Whilst we have many challenges in ensuring that we have sufficient specialist provision across the county, we do have solutions in delivering against this priority. These include implementation of SEND SOC projects (subject to capital funding approval), creating an additional 143 Specialist Support Centre placements and 415 new special school placements over the next 5 years.
Our Delivering Better Value pilot projects are also aimed at increasing inclusivity in mainstream schools. We are using our new SEND needs Analysis Dashboard to help with current and future forecasting of placement need.
In terms of commissioning arrangements and oversight of Alternative Provision (AP), there has been a review of both health and social care commissioning arrangements for regulated and unregulated alternative provision. This includes those with EHCPs who are unable to access a full-time educational placement in the county, and there are plans to improve the current practice around the use of AP.
However, the focus is now to clarify school responsibilities for children and young people attending AP. We are moving towards establishing and implementing a robust system for effective oversight and quality assurance of AP. We have developed an AP strategy and improvement plan which now needs to be finalised and implemented.
Moving forward, the partnership will clarify how AP improvement is coordinated and overseen at a strategic level by the local area partnership. We will also clarify the measures we are taking as a partnership to ensure that children and young people with SEND, who do not have a school place, are being supported while they wait for a placement.
In addition to this, we will clarify the action plan so there is clear accountability for the development of both additional specialist school places and the development of a coherent AP strategy.