The Future Development of Access Responsibilities (Section 19) and Alternative Provision in Somerset

Review - The work of the Task and Finish Group The first meeting focused on the following agenda: Define the purpose of the task and finish group Establish the timeline for the review Provide background information on the need for a review Outline the potential impact of government legislation Identify local needs and gaps within Somerset Outline the statutory duties for PRUs Discuss options for doing things differently The focus of the second meeting was: Review the principles agreed by the first meeting Review the consultations provided by the area heads meetings and the online survey To begin to develop a strategic model for the ‘Compact’ leadership group on which to base future PRU development discussions There have been four meetings of the task and finish group.

Group sub-divided to look at more specific topics with co-opted members with expertise in specific related areas. Sub Group 1 Operational Activity Area/Cluster Structure (geography/Need) Leadership and management Budget allocation – making it work Governance Wider Strategic Activity Access arrangements, equitable share and area panels (Section 19 responsibilities) Key Stage 1 and Early Years support Linking BESD Strategy (Graduated response, school provision, PRU Provision, APC, Tone Education, Sky) Early intervention and in-reach out-reach models Partnership working Review - The work of the Task and Finish Group Consultations include: Online Consultation Primary Heads area meetings Individual 1:1 Students voice interviews Internal staff consultations PRU Heads of Centre Visits and information gathering Attendance/membership of National Forums

Timeline T&F Group - Friday 4 th Nov - Initial discussions regarding overarching Principles T&F Group - w/b 14 th Nov – consider all consultations received – work up documentation on the strategic vision Compact – 22 nd Nov – Report back to the Compact on agreed strategic approach Sub groups - meet to work on details with co-opted members (w/b 9 th Jan) Compact – 26 th Jan - Interim report presented to Compact Leadership Group – accept or reject proposals or elements of - Next Steps - development of detailed business plan Interim report published - on the Compact web with 2 nd Consultation document, round of Area Primary Heads, HOC, Internal Staff etc. Partnerships meeting arranged - 29 th Feb – CAMHS, Police, NHS, TYS External Review of Work – 7 th March - Rosemary Tong Option Appraisals - Options offering differing ways of achieving the model to go to Compact leadership Group - 6 th March

Review - Key Principles 1.To further explore the Hub and Satellite model. 2.To increase diversity, provision and capacity of the existing PRU network 3.To ensure that any service meets the needs of all vulnerable young people. 4.To further explore the integrated PRU model in its widest sense – Cross phase and function - in and out of school support that is personalised and flexible. Integration with mainstream and special schools and academies. 5.To further explore new opportunities for in-reach and out-reach work delivered by specialist staff including for example SEBBS, adolescent support workers, PFSA’s 6.To ensure out of school provision for KS2, 3, 4, LEC Medical Tuition and Virtual Classroom day 6 provision is available in all areas. 7.To develop Key stage 1 provision/ support in conjunction with other service reviews. 8.The ensure there is adequate opportunity for specialist PRS staff to work closer with schools in order to share good practice and learn from each other through joint professional development. 9.To clearly recognise the geographic needs and differences across Somerset in planning a new service delivery model. For example the impact of the rural context in West Somerset and Frome and the urban contexts of Yeovil and Bridgwater 10.To ensure that there is proactive early identification and response to support the needs of pupils before they are excluded; i.e. closer tracking of need within schools. 11.To ensure that any service needs to be able to identify outcomes for the pupils and understand their experiences.

Review - Outline Strategic proposal for a delivery model 1.To develop four integrated (cross phase and function) PRUs three of which would ‘support’ smaller, satellite provision in Frome, West Somerset and Chard Each of the four main PRU’s would exist as a school within its own right and be self managing, but work closely as a partner with defined clusters of schools, retaining the ability to offer provision and support outside the defined area. 2.Each PRU school would have a delegated budget, a newly formed statutory management committee body and a single management structure under a Headteacher. Partner members and agencies would take an active role in the governance of the school and the Headteacher would belong to the same professional bodies as other Heads. 3.The PRU school could ‘potentially’ act as both commissioner and provider through partnership working with schools and the voluntary and private sector. 4.Each PRU school could provide in-reach and out-reach programmes for schools within their cluster through the management and deployment of specialist support staff. Current projects for single site integrated PRUs in Mendip and South Somerset should continue and could be used to contribute to increasing capacity elsewhere in the County. However, the integrated PRUs could exist on single or multiple sites, but must retain the ability to support the more geographically remote parts of the county through the ‘active’ management or support of satellite provision. 5.Key Stage 1 support; SEN provision for pupils with statements and support for vulnerable learners within the integrated PRU schools need to be considered in close relation to other service reviews for these areas.

PRU Coverage KS4 Provision LEC Medical Tuition KS2/3 Provision and Outreach Funding for Nurture Groups/other AP Alternative Provision Centre (APC) a b c ‘Compact’ Commission /invest in Satellite ‘provision’ Increases capacity in the centre Develop four stand alone PRU Schools PRU schools can offer support/knowledge /outreach to satellites

Leadership and Governance This new framework for PRU schools would see the leadership and governance of these schools taking on aspects of the Education Act 1996 (Section 19) currently provided by the Local Authority Section 19 responsibilities for Local Authorities Include; Finding, funding and/or providing appropriate full time education for those permanently excluded from school. This could mean arranging transfers to another maintained school, providing places in a pupil referral unit, other specialist provision or through private providers. Providing appropriate full time education from day 6 of the permanent exclusion Ensuring robust access arrangements are in place including an agreed fair access protocol Making arrangements for school places for pupils deemed ‘hard to place’ out side of the normal admission arrangements within given statutory timeframes Ensuring appropriate education is in place for students with SEN awaiting the outcomes of statutory assessments Ensuring appropriate educational provision is available for pupils who are diagnosed as medically unfit to attend mainstream school This is an illustrative list only an is not intended to be fully comprehensive