Agenda item

1.45 pm

Report by the Head of Learner Engagement (ESC6).

Education Scrutiny Committee has requested an update on the Recommissioning of Alternative Provision for children and schools in Oxfordshire.  This follows the update provided to Education Scrutiny Committee on 1st February 2020 and papers provided to Schools Forum lastly on 17th June 2020 for information.

The Committee is RECOMMENED to consider and note the report.

Consideration was given to a report of by the Head of Learner Engagement which provided an update on the Recommissioning of Alternative Provision for children and schools in Oxfordshire.

Members were informed that since September 2019 there had been further discussions initiated to secure effective and affordable alternative provision through the Radcliffe Academy Trust at Meadowbrook College for the interim period to September 2021.

Members were informed that there had been extensive engagement with children, young people, parents and other interested parties. The commissioning attracted alternative providers.

The commissioning of alternative provision would help to deliver the vision in the Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) Learner Engagement Strategy to: 

•       Assess and manage the financial implications for the Local Authority in

meeting the increased and varied demand for alternative provision.

•       Ensure good quality, value for money alternative provision is in place so that OCC can meet its statutory responsibilities.

•       Robustly monitor providers to demonstrate improved outcomes for young people requiring alternative provision.

Discussion took place on greater funding required for SEND and how this would be difficult with future financial pressures.

The Head of Learner Engagement reported that more preventative work would take place with children to prevent exclusions.

The report provided details of the ways to mitigate the risk of fixed and permanent exclusions which included:

•         Clear outcomes that Alternative Provision should deliver;

•         Children and young people are safe and feel safe.

•         Improved emotional health and wellbeing including resilience.

•         Improved engagement in learning.

•         Successful pathway back to mainstream school or onto post-16 opportunities.

•         Progress in learning.

•         Improved social skills including friendships, relationships and involvement with the community.

Carole Thomson from the Schools Forum reported that the funding information relating to Radcliffe Academy Trust which had been submitted to the Forum had been incomplete. In addition, it should be noted that the funding came from the DfE and not from the Council.

Reference was made to the commissioning of services and whether the possibility of shared arrangements had been explored; schools working together in partnership. Members were informed that OCC were encouraging school leaders to collaborate.

The Committee noted that there was still a more work to do and that this needed to be managed effectively due to the financial implications. 

It was noted that from the consultation exercise, 53% of respondents had expressed dissatisfaction with Alternative Provision in Oxfordshire.

The first phase of the work had been concluded, and Oxfordshire County Council had developed a Service Specification with five ‘Lots’ for Alternative Provision for all key stages and all learners. Members were informed that some ‘Lots’ were more popular than others, but it was noted that OCC had not lost the need for physical provision.

Members were informed that ‘Lots’ had been created based on the needs of children and parents. New or existing Alternative Providers had to apply for any of these lots by joining a dynamic purchasing system (DPS), which enabled the Council to purchase Alternative Provision from quality assured providers using a standard contract and a standard individual placement agreement. 

The Head of Learner Engagement reported that the therapeutic and virtual ‘Lots’ had been the most popular, with the “Face to Face”, ‘Lots’, less popular, due to the scarcity of buildings.

It was agreed that a meeting take place between the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Councillor Turnbull and the directorate to determine when the item would come back to the Committee.