Agenda item

Jane Seymour introduced the report (Agenda Item 13), which aimed to inform the Schools’ Forum about the Delivering Better Value Programme (DBVP) and its initial findings. The report set out the process that had been gone through since about July 2023. The three modules of the DBVP were detailed under section 3.2 of the report. It was reported that the output of module three was an implementation plan that addressed the key priority areas.

Jane Seymour reported that modules one and two had taken up a large amount of time and it had not been possible to begin work on the implementation plan until these modules were completed and all the data compiled that needed to be pulled together. The window of time to pull together the implementation plan would be very tight and was currently underway. This could be shared with headteachers following the meeting and was yet to be approved by the DfE. Jane Seymour reported that they were trying to concentrate on change that was transformational and would change systems in the longer term so that a suitable positive could be reached. Jane Seymour detailed some of the areas that were being looked at as part of this.

Reverend Mark Bennet noted the report mentioned unit costs and wondered if these were per pupil or weighted for need. Jane Seymour reported that this was the weight pupil cost for children with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) at mainstream school, a maintained special school or out of area school. It analysed the unit cost of children across the board with EHCPs. Reverend Bennet commented that EHCPs could vary a lot between different children, even in similar settings, and the numbers were not going to be so great as to provide statistical validity. Jane Seymour confirmed there was a need weighing in the analysis but it was also about ensuring they were spending in the right places.

Chris Prosser referred to the work carried out as part of module one and two and queried if this would inform the SEND Strategy or if anything had changed within the Strategy as a result. AnnMarie Dodds confirmed that the SEND Strategy was not agreed and required further work. Evidence would be used to reshape the SEND Strategy and reshape a financial strategy through the DBVP. The final SEND Strategy would have to link to the evidence obtained through the DBVP and the financial recovery programme for SEND.

Jacquie Davies queried if the data on the number of EHCP learners in iCollege was being considered as part of the process and if outcomes for learners were being considered. Jane Seymour confirmed that children in iCollege had been considered, particularly places created for children with EHCPs, in that they were more cost effective and achieved better outcomes than the alternative independent and non-maintained sector. Regarding outcomes, there had been some limitations due to the speed in which the exercise had needed to be carried out however, case studies had looked at outcomes.

Catherine Bernie stated that there had been some dispute of the unit costs and the data represented. This was something that would need to be revisited in order to make sure the information accurately represented the picture being presented. Otherwise, it would be difficult to consider the DBVP in its true form.

RESOLVED that the Schools’ Forum noted the report.