1

SEN Governors Meetings

Jackie Hibbert, Senior School Development Adviser, Vulnerable Groups

David Herd, School Development Adviser, SEN and Inclusion Charlie Palmer, Head of Specialist Education Services

Autumn 2010

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Contents

• SEN Strategy and Funding work in Leicestershire

• SEN Jargon• National SEN Green Paper Consultation• Single Equalities Act• Ofsted Inspection Framework• Closing the Gap• Leicestershire SEN Website• Inclusion Development Programme • Structured Conversation Training• Discussion Time

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SEN Governors Mtg Oct 10: Summary

1. SEN Strategy and Funding work in LeicestershireProposals being discussed with headteachers to deal with the rising SEN budget issues. Costs for out county placements, enhanced

packages and special school places have all risen unsustainably quickly. The biggest change under discussion is to ask schools to contribute to the costs of enhanced packages, and create additional intensive behaviour support capacity.

2. SEN JargonHelp us keep our list of jargon up to date!

3. National SEN Green Paper ConsultationThe government has launched a consultation on SEN to inform a Green Paper due in January 2010. The consultation closes on

October 15th

4. Single Equalities ActGuidance on the new act is available from the Equalities and Human Rights Commission

5. Closing the GapInformation about the attainment gap between children and young people with and without special educational needs.

6. Ofsted Inspection FrameworkInformation about how the OFSTED school inspection framework may be simplified for 2011-12 and current inspection outcomes.

7. Leicestershire SEN WebsiteLinks to local SEN Team materials to support schools with planning for SEN.

8. Inclusion Development Programme Update on training available through the Inclusion Development Programme- a national programme

9. Structured Conversation TrainingThis training is proving to be very successful in pilot schools around the country. It is about having those difficult conversations with

parents

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SEN Governors Mtg May 10: Summary

1. Monitoring Special Educational NeedsGood to Great for SEN Sessions May each year for head, SENCo and SEN Governor on self evaluation and future planning.

2. SEN Strategy and FundingPresssure on Enhanced Packages and Out County placment budgets needs strategy work with heads.

3. Jargon busterDoes the jargon around Special Needs annoy you- add to the list!

4. Progression GuidanceOnline data sets are being updated with 2008 and 2009 data:http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/node/190123

5. Breaking the Link PublicationA new DCSF publication “Breaking the Link between Special Educational Needs and Low Attainment – Everyone’s Business”: http://publications.dcsf.gov.uk/default.aspx?PageFunction=productdetails&PageMode=publications&ProductId=DCSF-00213-2010

5. Inclusion Development ProgrammeModule 3 (BESD) now released and is available online at:http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/node/256938 (online e-learning)

5. Disability Equality SchemesOn-line self-evaluation checklist to ensure you comply with requirementshttp://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/node/243949

5. Achievement for All Pilot in 10 authorities in the country (one in each region), aimed at improving progress of pupils with SEN and increasing parental

confidence. Nottinghamshire is the East Midlands lead.

6. P-scalesQualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) have been developing additional materials to support the assessment of P Scales

1. New SENCOsIf you have a new Special Educational Needs Co-ordiantor (SENCo), please make sure that you inform the SEN advisory team (via

Hazel Kursa, 0116 3056383). This will ensure they are contacted re induction and training and receive support from a Lead SENCo or a team member.

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SEN Governors Mtg Oct 09: Summary

1. New Ofsted judgement on “The quality of learning for pupils with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities and their Progress.”Information on the new OFSTED framework for schools.

