Sustaining Inclusion Working Together Improving The Balance Chris Atkinson, Assistant Director, Children with Complex Needs

Aims “they are all our children” We want to promote inclusion positively alongside our other equal opportunities work to protect and champion our vulnerable children Collaborative approach and shared responsibility. We want to develop the strategic partnership and leadership across the system. We want to develop shared understanding of the complex factors impacting on this

Context - reminder Increase in exclusions and children out of school alongside a large and growing demand for special school and alternative provision - Schools/ Heads/ Governors under pressure - Ofsted - limited options for mainstream schools Values and ethos -fair shares, parents feedback, regulations in academies High Needs Funding model not sustainable -costs for special schools, resource bases, top up in mainstream, alternative provision including Free Schools, 16+

What we have been doing to develop shared understanding Presentations and Dialogue -School Forum -Primary HTs Forum -Secondary HTs Forum -Special HTs Forum -HT Briefings -SENCo Networks -SENCo Action Leaders -School visits Working Group of Systems Leaders -HTs, SENCos & LA. Planning, testing out ideas, shaping proposals BEP HT Meetings Working with schools to identify & pilot good practice Reports to Council Scrutiny Feasibility Study re devolving funding

Exclusions - Current Situation Exclusions continuing to rise in Autumn 2015 Exclusions higher than other LAs Birmingham 0.12% of population, England 0.06% Statistical neighbours 0.07% Increase in exclusions greater than birth rate rise 2% increase in school population from 13/14 to 14/15 academic year but 26% increase in permanent exclusions from 225 up to 285 Permanent Exclusions Total Perm Excl (Autumn Term 15-16) Total Perm Excl (Autumn Term Primary4037 Secondary8264 Special61 From other LAs1816 Total

Special School Places Increasing and rising demand

Immediate Pressures Funding Cross-Phase short term focused programme at co-located special school Funding short term focused programme at Primary for those on waiting list for COBS Permanent Exclusion Management Group Buying extra places each term at COBS and special schools with space Other suggestions Expand COBS for 2016/17 until other measures impact Review numbers & costs of Alternative Provision in Yr 10 to release places in COBS and link to Routes to Employment Robust use of Fair Access Protocol and reintegration approaches Avoid all exclusions of pupils with SEN statements/ EHC Plans/CIC Recoupment of funding from schools for excluded pupil Working with BEP re SEMH audits and support for vulnerable schools Work with Police to prevent weapon related exclusion Exceptional Needs funding for pupils in mainstream waiting for special school places Building extra capacity/spaces in special schools

 Specialist services  PRU  Special schools  Independent special schools  Alternative provision  EHC Pathway  Individual schools budgets  Pupil premium Increase in exclusion and requests for EHC Plans Increase in Council High Needs spend Schools develop robust SEN Support offer and local solutions. Flexibility in placements. Devolve High Needs funding to schools Schools Dedicated Schools Grant High Needs A partnership approach to funding

Feedback about how we increase inclusion Regular debate across schools including fairness of distribution of children Behaviour mentors as well as learning mentors for pupils Lead ASC champion (e.g. HLTA) in school to help with ideas and strategies Development of behaviour curriculum (SEAL) Safe room/ pop up tents to create safe space and de escalate Honest, clear picture before the child starts Development of what quality nurture provision looks like for schools, increased access for pupils to nurture groups Pupils with ASC respond well to small structured and direct methods of teaching Star charts unpick triggers and allows staff to see where problems are Programmes for pupils such as anger management, conflict management Mini resource bases within school/behaviour hubs Greater engagement with parents – Triple P, person centred reviews Training for school staff – focus on behaviours that challenge Partnerships e.g. Health/Forward Thinking & EPs to access specialist services Schools supporting each other and sharing good practice

Complex factors impacting on this Themes Limited Provision at EYs & Primary Emotional wellbeing of children causing particular concern. Information about resources not widely known e.g. Think Family. How can schools, with BEP be part of self improving system? Limited capacity for additional targeted support in Early Years and at school/cluster level. Should a greater proportion of the budget be directed at school/cluster-based intervention? Early Years funding differs from school funding re notional SEN. How can EYs settings and schools develop a robust SEN support offer?

Complex factors impacting on this Themes Fairness & Transparency A relatively small number of secondary schools are ‘high users’ of specialist and alternative provision. Significant differences between network ‘spends’. Can this be explained by differences in the effectiveness of school systems and approaches? Difference in unit cost between AP and specialist provision (£12k vs £24k average respectively) Is there a clear difference between levels of need between the AP and specialist provision sectors that justifies this?

Feedback from schools re Cost Effective Good Practice Exemplars Autism Education Trust - more information via Local Offer website mycareinbirmingham.co.uk or google AET Counselling services available within school using notional SEN budget e.g. Place to Be, play therapists from Big Community Alternative curriculum in afternoon rather than reduced timetable “Our Place” mentoring for parents PATHs parent workshops Training from COBS in key hot spots Sharing Panels What have we learned from Audit re the notional SEN budget?

Modelling and Pilots Collaborative Project 4 from Link Project+ 2 Primary Schools in Ladywood Schools Link Project 20 schools across city Vulnerable Pupils Project Virtual School for CIC INCLUDING TO SUCCEED Collaborative Project 5 from link project +4 Secondary Schools in Oaks Collegiate NHS/DfE Training Pivotal Education Training NHS/DfE Training Emotional well-being audit by EPS Reintegration into learning programmes with COBS Primary Mental Health Worker Social, Emotional and Mental Health Well- Being Curriculum Offer Evaluation by DfE Training for carers LACES/COBS support for mental health Evaluation by DfE Primary Mental Health Worker if in Links Project Primary Mental Health Worker Place2Be 1 Primary in Erdington

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