Issue details

Councillor Carol Shelley (Opposition Group Spokesperson) responded:

I have a number of concerns

1. ‘Local Authority opened a bidding round for match funded projects in order to increase the overall level of investment in SEND provision, but also meet as wide a range of needs as possible.‘

Projects that do not have the resources to match fund are potentially missed opportunities. Each project could benefit from being looked at for its overall benefit, regardless of resource. Too much reliance on the schools/ providers to put forward project, no overall strategy across the town. Equity between schools/providers an issue.

Thorough Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the SEND Capital Investment Funding project, we have not received any feedback from any schools or settings that they have not able to match the 25% match funding. A report has been sent out to all schools giving them an insight of the projects that have been approved from low budget sensory rooms to bigger projects such as well-being centres. This will be fully investigated in the review of the project which is due to commence in September 2020.

2. The consultation did not reach enough users, especially parents, the quality of the consultation was poor overall and therefore could not inform decision making.

Local Authority officers tried to ensure that the Consultation reached as many different people as possible. The consultation was advertised on Schools on line, on the Local Offer page, emailed out to all schools and settings and advertised in the Governors Bulletin.

Local Authority officers also worked closely with the Swindon Family Voice to ensure as many parents were reached out to as possible. Officers attended various parent meetings, coffee mornings, training events offering parents support to complete the consultation either on line or paper form. Many parents responded by explaining that their children’s schools was aware of the consultation and that they were going to submit a response to the consultation.

A huge amount of work was done with STEP to ensure that young people alos participated in the consultation.

Additional measures will take place with future consultations to try to ensure a better response rate particularly from parents/carers.

3. ‘ The capital funding will allow investment and innovation within the mainstream sector and links to the SEND and inclusion Strategy where we have committed to the majority of children and young people with SEND attending mainstream settings.’

The allocation of money per school needs to be monitored, this process has not been identified.

All successful bids are monitored and a measurement of impact assessment will be completed. We will monitor and feedback on where the funds have been allocated whether it to a mainstream or other settings as part of the overall review which will commence in September 2020.

Having discussed these points with the Lead Member and the Local Authority officers I am happy to support this Decision Note.

Councillor Stan Pajak (Minority Group Leader) responded - I am happy to support the decision note.

Councillor Oliver Donachie (Minority Group Leader) – no comments received.