2. National Progression GuidanceNew national guidance on pupils working at below test levels.

3. Revision of Disability Equality Scheme (Secondary Schools)Three yearly revision- guidance: http://www.leics.gov.uk/index/education/support_for_schools/sips/aandi-supportteams/sips_sen/sen_team_guidance/sips_sen_disability_equality_scheme.htm

4. SENCo RegulationsNew statutory requirements: SENCOs must be teachers and have a voice on school leadership team

5. Inclusion Development Programme (IDP) National training programme on Dyslexia, Speech and Language, Autism and Behaviour

6. SEN briefings for schools 25th and 26th January briefings on SEN Issues for Heads and SENCOs

7. Designated Teachers for Children in CareGuidance: http://www.leics.gov.uk/looked_after_children-6.doc

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SEN Strategy and Funding

• There has been very significant growth in:• Numbers of enhanced packages (EPs)• Numbers of children in Leics special schools• Number of children in out county special schools

• We are placing children in special provision at the national average- we are not an average LA

• Our special schools are too full- increase at lower level of difficulty

• Budgets are growing by £3,380,000 for out county special placements and Enhanced Packages next year- 30%- trend is to double in three years

• We need a sustainable long term strategy- to be developed with heads (June 16th) and then discussed with Schools Forum

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Draft Proposals

• Enhanced Packages– School contributions to enhanced packages equivalent to the cost of a full time LSA, with

protection for schools in financial difficulty.• Locality Working:

– The development of local infrastructures in each locality (South Leics, Melton, Charnwood, Hinckley, North West Leics) to manage the devolvement of the out county budget oversee the development of provision.

• Specialist Provision– Expansion of small scale specialist provision for BESD, MLSD and ASD on mainstream

school sites with the support of local area special schools, in each locality, within a county plan, using funds devolved to the area.

• Use of Support Services– Service level agreements between support services and localities and strategic planning of

support service capacity with localities.• Placement Criteria

– Revision of placement criteria and moderation role for localities with respect to referrals for statutory assessment

• Intensive Behaviour Support– Use the funds released from enhanced packages to create an Intensive behaviour support

capacity to support: re-integration packages from the PRU to mainstream school; children with enhanced packages for BESD in mainstream; and managed moves.

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SEN Jargon

• Structured programme• Small Step• CVC (Consonant- Vowel- Consonant)• Fine Motor• Gross Motor• Receptive and Expressive Language• Target, objective, aim• School Action, Action Plus• Statutory Assessment• Statementing• Statemented• SEN

Learning Difficulty• BESD• Dyspraxia• SPA• P-levels• SENCo• SENA

• MLD, SLD, PMLD, SpLD, PD• ADHD, SALT, SLCN• ASD• Autism• Dyslexia• Phonological Skills• Phonics• IEP• IDP• National Curriculum Levels of

Attainment• AfA• Children in Care/ Looked after

Children• DCSF, DfE• ECM, CAF, Triage• EMASS+ TES= EMTAS• Educational Psychology Service• MAF, TAF and CAF• AAC

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SEN Green Paper Consultation

• Are the SEN and Disability statutory frameworks helping children to get what they need?

• How can we identify needs earlier?

• How can the assessment processes be improved?

• How can we ensure all schools have high expectations?

• How can parental choice be improved?

• How can we improve the transition from child to adult services?

• Examples of what is working well.

• Development of Legislative Proposals by Government:– Green Paper consults on

issues– White Paper consults on

proposals– Bill considered by Parliament– When passed, becomes an

Act

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The Single Equalities Act

• The new equalities legislation came into force at the beginning of October. The equalities and human rights commission have produced a helpful website which has a schools’ section.

http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/advice-and-guidance/equality-act-guidance-for-education-providers-schools/

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The Single Equalities Act cont.

• The site is divided into the following sections (links below) which give useful explanation and examples on how the legislation applies to schools.

• Introduction• Key concepts• Admissions• Providing education and access to any benefit,

service or facility• Exclusion from school• Dispute resolution and enforcement• Schools providing further education

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The Single Equalities Act

Secondary Schools should have revised their Disability Equality Schemes by last December. Primary Schools and Special Schools need to revise their Disability Equality Schemes by December 2010.

Schools can combine all Equality Schemes into one document, or keep them separate.

