Hampshire County Council

Consultation Paper

Review of education provision

for deaf and hearing impaired children: proposed re-organisation of resourced provision in mainstream

schools

November 2006

Review of education provision for deaf and hearing impaired children: proposed re-organisation of resourced provision in mainstream schools

November 2006

1. Why are consultations taking place?

1.1 This paper seeks views on the proposal to re-organise Hampshire County Council's resourced provision in mainstream schools for deaf and hearing impaired (HI) children into three clusters of linked primary and secondary schools ("pyramids") in three areas of the County; in the north, south and west.

1.2 The review of educational provision for deaf and HI children applies to the whole County. The proposed re-organisation of resourced provision seeks to ensure that children living in all parts of Hampshire who meet the County Council's criteria may be able to attend a resourced mainstream school. A map showing existing resourced provision is included at Appendix 3.

1.3 A response form is provided at the end of this booklet (Appendix 5). The closing date for responses is Friday, 5 January 2007.

2. Background

2.1 Consultations took place earlier in the year following publication in February 2006 of a consultation document which sought views on:

a) the Communication Policy which should underpin provision offered by the County Council to deaf and hearing impaired children and their families;

b) a proposal that resourced provision in mainstream schools should offer both auditory/oral and signing modes of communication, and possible options for the future pattern of resourced provision;

c) priorities for developing support for pre-school children and their families.

2.2 A report on the outcome of this consultation was presented to the Executive Member for Children's Services on 12 October 2006. This report is attached (Appendix 1). The full report with appendices is available at: www.hants.gov.uk/decisions/decisions-index/index-docs-6498 or can be requested from the Children's Services Department (see Appendix 5 for contact). The report had also been considered by the Policy Review Committee for Children's Services, which exercises a "scrutiny" function of decisions taken by the Executive Member. Taking account of the report and representations made by the Policy Review Committee, the Executive Member for Children's Services agreed that:

2.2.1 the Communication Policy will form the basis for the County Council's strategic development of services and provision for deaf and HI children.

2.2.2 resourced provision for deaf and HI children should be developed according to the following criteria:

· provision which will be able to offer both auditory/oral and signed modes of communication;

· viability of numbers, to maintain security of staffing and, wherever possible, of pupil peer group;

· geographical spread and accessibility;

· continuity between primary and secondary linked schools;

· provision of outreach to children and young people in other schools and settings.

2.2.3 further consultations will take place on the proposal to consolidate resourced provision into three school pyramids: in the north, south and west of the County, in accordance with the criteria above; and that information regarding this proposal be widely disseminated.

2.2.4 the outcome of these consultations will be reported to the Executive Member in January 2007, together with detailed proposals, if appropriate, for the re-alignment of resourced provision in line with the proposed model.

2.2.5 the County Council's Children's Services Department should 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.

2.3 A copy of the Communication Policy approved by the Executive Member is attached (Appendix 2)

3. Criteria for consolidating resourced provision

3.1 The proposed consolidation of resourced provision into three pyramids of schools in the County is based on the five criteria which were set out in the consultation document of February 2006 and endorsed by the Executive Member in October (para. 2.2.2 above). This section briefly explains why these criteria are felt to be important.

3.2 Resourced provision also has a key role in enabling deaf and HI children to achieve the five outcomes for children and young people identified in `Every Child Matters' (2004) and the Children Act 2004; namely:

· being healthy

· staying safe

· enjoying and achieving

· making a positive contribution

· achieving economic well-being

Provision which will be able to offer both auditory/oral and signed modes of communication

3.3 The previous consultation paper set out the case for the development of resourced provision which can offer both auditory/oral and signed modes of communication. This proposal was substantially endorsed. Written responses from parents, representatives of resourced schools and other professionals showed approximately seventy in favour of this proposal and six against.

Viability of numbers to maintain security of staffing and, where possible, of pupil peer group:

3.4 Current (autumn term 2006) and past numbers attending resourced schools are set out in Appendix 3. The preference of several parents for their child to attend their local mainstream school (rather than a resourced school which may be further from home) is believed to have contributed to the reduction in recent years in the number of pupils attending resourced provision.

