The review of special educational needs (SEN) provision in Warrington has now ended. Thank you to everyone who responded to the consultation.
How did we make our decisions?
Responses were invited from schools, governors, individual staff, parents, partner organisations, children and young people and the community.
Information leaflets for children, adults and a questionnaire for children with SEN were developed.
- A dedicated e mail address was set up for responses
- The council website was updated regularly
- A question sheet was devised to help children to respond and was completed in school.
- Two open meetings were held within special schools. One with the main focus on ‘designated provision’ the other on special school provision.
- Oi Listen, a self advocacy group for young people with disabilities were commissioned to consult with children and young people in special schools.
- The consultation was an agenda item at the partnership meetings held by the Local Authority with Headteachers, and there was lengthy discussion at School’s Forum on the financial implications of the recommendations.
The Executive Board considered a report on the consultation at its meeting on 13th February. It agreed to all the revised recommendations and where necessary statutory notices will be issued and further consultation held.
What was the outcome of the review?
A summary of the responses to each recommendation and the further action agreed is detailed below:
(i) Develop a more seamless continuum of support for pupils with behaviour, emotional and social difficulties (BESD) to include the PRU, Grappenhall Hall, Bridgewater Trust, Five Boroughs Trust, designated provision, Behaviour Support Team and Sandy Lane/CDC and staff within the local authority.
There was strong support for this proposal from all parties with a recognition of the need to improve partnership working. A small working group has been set up to action this.
(ii) Redesignate Grappenhall Hall as a co-educational school and to reduce the number of funded places to 64.
A small number of children expressed some reservations about mixing boys and girls together but overall this was well supported. Statutory notices will be published with a view to changing to co-ed from September 2012.
(iii) Close the BESD provision at Lysander High School.
This was agreed but provision will be made to support pupils already in the BESD provision to continue at Lysander should this be the wish of parents.
(iv) Support the proposal for re-designation of Green Lane Special School to a 4–19 school with entry criteria to the 16-19 provision to support those with ASD and pupils following the vulnerable groups’ pathway in Key Stage 4.
Strong support for this but some parents wanted to go further and guarantee all Green Lane pupils a place in the post 16 centre. A statutory notice will be published in March.
(iv) Support the development of a combined Fox Wood/Green Lane post 16 centre on Woolston High School site with specialist facilities. The centre could also facilitate post 16 ASD and complex needs provision
This proposal attracted overwhelming support with parents grateful that the Local Authority had continued to pursue this opportunity even after BSF funding was withdrawn. A further development was that the feasibility study identified sufficient funding to co locate Green Lane and Fox Wood in their entirety on the site. Statutory notices will be published. A further consequence of this is that it is now proposed to relocate Grappenhall hall Special School on the Green Lane site. A period of statutory consultation will be held on this proposal.
(v) Explore the development of specialist ASD provision which includes some residential provision.
There was support for this proposal.
(vi) Link each designated provision with a special school so that pupils are on the roll of the special school. Special schools to be commissioned to coordinate the provision.
There were concerns expressed about this proposal especially about accountability. A group has been set up to develop proposals to implement this addressing the practical difficulties raised.
(viii) Ensure, where possible, schools with Designated Provision have two such provisions with are based on different age ranges of children in order to foster better transition for the pupils.
(ix) Develop Year 5/6 BESD provision at Grappenhall Hall Special School with in particular an 8 place designated provision.
(x) Develop a Key Stage 2 ASD Designated Provision with eight places available.
(xi) Increase secondary ASD provision to 4x8 place or equivalent if current provision cannot be expanded
(xii) Develop an additional Key Stage 2, 10 place Designated Provision for Cognition and Learning.
(xiii) Develop an additional 12 place Cognition and Learning provision at a secondary school.
There was overwhelming support for all these proposals around designated provision. Discussions have been initiated with schools to identify the most appropriate schools to host the new provisions. Once these have been agreed statutory notices will be published.
(xiv) Develop service specifications and contracts with schools hosting designated provision.
A group has started work to develop these.
Related documents:
Frequently asked questions SEN_REVIEW_FAQs.pdf