Issue - meetings

Report ED15082

The Portfolio Holder introduced a report seeking approval for the release of Government funding held in the 2014/15 central contingency to support the Local Authority in implementing special educational needs reforms in relation to the SEND Pathfinder which had been developed in partnership with London Borough of Bexley to test areas within the Children and Families Act 2014.  The Children and Families Act 2014 aimed to deliver a more holistic approach to special educational needs and disability for children and young people in England, and as part of its introduction, the Bromley and Bexley SEND Pathfinder had been asked to test the development and application of Education, Health and Care Plans for children and young people with complex needs from birth to 25 years, as well as areas including development of personal budgets, banded funding and preparing for adulthood (transition).

The SEND Implementation (New Burdens) Grant comprised £259,316 and had been provided by the Government to implement the wide ranging statutory reforms of the Children and Families Act 2014, which required statutory compliance from September 2014, and the transfer of Statements of Special Educational Needs and Learning Difficulty Assessments to Education, Health and Care Plans during the transition timeframe.  The Bromley Pathfinder Champion Grant had been allocated to Bromley for Pathfinder Champion work undertaken with the London Boroughs of Bexley and Enfield.  A total of £71,063 of the ring-fenced funding was requested to support the implementation of the new Special Educational Needs and Disability reforms in 15 non-Pathfinder London Boroughs designated as London Region 1.

RESOLVED that the Council’s Executive be recommended to:

1)  Approve the drawdown of £151,960 funding from the Council’s central contingency for the 2014/15 SEND Implementation Grant, with the remaining £107,357 ring-fenced for drawdown in 2015/16; and,

2)  Approve the drawdown of £71,063 funding from the Council’s central contingency for the 2014/15 SEN Pathfinder Champion grant.