Memorandum submitted by Trevor Daniels, Head of SEN, South Gloucestershire Council

 

 

In seeking a solution to this perceived problem the Committee must bear in mind that the organisation of the funding of maintained schools changed markedly in April 2006. Schools Forums have far more influence and the separation of the former Education Budget into the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for pupils/schools and "Council" funding for specific prescribed purposes. The only "Council" funding for SEN is transport to school.

 

It can be argued that if the transport for SEN pupils is also put in the DSG then there could be complete separation of the funding for SEN provision from the assessment function. Assessment would stay with the LA and the funding could be managed strategically by schools through the Schools Forum. Groups of schools (families, clusters, localities) could then manage a budget share for the smaller number of pupils that would still need an individual assessment by the LA in the future. Schools would then have an immediate incentive to provide good quality SEN provision locally so that funding was not diverted to expensive out of area placements unless they were specifically needed to meet very severe and complex needs.

 

In summary as the funding for all placements is in the Dedicated Schools Grant now it would not take much to add transport to that. Schools collectively through the Schools Forum with localities, or clusters of schools could be part of the separation of funding from the assessment function. That function would remain with the LA for those pupils who still need that process.

 

The Committee seems to have invited views on how assessment can be undertaken without taking into account the fact that the structure of funding has recently changed with the creation of the Dedicated Schools Grant.

Submissions to the Committee for its inquiry into SEN published in July 2006 would not have taken these changes into account.

 

Conclusion

 

The Select Committee would be wise to look at the structure of schools funding and work from that.

 

June 2007