3.5 As a result of declining pupil numbers, the financial and staffing viability of some of the resourced provision is now in doubt within the current funding formulae. For auditory/oral provision, a minimum of three places (infant/nursery) and four places (junior and secondary) is required to provide the school with sufficient funding to employ a full time teacher of the deaf (ToD). The minimum number of places for funding of a full time ToD in signing/total communication provision is three.

3.6 Three schools have fewer pupils on roll than these minimum numbers: Park View Junior; Aldworth Science College; and The Westgate School. In such situations, either the County Council has to "protect" the agreed place number (APN) above the actual number on roll or there will be a serious risk to successful retention and recruitment of skilled staff. If the school's funding allocation for the resourced provision is reduced in line with pupil numbers the school may not afford to employ a full time ToD. Maintaining the APN above the actual number of pupils is not an efficient use of the County Council's resources. It is possible for schools working together (e.g. infant and junior schools) to pool their resources and appoint staff who work in both schools.

3.7 One of the benefits normally cited for resourced provision for children with special educational needs (SEN) is their access to a wider peer group of children with similar needs. The total number of hearing impaired pupils is equivalent to two or more pupils per age group in only one (of the thirteen) schools with resourced provision: Neville Lovett School. The number on roll is equivalent to at least one pupil per age group in the following schools: Cove Secondary; Henry Beaufort Secondary; Manor Junior; Park View Nursery and Infant; and Wallisdean Junior schools.

3.8 In the following schools, the number attending the resourced provision is equivalent to less than one pupil per age group: Aldworth Science College; Manor Infant; Medstead Primary; Park View Junior; Wallisdean Infant; The Westgate Secondary; and Woodcot Primary schools.

3.9 A viable peer group helps to promote pupils' emotional well-being, contributing significantly to their ability to `enjoy and achieve' and to make a positive contribution.

Geographical spread and accessibility

3.10 There is currently no resourced provision for primary age deaf and HI pupils in the west of the County, although there is secondary phase provision in Henry Beaufort (auditory/oral) and The Westgate (signing) schools in Winchester. The Specialist Teacher Advisory (STA) Service for HI children estimates that there may be approximately 15 primary age children living in the west of the County who meet the County's criteria for placement in resourced provision but are not currently attending resourced schools. (Children from this area may attend the resourced schools in Southampton.)

3.11 Children who meet the County Council's criteria for placement in resourced provision, and whose parents wish them to attend a resourced school, should normally be able to do so without experiencing an unreasonably long and tiring home-school journey. Accessibility of resourced provision from all parts of the County depends on both the number and location of resourced schools.

Continuity between primary and secondary linked schools.

3.12 Currently deaf and HI pupils may remain within the same, wider peer group (of both deaf and hearing pupils) if they attend the Manor/Cove, Park View/Aldworth Science College and Wallisdean/Neville Lovett groups of linked schools. There is no primary phase resourced provision in a school linked with either Henry Beaufort or The Westgate schools in Winchester. The secondary schools to which Medstead or Woodcot primary schools link do not have resourced provision for deaf and HI pupils.

3.13 The earlier consultation showed general support for the principle of having resourced provision in linked primary (or infant and junior) and secondary schools. Some respondents noted that a consistent peer group is an important context for the social, emotional and linguistic development of deaf and HI children. Young people with these needs are at greater risk of experiencing mental health difficulties; requiring children with significant additional needs to move away from their familiar peer group at secondary transfer is not supportive of their social development and emotional well-being. This is not compatible with the aims of helping children and young people to be healthy and stay safe.

3.14 Resourced provisions are an integral part of their host schools, and it is their practice to enable the pupils to be included in the life of the whole school and to share their curriculum and other experiences with both deaf/HI and hearing peers; key elements in enabling pupils to enjoy and achieve and to make a positive contribution within the community of the whole school.

3.15 Some respondents were of the view that the benefits of having resourced provision in linked primary and secondary schools has been overstated and that parents may seek a different type of provision (e.g. a non-maintained/independent special school) at secondary phase. Parents have the right to express a preference for any maintained school or make representations for an independent or non-maintained school when their child transfers to secondary school; this does not necessarily negate the principle that pupils should also have the opportunity to continue within the specialist support offered by resourced provision within the same pyramid of schools.

