Strategy sets out a framework for the on-going support and development of special schools maintained by the County Council. It outlines essential elements that should inform review and development of special schools, to ensure the delivery of coherent, consistent and equitable provision of high quality education to pupils in those schools. It also describes the framework for increasing and improving partnership working with other schools, both mainstream and special, and with other services, in the education and support of children with SEN.

2.3 Special schools have a key and continuing role in supporting the County Council's aim to provide levels of support commensurate with children's needs. In their extended and partnership roles, special schools contribute to the skill development of adults working with children with SEN, to building this capacity in mainstream schools and other services, and thereby achieving effective early identification and intervention. The schools also make increasingly flexible provision appropriate to individual pupil needs, including extended and enhanced specialist provision for those with the most severe and complex needs.

2.4 The draft Strategy has been the subject of wide consultation in 2005 with schools and other services/agencies. The principles and contents of the Strategy have received substantial support. The draft has been amended to take account of the views received.

3 Legal implications

3.1 The Education Act 1996 requires (Section 315(i) ) local authorities to keep under review the arrangements made by them for special educational provision.

3.2 Consultation on the draft Strategy fulfilled the requirements of Section 315(2) to consult all schools in carrying out such a review.

4 Financial implications

4.1 There are no immediate financial implications arising from the Strategy. Developments that are undertaken by schools or by the County Council within the framework of the Strategy will be subject to the normal procedures for costing and financial planning.

5 Personnel implications

5.1 There are no immediate personnel implications arising from the Strategy. Establishing new roles for staff in schools, or extending the roles of existing staff, will take place with appropriate advice and in the context of legislative requirements and County Council policies.

6 Impact assessment

6.1 Race, equality and disability impact assessment has been considered in the development of the Strategy and no adverse impact has been identified.

7 Crime prevention issues

7.1 The Strategy supports the development and enhancement of provision for pupils identified as having, or likely to experience, behavioural, emotional and social difficulties.

8 Views of the Local County Councillor

8.1 The Strategy has county-wide implications. Local councillors were not consulted.

Recommendations

That the Executive Member:

1 Approves the Strategy for developing the role of special schools in Hampshire.

2 Notes that the Strategy will be communicated to all schools in Hampshire and to related services and agencies, to serve as part of the framework for:

· Special schools' self-review and self-evaluation

· The review and development of special schools in the County

· Supporting the extended role of special schools

· Developing and enhancing partnership working between special schools and their local community of schools and support services.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background documents

The following documents discuss facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and have been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB: the list excludes

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

None