Archived decisions

COUNCIL MEETING, 19 FEBRUARY 2009

REPORT OF THE

EXECUTIVE LEAD MEMBER FOR

CHILDREN'S SERVICES (EDUCATION)

AND EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

ACCESSIBILITY STRATEGY AND SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS POLICY 2009-2012

1. All Local Authorities are required, by law, to publish an Accessibility Strategy for the schools for which they are responsible, focusing on increasing access for disabled pupils to the curriculum, to the physical environment of schools and to written information. They are also required to publish a Special Educational Needs Policy which sets out the principles, aims and objectives through which they will support the needs of children with SEN and Learning Difficulties and Disabilities (LDD).

2. The current Hampshire Accessibility Strategy was published in 2003 and the current SEN Policy in 2005. In the light of ongoing initiatives both documents were in need of review so as to more appropriately set out the County Council's policy and strategy to ensure that all young people with SEN and LDD receive high quality educational provision and opportunities to support them in maximising their potential. A working party, the membership of which included officers (from both Education and Social Care) and representatives from other appropriate parties has met to review and rewrite the strategy and policy. As part of the process, consultation was carried out with young people with SEN/LDD in 13 schools as well as representatives from parents/carers groups.

3. The resulting draft documents were taken to the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) Decision Day on 22 May 2008 where approval was given to undertake a formal consultation with schools, local dioceses and other interested stakeholders. By the closing date, a total of 22 responses had been received which included 17 from schools, 3 from NHS individuals/groups and 2 from voluntary organisations. Generally, the responses were highly supportive, with the majority of respondents commenting positively about the structure of the documents. No respondents disagreed with their contents.

4. The Executive Lead Member has considered the draft strategy and policy as amended in the light of the consultation comments and given his approval to the publication of the Accessibility Strategy and Special Educational Needs Policy 2009-2012. They are to be made available to schools and other interested stakeholders.

5. This report arises from consideration of the report by the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) on 18 December 2008, which is on Hantsweb at: /decisions/decisions-docs/081218-excsed-R1211092307. It includes both the latest strategy and policy documents.

SCHOOL MEAL PRICES FROM APRIL 2009

1. A School Meals Strategy was developed and implemented during 2005-2008. Since April 2008, the targeted School Meals Grant has been replaced by a School Lunch Grant. This grant can only be used to cover any direct costs of a school meal. Food costs have increased significantly over the last year most of which have been absorbed. Advice from suppliers is that food prices will increase by 10% next financial year. Wherever possible, the County's Catering Organisation HC3S make use of local suppliers to source meal ingredients and are supporting the local business economy.

2. Every year the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) is asked to review the price of school meals in Hampshire. He has recently considered a proposed increase in the price of a school meal by 10p to £2.00 per meal from April 2009. The increase would mean a rise of 5.3% on the current price of £1.90 per meal. Comparisons have been made with other shire Counties and the proposed increase would place Hampshire in line with other similar authorities for the price of a school meal. Following the introduction of new nutritional standards, national surveys have highlighted a decline in the number of meals served in schools. In contrast, in Hampshire, HC3S continues to see a steady increase in the number of school meals served. The Executive Lead Member has approved the proposed Hampshire school meal price of £2.00 from April 2009.

3. This report arises from the consideration of the report by the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) on 21 January 2009, which is on Hantsweb at: /decisions/decisions-docs/090121-excsed-R0114131809. .

EVERY CHILD A READER

1. `Every Child a Reader' (ECaR) is one of several early intervention government initiatives. It provides one-to-one tuition for 6 and 7 year olds who are at risk of not achieving the national expectation in reading by the end of Key Stage 1. Hampshire has been placed within a consortium called `Hampshire Plus', joining Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight Local Authorities. The consortium is intended to develop joint working over a period of time that achieves economy of scale with regard to training the two key kinds of role critical to the implementation of the programme - Teacher Leaders and Reading Recovery teachers.

2. Teacher Leaders spend their first year training and piloting the use of the programme. In year two of implementation, and beyond, they will be responsible for training the Reading Recovery teachers who will deliver the programme in schools. Reading Recovery teachers are expected to tutor around 8-12 identified pupils per year in Years 1 and/or 2 to support their development as effective readers. An inability to read by 7 years of age has been correlated closely with educational failure in later years. Initial feedback from research suggests that ECaR is a highly effective intervention to the target group of pupils. Whilst something which needs to be supported, there are several challenges ahead, the most important of which relates to its methods of funding. An announcement about government financial support is expected early in 2009 and there is a concern that it may not be sufficient.

3. As a way forward the Director of Children's Services has developed and agreed a strategy and reported this to the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education). The strategy involves creating a post of `Primary English Intervention Consultant' from 1 April 2009 for a period of two years in the first instance. In addition to assuming the ECaR Teacher Leader role the successful person will also be responsible for implementing another government intervention programme called "Every Child a Writer" which is intended to improve children's writing and literacy skills. At first ECaR is to be introduced in Havant and Gosport so as to establish links with communities and to identify a pilot school to be used during the first year of the post. After the training year, the post will be responsible for implementing the "Every Child a Reader" and "Every Child a Writer" projects across other parts of Hampshire. The Executive Lead Member has welcomed the strategy and agreed any grant funding shortfall from government should be met from within the existing primary strategy budget.

4. This report arises from consideration of the report by the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) on 21 January 2009, which is on Hantsnet at: /decisions/decisions-docs/090121-excsed-R0114131758.

DAVID KIRK PATRICIA BANKS

Executive Lead Member for Executive Member for

Children's Services (Education). Children and Families.

8FR89109