3.16 Some respondents to the consultation expressed the view that continuity should also apply to transfer from pre-school to primary/infant age, and that resourced infant/primary schools should have maintained nursery provision. However, most pre-school children in Hampshire attend community pre-schools or nurseries. (Some also attend sessions at the Elizabeth Foundation.) Families will increasingly be able to access support and advice through Children's Centres, some of which will include nursery/day care places. Support services, such as Specialist Teacher Advisers for HI, provide support and advice to families and to staff working in pre-schools. Pre-school deaf/HI children should not, therefore, be dependent on attending provision at resourced schools for effective support.

Provision of outreach to children and young people in other schools and settings

3.17 Increasingly, both special schools and mainstream schools with specialist provision are working as part of a wider community of schools, bringing the benefit of their scarce, specialist knowledge to a greater number of children. This is in line with proposals in "Removing Barriers to Achievement: The Government's Strategy for SEN" published in 2004, and Hampshire County Council's Strategy for Developing the Role of Special Schools (2006). Outreach support is already provided to local mainstream schools by some resourced provisions for deaf/HI pupils.

4. Why consolidate resourced provision in three pyramids of linked schools?

4.1 Three groups or pyramids of linked schools are proposed as the pattern of organisation which best fits the criteria set out in section 3 above.

4.2 Three pyramids should, based on current numbers of pupils averaged out across the schools, provide peer groups of approximately two pupils per age. This should ensure viability in terms of finance and staffing, and support for pupils' social and emotional needs.

4.3 Provision maintained in the north, south and west of the County will achieve geographical spread and accessibility. Establishing primary phase provision in the west of the County may also attract more pupils who currently do not access resourced provision. A consequent increase in numbers would contribute positively to the overall viability of finance, staffing and pupil peer groups.

4.4 Maintaining provision in linked primary and secondary schools will ensure that children have the opportunity to remain within a wider, familiar peer group through both phases of their education, if they continue to require the support of resourced provision.

4.5 Provisions that are secure in terms of their staffing and resources are better placed to provide outreach support to other schools.

4.6 In the consultation which took place earlier in 2006, 51 respondents supported one of the options based on three pyramids (Options 1a, 1b and 2) and 35 supported Options 3a and 3b (four pyramids).

4.7 Comments are invited on the proposal to consolidate resourced provision into three school pyramids: in the north, south and west of the County.

5. Options for the location of resourced provision

5.1 The Executive Member has asked for the outcome of consultations (on the consolidation of resourced provision into three school pyramids) to be reported to her, together with detailed proposals, if appropriate, for the re-alignment of resourced provision in line with the proposed model.

5.2 A number of options for the organisation of resourced provision were set out in the previous consultation document and comments on each were reported to the Executive Member in October. These are:

Option 1 a.

Option 1 b.

Option 2

Option 3a

Option 3b

5.3 The implications of each of these options are summarised in Appendix 4.

5.4 Comments are invited on the proposed options for future pattern of resourced provision.

6. Medstead and Woodcot Primary Schools

6.1 The above options do not include either Woodcot or Medstead Primary schools, the two primary schools which currently have resourced provision for pupils who use sign. However, comments are invited on whether, alongside one of the options set out in section 5 above, the County Council should:

Option 4a: retain resourced provision at Medstead Primary School

Option 4b: retain resourced provision at Woodcot Primary School

6.2 Woodcot Primary School: none of the options set out in the previous consultation paper included the retention of provision at Woodcot Primary School. The school has staff with expertise in signing and the provision has given quality support to many children over several years. The pre-school on the school site has experience of supporting deaf children who have received specialist support from the resourced provision. However, its linked secondary school does not have resourced provision for deaf and HI pupils, and it is located fairly close to Wallisdean Infant and Junior schools which link with Neville Lovett Secondary School. The provision currently (autumn term 2006) has five pupils, although there were only two on roll in 2005/2006 when the previous consultation took place.

