Appendix 2
SEN Improvement Test
Ensuring the sufficiency of places in Bradford’s Primary Special Schools
The Local Authority offers a range of educational provision across the Bradford District including special schools, DSPs and mainstream schools.
These proposals will create special schools which form part of:
- A coherent geographical spread of provision across the District
- A dynamic network
- Flexible and responsive provision
The development of special school provision is based on the following principles:
- All children to be valued equally, regardless of their ability, behaviour, family circumstances, ethnic origin, gender and sexual orientation
- All children are to be provided with the best learning opportunities, environment and experience which maximises inclusion into mainstream classes
- All children are entitled to a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum which is differentiated to meet individual needs
- Children’s diverse special educational needs require a range of flexible and varied provision
There are a number of factors in determining the location and management of an annex:
- Geographical location to minimise travelling
- Current knowledge on existing pupil populations with additional learning needs
- The school must have a demonstrable commitment to the management of an annex including; staff, governors, pupils and parents
- The school must be prepared to take part in whole school training as well as support specific training for individuals and groups
- The school must be delivering high quality teaching and learning
- The leadership and management of the school must be good or better
- Availability of accommodation
Currently the authority maintains three primary generic special schools and three secondary generic special schools covering 3 areas of the District. This proposal set out to increase provision for this group of pupils by creating an additional 30 places for primary aged pupils with a range of special educational needs by September 2017.
The SEN Improvement Test
Any authority wishing to make changes to SEN provision must demonstrate that the proposals for new provision meet the requirement of the SEN improvement test. The required improvements are as follows:
- Improved access to education and associated services including the curriculum, wider school activities, facilities and equipment with reference to the local authority’s Accessibility Strategy
- Improved access to specialist staff, both education and other professionals, including external support and outreach services
- Improved access to suitable accommodation
- Improved supply of suitable places
- Confirmation from the school that they are willing to receive additional pupils with a range of special educational needs
- Confirmation of specific transport arrangements
- Confirmation of how the proposals will be funded and the planning for staffing arrangements that will be put in place
Improved access to education and associated services including the curriculum, wider school activities, facilities and equipment with reference to the local authority’s Accessibility Strategy
The overall aims of Bradford’s Accessibility Strategy and the way they will be met are as follows:
- Curriculum: Increasing the extent to which disabled pupils or prospective pupils can participate in the curriculum
- These proposals will deliver advantages and improvements for the children and young people transferring into the new annex provision as their access to the specialist facilities and support will be more easily facilitated within their local community
- Physicality: Improving the physical environment of schools to increase the extent to which disabled pupils can take advantage of education and associated services
- The annex will undergo a refurbishment programme which is focussed on improving access and inclusion for all pupils at the school
- There will be access to specialist health and therapy services
- Information: Improving the provision of information in a wide range of formats for disabled pupils
- The new annex will develop as a hub providing information for children, parents and professionals.
SEN Services will continue to meet the requirements of the Government’s inclusion agenda. It will ensure a continuum of provision for pupils with a range of special educational needs according to the needs of individual children and will take into account the provision specified in a child’s statement of special educational needs and the wishes of the parent.
Leadership and management will be provided by the school who ensure that all resources are used efficiently and effectively in supporting children and young people with a range of special educational needs. Partnership working with the special school network will ensure the development of a cohesive, district wide approach to training needs across the District and improve capacity.
The specialist provision will be delivered across 2 sites. Pupils will be on the roll of the special school. There will be a focus on maximising inclusion with other pupils in the school, but the development of a cohort of pupils with a range of special educational needs will ensure that pupils have access to a specific curriculum with their peers.
The school will offer individual timetables for pupils to learn specific skills and their will be regular opportunities to take part in learning outside classroom activities, specifically adapted for the pupils. The annex will be staffed by fully trained and qualified teaching staff and training teaching assistants with access to specialist support such as speech and language therapy.
The proposals will, therefore, lead to improved access to education and associated services including the curriculum and wider school activities while providing improved facilities and equipment.
Improved access to specialist staff, both education and other professionals, including external support and outreach services
Within the setting, the children and young people will enjoy the continued support of the full range of training and qualified specialist staff. They will also have access to trained teaching assistants and health and therapy service providers. Improved information routes and advice and support will be provided by the special school network and will enable improved partnership working with professionals from other provisions.
The children will be able to access the curriculum according to their needs and abilities where they will be taught by teachers and support staff. The staff will work in close co-operation and collaboration. Through economies of scale, the setting will also enable the pupils’ easier access to a wide range of professionals.
The proposals will, therefore, ensure that children and young people with a range of special educational needs will continue to have high quality support from the full range of trained specialist staff. Their access to fully qualified and experienced teachers, teaching assistants and other professionals will be improved. Their opportunities will be further enhanced as the specialist staff will work closely together.
Improved access to suitable accommodation
The specialist accommodation for pupils with a range of special educational needs, to be located at the Netherlands Avenuesite, will be fit for purpose.
Improved supply of suitable places
Bradford has a strategic commitment to the development of a range of provision. The purpose of this proposal is to move forward on delivering that commitment. Children and young people with a range of special educational needs, with statements of Special Educational Needs will have access to a range of educational offers, including local mainstream schools, mainstream school with access to specialist support and provision with access to mainstream as appropriate and special schools.
This proposal increases current provision by 30 places making up to330 primary generic special school places. These proposals will create a district wide structure of special schools that reduces the need for pupils to travel long distances across the city, will provide a distribution of provision for additional learning needs, will enable pupils to access a differentiated curriculum maximising the opportunities for inclusion, maintain a support network and target multi agency support.
Confirmation from the school that they are willing to receive additional pupils with a range of special educational needs
The development of the proposal has been undertaken in consultation and partnership with interested parties including Headteachers, staff, parents and the Governing Body of the school.
Preparations are now in place to consult widely on this proposal, following approval from the Director of Children’s Services.
Confirmation of specific transport arrangements
The current local authority Transport Policy for SEN and disabled children will apply.
Confirmation of how the proposals will be funded and the planning staffing arrangements put in place
All of the special schools will continue to be funded in accordance with the local determined funding formula for special educational needs pupils (Place Plus Model). Place funding will be delegated to the schools for an agreed number of additional places. Additional funding from the High Needs Block will be paid in accordance with individual pupil needs (within the established 7 range model). The revenue funding for all special schools is included in the allocation determined by the Schools Forum.
The school will be responsible for the appointment of suitably qualified staff to meet the individual needs of children placed in the provision.