Issue - meetings

The Chair welcomed Steve Belbin, Head of Service, School Improvement, to the meeting. The report presented explained that at the joint Children's Services and Education Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 11 April 2018, members were briefed on SEN standards in Lancashire schools. It was noted at this meeting that attainment was below the national average at each key stage.

The report provided members with a summary of the actions to be taken in SEND service and School Improvement to provide support for schools.

The Written Statement of Action in response to the SEND inspection outlined the following areas for improvement:

·  Inclusion

·  Exclusion

·  Attainment

The specific actions undertaken would include a blend of marketed course and training, of targeted work with schools, strategic analysis of data as well as general activities completed by the school adviser as part of their termly visits.

Concerns were raised over elective home education and that there was a need for early intervention to ensure pupils were not forced into home education.

The Committee was informed that there were already SENCOs up and running throughout the authority. The SENCOs met regularly to discuss best practice and the role of the SENCO was vital to the schools. In addition, there were teacher consultants who provided general support for schools.

Members requested feedback for a future meeting from the SEND team on the progress around reducing the need for exclusion.

The Committee felt that the statement of action was very strong. Members suggested that it would be useful for head teachers come to a future meeting to present information on the support provided for children with SEN.

Resolved: That the report and comments be noted.