ANNEX

Executive – 26 November 2002 
Special Educational Needs – Scrutiny Review
Matters referred to Acting Chief Education Officer

(1)	investigate ways in which Nursery/Early Years providers could work better to identify SEN at an early stage in the maintained and non-maintained sectors; and ensure that a new improved action plan was completed, as scheduled, by April 2003;
(2)	achieve or better the timescale targets contained within the SEN Development Plan; and improve continuity in screening and assessing pupils at the transition between primary and secondary schools;
(3)	ensure that, as part of the reorganisation of the Department, measures were taken to achieve higher quality statement writing, and improve the content, style, and clarity of statements by strengthening the monitoring process;
(4)	clarify the funding arrangements for schools with regard to the first five hours of LSA time; and make proposals for the further delegation of funding for SEN to schools to be introduced in 2004; 
(5)	make proposals for the diversification from the currency of LSA hours and consider a wider range of resources for meeting assessed need; and to improve speech and language therapy if funding could be identified including improving links with the NHS for the purchase of such provision;
(6)	report back on the use and status of the resource matrix within three months;
(7)	report within six months on the functioning of the resource and assessment panels to include the role and responsibilities of the case officers;
(8)	provide a plan of action to improve communication, and establish standards for good communication which could be monitored as part of the development plan;
(9)	ensure that if there were particular court cases, judicial review or otherwise, involving the Oxfordshire Education Directorate, then such cases would be brought to the attention of the Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee;
(10)	produce a document clearly setting out the resource and assessment panels’ working composition and powers;
(11)	review the SEN Development Plan annually, and robustly monitor its implementation, with a report to Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee annually;
(12)	ensure that any measures to improve the service that resulted from the current investigation into closer working between Social Services, Health and Education, and from the reorganisation of the Education Directorate, were implemented as quickly as possible;
(13)	highlight the importance of training to all SENCOs and SEN Governors, and encourage them to take part in courses arranged for them whenever possible; and furthermore write to all headteachers clarifying the role of the SEN Governor;
(14)	investigate any potential problems with the SEN service in Abingdon and the south of the County;
(15)	report back on the financial and staff implications of the 3 budget options referred to in paragraph 105 of the Review report*.