6.3 Medstead Primary School: the report to Executive Member in October 2006 noted that Medstead Primary School had received many expressions of support during the earlier consultation. The school has staff with expertise in signing and the quality of the school's provision had been commended by parents. The non-maintained pre-school on the school site has gained experience of supporting deaf children and its staff work closely with the school and its resourced provision.

6.4 The school does not fulfil all the criteria set out in section 3 above. The provision does not currently cater for pupils who use an exclusively auditory/oral mode of communication. The school currently (autumn term 2006) has six deaf pupils on roll. This equates to approximately one pupil per age group; this is less than the two per age group which the review of provision seeks to achieve (see paras. 3.7 and 3.8 above).

6.5 Medstead Primary School is located fairly centrally within the County but is within a mainly rural area, the closest urban area being Alton. Pupils typically travel a considerable distance to the school. The provision at the school does not meet the criterion of continuity between primary and secondary linked schools. Some respondents to the earlier consultation, associated with Medstead School, questioned the importance of this criterion (as noted in para. 3.15 above).

6.6 The report to the Executive Member in October 2006 recommended that, although the provision at Medstead Primary School does not meet all the criteria set out in section 3 above, it is considered appropriate to maintain provision at the school during the programme of developing expertise in providing a wider range of communication modes (including both auditory/oral and signing modes) in provisions which currently offer only auditory/oral modes. A further review of the County Council's resourced provision would then be appropriate.

7. How will decisions be taken?

7.1 At the end of the consultation period, the comments and views expressed at meetings, together with all written responses received during both the previous and current consultations, will be carefully considered by officers.

7.2 A detailed paper summarising these views will be prepared and considered by the Executive Member for Children's Services. The local Hampshire Action Teams and the Policy Review Committee, scrutiny groups of county councillors, may also wish to consider these issues and offer views to the Executive Member. (In order to allow sufficient time for completion of the period of consultation, the report will now be considered by the Executive Member in February 2007.)

7.3 The decision-making meetings are open to the public. Deputations can be received. Full details are given on the County Council's website:

www.hants.gov.uk/communications/factsheet2.html

7.4 If, having considered these views and recommendations, the Executive Member for Children's Services believes that new resourced provision should be created or existing provisions closed, further consultations will take place with each of those schools. Reports on those consultations will again be made to the Executive Member. If changes are proposed, Public Notices will be published in the local press and displayed locally, giving a six-week period during which anyone can make a formal comment or objection. If there are any objections, the matter is then considered by the independent School Organisation Committee (SOC) for Hampshire. (Central government has announced that arrangements for SOCs will be changed during 2007; no details of the new arrangements are yet available.)

7.5 Should a decision be taken to close any provisions, consultations will take place with the staff involved and their professional associations/ trade unions and with relevant governing bodies, to seek suitable alternative posts in which they can continue to apply their expertise and experience in working with deaf and HI children.

8. How can I respond to the consultation?

You may already have expressed views during the earlier consultation, and have stated your preferences amongst the options for the future organisation of resourced provision. All the previous responses will be taken into account when a further report is made to the Executive Member in January. You do not, therefore, need to repeat or resend views which have already been received.

You are therefore invited to use this opportunity to make any additional comments. If you are registering a different view or preference from your previous response, please make this clear.

Please use the attached response sheet to express your views on these proposals.

The closing date for the return of forms is Friday, 5 January 2007.

If further clarification is required or would be helpful, please contact:

Eric Smith, Education Officer SEN on 01962 846245, or

via e-mail [email protected]

Joanna Wardle, Team Leader STAs HI on 02392 441405, or

via e-mail [email protected]

or speak to any member of the Specialist Teacher Advisory HI Service.

Meetings are being arranged at which the issues raised in this consultation may be explained and discussed. Details of these meetings are set out in Appendix 6. Please complete and return the reply slip if you will be attending one of these meetings.

9. Appendices

1 Report of Executive Member dated 12 October 2006

2 Communication Policy approved by Executive Member

3 Numbers on roll of resourced provisions and map

4 Options for the location of resourced provision

5 Consultation response form

6 Consultation meetings