To consider and confirm the Joint Scrutiny Committee Recommendations to Cabinet on the ALN and Inclusion Strategic Plan.
Minutes:
The Joint Committee discussed and confirmed observations and recommendations to Cabinet.
• The Committee welcomed:
o The vision and the information held within the document presented.
• The Committee requested:
o Assurance that Early Years through to Post 16 was clearly linked to the overarching Transformation Plan whilst keeping the most vulnerable of our learners at its core.
o Further information from Children’s Services in respect of the numbers of learners with Additional Learning Needs that were in receipt of services and where within the Education system those children were e.g. mainstream, special schools, PRU (Pupil Referral Units).
o The LA investigate the possibility of an Invest to Save opportunity within PRU Education.
o They receive at the earliest opportunity clarity on the number of Hubs.
o Contingencies and potential risks within the Inclusion Strategic Plan need to be expanded upon, particularly in respect of Workstream 3.
o Further Information on the long-term investment requirements.
• The Committee remained unconvinced about
o How closely the Inclusion Strategic Plan was linked to the Transformation Programme.
o The indicative timelines set out within the documents in regard to the PRU’s. o The progression measures for those learners with ALN, who are more able and talented, to ensure they continue on their learning trajectories needs to be more explicit within this strategic plan.
o The financing of the aspirations held within the Inclusion Strategic Plan. There should have been indicative budgets set alongside the aspirations with clear timelines, stating initial investment costs and clear narrative of expected outcomes and savings.
• The Committee expressed concern:
o That Post 16 learning was falling behind both the Inclusion Strategic Plan and the Transformation Programme.
o That Early Years Education and Transition to the next setting was not clearly defined within the document provided to Scrutiny, with special consideration for those learners with Additional Learning Needs.
o That there was no structured provision for Parents and families of learners with Additional Learning Needs evident within the documents provided.
o That relevant stakeholders, Schools and partner agencies, do not appear to have been consulted in a meaningful way on the Inclusion Strategic Plan.
Recommendations:
1. The Committee requests clarification on the number of Hubs.
2. The Committee requests that indicative timelines are clearly set out within the Inclusion Strategic Plan and the Transformation Programme.
3. The crossover of ALN and more able and talented learners under Workstream 1, needs to be more explicit in the report, especially as raised previously by Estyn.
4. Early Intervention and transition processes within the Strategic Plan need to be clearly documented and clarified.
5. Evidence to be provided that stakeholders, including Schools and partner agencies have been, or will be consulted in a meaningful way on the Inclusion Strategic Plan.
6. There needs to be a clear delivery plan, including indicative budgets and timelines aligned throughout the Inclusion Strategic Plan.
7. Confirmation that the Transformation Programme will not be delayed as there is a clear linkage to the development of the Inclusion Strategic Plan.
8. Contingencies and potential risks need to be expanded upon, particularly in relation to partner agencies involvement.
9. Concern raised that a review of Post 16 Education continues to fall behind.
10. Request that regular updates be provided to relevant scrutiny committees.