To receive an update on the Additional Learning Needs and Inclusion Transformation Programme.
Minutes:
Documents:
· Scrutiny briefing on ALN and Inclusion Transformation Programme
· Additional Learning Needs Update
· Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act Factsheet
· Additional Learning Needs and Inclusion Transformation Communications Plan
Discussion:
The Senior Manager – ALN introduced the update paper on the ALN Transformation Programme.
The ALN Transformation Programme has been put in place to address two issue. Firstly, to ensure that the Council can comply with the changes that the Welsh Government is making to ALN in Wales, and secondly to ensure that the structures in place in Powys are best able to support this changing landscape.
The following work streams are in response to legislative change:
· Post 16 provision } as provision now extends from 0 - 25
· Early years provision }
· Introduction of Individual Development Plans (to replace statements)
· Workforce Development (a local and national issue)
· Dispute Resolution (a new approach has seen a reduction in the number of cases taken to tribunal)
· Parental and Pupil Involvement
The following work streams relate to ALN provision in Powys:
· Specialist Centre provision
· Behavioural, Emotional and Social difficulties and Pupil Referral Unit provision
· Making it happen (cross cutting themes such as ICT, Welsh Language and referral processes)
Other issues are being identified across the work streams. For example, there should be a single front door, a single set of paperwork and far closer partnership working with social care and health. The Start Well Programme is also working to this agenda.
The Head of Learning noted that this was a large transformation programme which Welsh Government had introduced alongside a second major transformation programme of curriculum change. There are risks with the ALN transformation programme including with health where partnerships historically have not been strong and the health service have their own pressures.
Cllr P Roberts left the meeting 10.40am.
Cllr D Selby took the Chair for the remainder of the meeting.
How will the work of the ALN Transformation Programme be communicated to parents?
The Director explained there would be no one approach but that there would be a newsletter, a website where questions could be posted, a parent’s forum, where changes are proposed three drop-in meetings will be held the location of which will rotate around the county. The service welcome suggestions regarding communication and will try to accommodate such ideas.
The work stream for early years is welcomed but there have been problems in early years since the change of age of admission. There is a mixture of provision at this age with some private settings. How will the service work with this age group as this is where early intervention happens?
The Director advised that at present ALN provision for early years is not statutory. Education have involvement with nursery, pre-school and schools but when the Act becomes law in 2020 health will become an important partner with their knowledge of children from birth. A referral process has been developed to identify children with additional needs as early as possible and the service need to work closely with health to design early intervention.
There will be some parents of children with ALN who will not read letters or look at the ALN website. How will you work with these parents?
It will be necessary to hold some face to face meetings in the Specialist Centres but this will need to be done on a rolling programme as there is no capacity to visit every centre at each stage of the process.
Will the Individual Development Plans (IDPs) move with the child from primary to secondary and through to adulthood?
This will be the case although the IDPs will start prior to school through close working with Health Visitors who see children from the earliest age. For the first time with the new Act Health Visitors are explicitly required to identify additional learning needs.
How is staff morale in the ALN sector?
The ALN Transformation programme aims to give staff as much information and notice as possible. The sector will be transformed to meet the new requirements.
School modernisation in Ystradgynlais introduced a model which included Specialist Units which was meant to be a blueprint for Powys? What is the future for Specialist Units?
It will be necessary to look at the Specialist Units in light of the new ALN Code of Practice. There are things that are working well but key principles need to be applied to the whole of the county. Solutions have been developed to address particular problems but equity of provision is essential.
The service should be congratulated on the presentation but to what extent is this an aspiration? The communications plan is welcomed and the ALN website is excellent but there is nothing regarding this on the Powys facebook page. There is also real concern about the delivery of ALN support. Schools are fighting for support and parents are blaming schools because pupils are not receiving what they should be.
The Director confirmed that the Transformation programme requires joint working with a number of partners including health and social care. Social care is closely involved in the work but to be successful will need a change in behaviours. As each of the work streams are developed reports will be prepared for Cabinet which will be brought forward for pre-Cabinet scrutiny.
What will be the impact of the extension of ALN provision to 25 on Further Education and Higher Education?
The ALN Code only relations to Further Education not Higher Education or Apprenticeships. The service will be looking to provide support as locally as possible.
Is it the case that children with lower level ALN will now be taught in mainstream schools?
All children in Special Schools have statements and are on a spectrum of need that runs between 0 and 10. It is appropriate for pupils assessed between 0 and 2 to be taught in mainstream schools. It is more cost effective to support pupils in mainstream school rather than in specialist provision.
Do parents have a say in where pupils are educated?
The ALN Code notes that the preferred educational setting is in mainstream.
Outcomes:
· That as work on the ALN Transformation progresses scrutiny have an opportunity to undertake pre-Cabinet scrutiny of proposals
Supporting documents: