Agenda item

The Chair invited Christopher Kelly, Director of Children Services at Newton Europe to introduce the item. Newton Europe had been commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE) to deliver phase one of ‘Delivering Better Value in SEND programme’ (DBVS), which is aiming to support councils to improve delivery of SEND services for children and young people while ensuring services are sustainable.

Christopher Kelly invited colleagues Steve Knight, a Partner at Newton and Phil Gibby, Accountant from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFRA) who are working closely with Newton on this project - to aid in presenting the ‘Newton-CIPFA Update’ presentation.

Newton colleagues made the following comments:

·       The Methodology behind Newton’s approach was adapted after speaking with the 55 councils involved to reflect the initiative and work already being undertaken to make better use of resources in the delivery of SEND support.

·       The DBV in SEND programme was just one of many projects that form part of the DfE’s work on SEND reform, as set out in the Green paper published in March 2022.

·       The programme is currently at the end of tranche one out of three, with grants being awarded and implementation beginning for one tranche one councils in early 2023.

·       For councils not on the lists as set out on page 19 of the agenda, themes, learning and outcomes of the programme would be circulated to help inform their work on making best use of high needs funding.

·       The insights presented are the summation of the work undertaken on modules 1 and 2, baselines and forecasts and the root causes diagnostic.

Members comments:

·       A general concern was raised that the grant funding being offered was not sufficient and there was a need to greater understand how the programme would tackle accumulating deficits.

·       A member expressed concern that the evidence presented supports patterns and concerns raised with SEND demand and spending that were known in 2016.

·       A concern was raised regarding the engagement of the partners in joint delivery of the programme for instance, with Integrated Care Partnerships (ICPs).

·       Concern was raised regarding how increased mainstream inclusion could be achieved in light of the abandonment of the Schools Bill.

·       A member raised positive feedback having been through a similar process, where SEND spending did become more manageable. The member highlighted the value of guidance information provision to schools and parents, plus a phoneline for teachers when struggling with SEN children in mainstream classrooms.

·       A member raised the need for the voice of children and young people to be included in this work.

In response to Members, Newton colleagues made the following comments:

·       That funding would stem the increase in deficits, not reverse them, and their role was to feedback the data-based evidence, even if the programme would not close the deficit.

·       Newton colleagues noted the evidence being known in 2016 and emphasised the value of the large amount of evidence they would feedback to DfE.

·       Newton colleagues acknowledged the notion of collective responsibility, and the work that would be needed to ensure collaborative working through funding and a joint vision on the ground.

·       Newton colleagues outlined their engagement with health colleagues on evidence gathering at ground level, and the strong relationships at the top (DfE, NHS England reps) but acknowledged that engagement was varied ‘in the middle’ as the Local Authority is the convener at this level and thus engagement is dependent on pre-existing relationships.

·       Newton colleagues outlined that a discrete output of the programme was training and upskilling the local areas to ensure a sustainable legacy of the work, through provision of events, workshops and round tables which had been a good vehicle for sharing best practice.

·       Newton colleagues highlighted although the voice of children and young people had been present in evidence collation, they sought to increase this in tranche 2 of the programme.

Decision

Members provided feedback on the DBVS programme’s progress and considered how the findings can feed into the LGA’s wider work on SEND.

Action

·       Officers to consider inviting Newton Colleagues back to a future Board to share future learnings.