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The National Picture at Key Stage Two

Percentage L4+ in English and maths for pupils at end of KS2

33.533.63128.3

84.484.682.781.6

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

2006 2007 2008 2009

SEN

Non SEN

50.9%53.3%

Closing the Attainment gap

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KS2 Leicestershire – the gap widens slightly

29.9

83.1

29.4

83.9

29.2

84.4

0

1020

3040

5060

7080

90

SEN Non-SEN

SEN Non-SEN

SEN Non-SEN

2006/7 2007/8 2008/9

53.2%

55.2%

Closing the Attainment gap

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Attainment Gap at KS4 – National Picture

NI105 KS4 SEN/Non SEN Gap ( 5A*-C inc E&M)

8.6 9.4 11.7 14.5

51.9 53.9 5761

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

2006 2007 2008 2009

SEN

Non SEN46.5%

43.3%

Closing the Attainment gap

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KS4 Leicestershire gap ever so slightly closed.

7.9

55.5

11.2

58.9

12.6

59.8

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

SEN Non-SEN

SEN Non-SEN

SEN Non-SEN

2006/7 2007/8 2008/9

47.6%

47.2%

Closing the Attainment gap

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Growth in SEN numbers in KS3/4 – National picture

Students at School Action at the end of KS4 in January 2009 and their earlier SEN identification

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

January

Per

cen

tag

e o

f st

ud

ents

No identified SEN

School Action

School Action Plus

Statement/Unclassified

Closing the Attainment gap

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The Ofsted Inspection Framework

• The schedule will be slimmed down – probable implementation 2011/12

• Key Areas: Achievement; Teaching and Assessment; Leadership and Management; Behaviour and Safeguarding.

• Key Purpose: To raise standards

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Ofsted and pupils with SEND

• All inspectors have had recent training on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

• Schools might like to use the evaluation tools/booklets on the Leicestershire Website (guidance section)

www.leics.gov.uk/sips_sen

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A smaller than average school. Pupils are mainly of White British heritage; Very few are eligible for free school meals, Attainment on entry is around average. The school’s data and therefore RAISEonline indicates that the proportion of pupils with SEN is high - much higher than average.

This is something Ofsted explored during the school’s inspection. The school went into Special Measures.

An Ofsted perspective

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There is a lack of clarity in the school about the identification of children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities (LDD).

Some of the pupils on the school’s SEN list are those who have learning difficulties but some are those who are underachieving for other reasons, for example because teaching has not met their needs.

The result of this lack of clarity is that neither provision in lessons nor additional interventions are closely enough matched to the needs of pupils who do have a learning difficulty or those who are underachieving.

Paragraph from special measures monitoring letter

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Paragraph from special measures monitoring letter

The targets which have been set for these pupils’ progress are generally too low and staff’s expectations are correspondingly low.

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Leicestershire SEN Team Website

www.leics.gov.uk/sips_sen (note underscore)

• Resources free for school use re SEN & Disabilities

• Guidance and support section contains following:

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Leicestershire SEN Team Website

• Assessment (including revised P scales)• Case Study Proforma• Disability Equality Schemes• Identification Process Initial Guidance• Inclusion Development Programme• Leadership and Management of SEN• Outreach Support• Pastoral Support Programmes• Progression Materials• Provision Mapping and Management• Pupil and Parent Participation• SEN Acronyms (Word doc, 36KB)• SEN Record and PLASC Guidance (Excel spreadsheet, 40kb)• SEN Self Evaluation• SENCOnet Meetings• The Annual Review Process• The IEP Process• Transition Planning Guidance and Form• Teaching Resources and Strategies• Working with the SEN Governor (Word doc, 117kb)

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Inclusion Development Programme

• First 2 modules – SLCN/Dyslexia and Supporting pupils on the Autism Spectrum.

• DVDs/booklets in schools.

• All materials on the website.

• SLCN/Dyslexia resources being updated and made available.

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Inclusion Development Programme

• Third training module – Behaviour, Emotional and Social Difficulties (BESD) is now available.

• 163 schools are attending a county roll out of the materials.

• Not about day to day behaviour management – aimed to develop understanding of specific BESD, causes, management and support.

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Structured Conversation

• Strand of “Achievement for All”.

• Training for school staff on how to meet with parents of pupils with difficulties.

• Rave reviews from all schools and parents who have been involved in the pilot authorities.

• 163 schools are attending cascade training to have their own trainer.

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Discussion- notes