Meeting documents

Return to Agenda

ITEM CH5

CHILDREN’S SERVICES SCRUTINY COMMITTEE - 13 DECEMBER 2005

INVESTIGATION INTO PROPOSALS TO DELEGATE THE STATEMENTING BUDGET TO SCHOOLS

Key lines of enquiry:

a)

• What are the benefits / drawbacks of delegating the statementing budget?
• What are the implications for children with a learning disability of the proposals to delegate the SEN statementing budget to schools?
• What are the key budget pressures in this area?
• Concern about construction and use of SEN Index.
• What was the outcome of the consultation and how many schools responded?

b)

• How will smaller schools or schools with smaller statementing budgets be helped?
• How will parents be able to assess whether their children’s needs are being met without a statement?
• Have any 'domino effects' of delegation been identified?
• How much is the 'contingency fund'? how would this be delegated to schools?
• What are the expected effects on post-16 education provision?

c)

• What risks have you identified in this area?
• What are the successes or difficulties in this area?
• How will legal issues such as tribunals be handled?
• How will a standard of provision be maintained and monitored across the county?

d)

• What comparisons have been made with authorities who have already delegated their statementing budget? what can be learnt from them?
• Why do you think that the delegation of the statementing budget in other local authorities led to a reduction in statements?
• What do you think 'best practice' would look like?

e)

• What views does your organisation have regarding these proposals?
• Do you feel that the consultation on these proposals has led to a useful open discussion of the issues?

Return to TOP