Agenda item

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Director for Families and Communities

 Forum had requested regular updates on the latest position of the High Needs Block including the impact of the additional DfE funding of £1.7m in 2019/20 and the transfer of £2.4m (0.5%) from the Schools Block to the High Needs Block.

Members were informed that the forecast outturn for the 2019/20 High Needs Block was a £2.54m overspend.  The table below illustrates the effect of the High Needs Block on the overall DSG balances:

The outcome of the Local Area SEND Inspection had resulted in the requirement to produce a written statement of action.  Forum had agreed that the written statement of action should inform any further savings within the High Needs Block.  In order to stabilise the SEND workforce and enable the SEND system to respond effectively to the Local Area Written Statement of Action the local Authority was making an in-year investment of £262k.  This was made up of an investment of £162K for additional SEND key workers and an in-year sum of £100k to commission additional capacity to update and amend current Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), and to provide support to produce additional EHCPs and to manage current demand.

Members were informed that the additional contribution of £1.7m and the transfer of £2.4m had led to a budget for the High Needs Block in 2019/20 of £79m.  This included £28m for planned places allocated to schools.  Members requested a breakdown of the figure of £28m from the County Commissioner for School Quality Assurance and Intervention.  The main areas of forecast overspend within the High Needs Block in 2019/20 are outlined in the table below:

Owing to the significant increase in demand for EHCPs, within the County Council the current minimum caseload was 364 cases per full-time equivalent (FTE) SEND keyworker.  The current DfE recommendation was 200 cases per FTE.  Therefore, an additional SEND keyworker capacity was required to bring caseloads to around 200 and stabilise the workforce and their workflow.  Members were informed that there was a 20-week statutory timeframe to complete an EHC planning process.  This was a key national indicator.  Within the County Council the increased workload had meant a significant decline in performance, which was currently at 30% compared with 64% during 2018.  The recruitment of Educational Psychologists was a major issue nationally and the County Council currently had six vacancies.  Officer confirmed that that the Authority was using the services of an Educational Psychology Company to assist with statutory assessments.  It was also queried whether the Authority was working with training providers to increase the supply of Educational Psychologists.  It was confirmed that Year 2 and Year 3 students were completing their training as well as supporting the service.  It was suggested that as Universities were self-governing it would be helpful to have a dialogue with them about this issue and encourage them to take steps to address the situation.  Officers confirmed that consideration was also being given to the opportunities which could be made available via the route of apprenticeships.  A member commented that it would be helpful to have the support of Educational Psychologists at the SEND Hubs.  This was part of the development of the SEND Hubs but capacity could be a challenge.

A member asked that if the 0.5% transfer was going to be requested again that schools should be given early notification.  Officers responded that this was not thought to be an option as approval would not be given for this for a second year by the Secretary of State.

RESOLVED – That:

a)    The update to the High Needs Block be noted; and

b)    The additional in-year investment of £264k by the Local Authority to stabilise the SEND workforce and enable the SEND system to respond effectively to the Local Area Written Statement of Action be noted.