Agenda item

Action 1 had been completed and could be removed from the list of actions arising from previous meetings.

Jane Seymour provided a verbal update regarding action 2:

Actions undertaken by other Local Authorities to reduce their spending on High Needs: Jane Seymour advised that she had spoken to two other authorities, each predicting a £2m overspend in their High Needs Blocks. Their overspends were for similar reasons to West Berkshire, including increased use of Thames Valley Free School and increasing placements in special schools. They were looking at reducing their spending on special schools and resourced units. One authority had made a 1.5% reduction to schools funding and transferred the headroom from the Schools Block to the High Needs Block. The other local authority had also moved its underspend in the Schools Block to support the High Needs Block.

Peter Hudson enquired whether there was any national or regional body of High Needs providers which could be pressurised to reduce their charges. Jane Seymour confirmed that there was a National Association of non Maintained Special Schools.

John Tyzack asked how many other local authorities had been approached; Jane responded that five had been contacted and two responded.

Reverend Mark Bennett questioned what options there were for joint working with these other local authorities to reduce the costs of out of area placements in the medium term. Jane Seymour advised that a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment would be undertaken with the other authorities to examine opportunities to work together, in particular looking at post 19 provision. She further explained that there was a pan-Berkshire commissioning group which might be able to look at achieving economies of scale with therapy services.

Buy in rate for CALT service: Jane Seymour advised that 59 schools buy the full ‘Plus’ service and six schools used a ‘pay as you go’ option. This was 71% of schools in West Berkshire.

Breakdown of entry points at which placements into special schools is most prevalent: Jane advised that the pressure points in order of prevalence were as follows:

• Top primary/ low secondary
• Foundation stages 1 and 2 (children who never went into mainstream provision)
• Year 9 (usually due to emotional and behavioural difficulties)

Potential financial impacts of risks associated with savings options: Jane advised that the report for agenda item 8 included this information.

Options to reduce savings on non West Berkshire Special Schools: Jane reported that she was pleased to announce that reduced fees had been negotiated.