Archived decisions

STRATEGY FOR DEVELOPING THE ROLE OF SPECIAL SCHOOLS

1. In 2003, the DFES published a report of the Special Schools Working Group and a year later Central Government published its strategy for Special Educational Needs (SEN) in `Removing Barriers to Achievements'. These documents outline the intended future role for special schools. They require delivery of both a high quality of education for pupils and increased partnership working with other schools, both mainstream and special, to contribute to the overall enhancement of the education of children with SEN.

2. Drawing on the above and on best practice, a strategy for developing the role of Special Schools in Hampshire has been approved by the Executive Member for Education. It is to be communicated to all schools in Hampshire and to related services and agencies, to serve as part of a 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.

3. The new strategy will aim to ensure the delivery of coherent, consistent and equitable provision of high quality education to pupils in those special schools maintained by the County Council. Such schools have a key and continuing role in supporting the Council's aim to provide levels of support commensurate with children's needs. In their extended and partnership roles, they contribute to the skill development of adults working with children with SEN, and by building this capacity in mainstream schools and other services, thereby effective early identification and intervention. Also, they make increasingly flexible provision appropriate to individual pupil needs, including extended and enhanced specialist provision for those with the most severe and complex of needs. The draft strategy was consulted upon widely with schools and other services/agencies and the final strategy takes account of the views which have been received. It is available in the Members' Rooms.

4. The above strategy enhances the quality of educational provision for children with special educational needs, including those with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties, and contributes to multi-agency support for families. Also, it should enable more children to receive appropriate education and support within their local community and by supporting improvement the quality and range of local provision of children with SEN, 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. This supports the Council's Corporate priorities.