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ITEM EX9

EXECUTIVE – 18 FEBRUARY 2003

THE NATURE AND USE OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS RESOURCES MATRIX

Report by the Acting Chief Education Officer

Background

  1. This report was requested by the Executive on 26 November 2002 as one of the actions resulting from consideration of the Scrutiny Review report on Special Educational Needs (SEN). Concern had been expressed about the use of a Resources Matrix in decision making on SEN provision. The report describes the assessment and resourcing process and explains the use of the matrix.

    2. Introduction

  2. The great majority of children with SEN are in mainstream schools and have their needs met using resources provided through the school’s delegated budget. Schools are differentially funded to take account of the variation between them in the level of needs of their pupils.

  3. However, for a small number of children (a little more than 1% of the mainstream school population), their needs are considered to require resources that are beyond those normally available to the school. These children are assessed (a statutory assessment process) and their needs, together with the provision required to meet those needs, are set out in formal Statements of SEN. Additional funding is made available to the school to meet this higher level of need.

  4. In each case a named officer has responsibility for ensuring that a statutory assessment is carried out in a timely and appropriate fashion in accordance with legislation and the SEN Code of Practice. The officer receives reports and representations from the child’s parents, school and other professionals who work with the child.

    5. Reaching a Decision

  5. Having considered all the reports the officer must set out in a proposed Statement of SEN each of the child’s needs and the provision and resources required to meet them. Each child must be treated as an individual and each report considered. Because reports flow from hundreds of professionals and are considered by 16 officers there is, inevitably, a risk that practice may vary across the County. In Oxfordshire, as in many LEAs, a panel vets initial recommendations. This addresses the need for consistency, ensures that Statements are of an acceptable quality and that there is regard for the effective use of the County Council’s resources.

  6. Two senior officers, who have extensive experience of writing Statements, take it in turn to chair the weekly panel but share the task in the third week to ensure consistency of judgements. The rest of the panel typically comprises a senior educational psychologist, an education officer involved in SEN and a headteacher.

    7. The Resources Matrix

  7. To assist them in their task of ensuring consistency of practice in resourcing, officers drafted a matrix of need and provision (Annex 1) (download as .doc file) based on similar documents used in other LEAs. The matrix attempts to describe the nature of the arrangements and provision that are likely to be appropriate for a range of children’s needs. The resources that might be required to make that provision are also set out within the matrix. Officers are clear that each child’s needs MUST be considered individually.

  8. Because provision and resources are matched to need on a case-by-case basis, in practice there is seldom reference to the matrix. Nevertheless, the matrix does provide a useful reference point from time to time. However, there are no precedents and it is never regarded as a fixed set of rules.

  9. The document has remained in draft form because of its infrequent use and because some elements have never been formally adopted, eg the Bands A to G terminology.

    10. Legal Advice

  10. The Solicitor to the Council advises that the document and reference to it is not contrary to the law. However, he has advised that a note explaining the nature and standing of the document and giving guidance as to its use should be added to it. A copy is attached as Annex 2. If the Executive agrees, it is proposed that such a note will be added to the matrix which should also be modified, for example, to take account of terminology adopted in response to the new SEN Code of Practice. The revised matrix and explanatory note should then be made available to headteachers, SENCos, parents and other interested persons.

    11. RECOMMENDATIONS

  11. The Executive is RECOMMENDED to endorse the Matrix at Annex 1 to the report for use as guide to determining SEN provision subject to:

    1. such minor amendments as may appear to the officers to be necessary, including amendments to take account of terminology adopted in response to the new SEN Code of Practice;

    2. inclusion of an explanatory note based on the Advice Note by the Solicitor to the Council at Annex 2 to the report;

    3. compliance with the advice of the Solicitor to the Council in applying the Matrix in individual cases;

    4. the Matrix being made available to staff who may be directly concerned, including Headteachers, and to parents and any other interested persons.

ROY SMITH
Acting Chief Education Officer

Background Papers: Nil

Contact Officer: Simon Adams, Senior Education Officer (SEN) Tel: 01865 810602

February 2003

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