Doncaster SEND Strategy 2022-2025 (v10)

Doncaster SEND Strategy

2022-2025

Version Number: v10

• Foreword 2
• Key Partners 3
• Introduction 4
• Setting The Scene 5
• Local Context Headlines 5
• SELF-EVALUATION Summary 7
• Areas Of Strength 7
• Areas For Development 7
• Your Voice 9
• Local And National Context 10
• Local Drivers For Change 10
• National Drivers For Change 11
• National Strategic Landscape 12
• Our Journey So Far 13
• Our Vision 14
• Our Principles 14
• Our Priorities 16

Priority One: To Ensure That The Graduated Response Is Delivered Coherently And

• Consistently. 17

Priority Two: To Implement A HIGH-QUALITY, PARTNERSHIP-WIDE Response To Children

• And Young People’S Mental Health Needs. 18

Priority Three: To Ensure That Neurodevelopmental Pathway Support Meets The

• Needs Of All In A Consistently Timely Manner. 19

Priority Four: To Ensure That All Doncaster Secondary School Provision

• Effectively Meets The Needs Of Students Who Have SEND. 20

Priority Five: To Deliver Positive, Well Planned Transitions For Young People With

• SEND To Ensure That They Are Prepared For Adulthood. 21

Priority Six: To Improve The Use Of Information Across The Partnership To Better

• Inform Strategic Planning And Joint Commissioning. 22
• Success Criteria 23
• Governance And Implementation 24
• Further Information 25
• Glossary 26

1 | P a g e Doncaster SEND Strategy 2022-2025

Foreword

Local leaders in Doncaster are committed to improving the life chances of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. The Ofsted inspection in May 2019 found that improvements have been made to the quality of health, education and social care provision, which is having a positive impact for children and young people. Since this point, we have experienced, both locally and nationally, significant challenges linked to delivering the right provision at the right time for our children and young people. In this strategy we set out a new vision for our local area and describe how we are responding to these pressures. Ofsted have recognised that our close partnership working puts the needs of children and young people first but we must continue to build on this and work together as partners to ensure that children and families who need our support get it and live happy and fulfilling lives. Our recent experiences have underlined the need for a clear focus on early intervention and ensuring that we are able to meet the needs of our young people as early, and as close to home, as possible. We look forward to working together to create the changes that will maintain the pace of change and deliver the best possible outcomes and lives for our children and young people in Doncaster.

Thank you for your continued commitment.

Lani-Mae Ball

Foreword by Cllr Lani-Mae Ball Portfolio Lead for Education, Skills & Young People

2 | P a g e Doncaster SEND Strategy 2022-2025

Key Partners

3 | P a g e Doncaster SEND Strategy 2022-2025

Introduction

This strategy, aimed at Doncaster children and young people aged 0-25, their families, and professionals has been developed following a system-wide two-year consultation from 2020 until September 2022. As a partnership, our aim is to encourage all agencies involved in the education of children and young people to ‘Think SEND’ and to adopt the principles of whole family working. We firmly believe that cultures and practices that provide the best possible experience for children and young people with SEND are likely to be beneficial to all and this mind-set should be at the forefront of all decision making. However, we also recognise that in some cases further specialist support is required. When this is the case it is vital that this support is both accessible and high quality. In this strategy, we will set out our vision and strategic intent and demonstrate how we will create the conditions for a ‘world class’ experience for our children, young people, and families so that all can feel included and supported to lead successful, happy and healthy lives. Regular co-production activities with parents and carers, children and young people will support the further development of the strategy and implementation plan, supported by six weekly ‘check and challenge’ sessions with Doncaster Parent Voice and children and young people’s voice groups already built into the governance structure.

The profile of need within Doncaster has changed since the start of the pandemic and as a consequence there has been a significant increase in the pressure being placed upon resources locally. There has been a robust joined up response from local agencies to the rise in the number of young people who have been experiencing mental health related challenges but, like many local areas, we anticipate sustained increases in demand for a period of time. In addition to this, the number of EHCPs is rising significantly, and the volume of young people in specialist settings rising sharply, particularly for those with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs. These pressures have had a direct influence upon the stability of our high needs funding, further underlining the need to ensure an early intervention approach and deliver improvements in provision and support at each tier of intervention.

4 | P a g e Doncaster SEND Strategy 2022-2025

Tier Three: Intensive Individual

Intervention

Tier Two: Targeted Group

Intervention

Tier One: Universal Intervention

Setting The Scene

Local Context Headlines

5 | P a g e Doncaster SEND Strategy 2022-2025

Percentage of children and

Percentage of children and

Overall number of children

young people with an EHC

young people with an EHC

and young people with an

plan in a state-funded primary (Academic Year 2021/22): 1.5% [National: 2.3%]

plan in a state-funded secondary (Academic Year

EHC plan that out of borough (September 2022):

2021/22): 1.6% [National: 2.2%]

6 | P a g e Doncaster SEND Strategy 2022-2025

SELF-EVALUATION Summary

The capacity to recognise our current strengths and areas for development is testament to the reflective culture built by the partnership following the 2019 Ofsted and Care Quality Commission inspection. The areas outlined below also act as a foundation for the actions outlined in this strategy.

Areas Of Strength

Partners work closely together and have a strong set of shared principles and priorities.

These have led to strong recent initiatives in areas such as short breaks, young people’s mental health and community paediatrics. Partners have a genuine commitment to SEND as exemplified by the recent creation of two strategic posts- one in health and the other in the council.

Improved partnership working with schools has brought about significant improvements

around behaviour. This has included widespread training around trauma and behaviour practice in schools. In turn, this had led to significant reductions in permanent exclusions, particularly for SEND children and young people.

A strong early years model which effectively supports early intervention and sustains

sector improvement.

The importance we place on voice in shaping our strategy and policy.

Improving outcomes for cohorts with special needs, as exemplified by recent Key Stage 4

attainment, and improving exclusion and attendance figures for most phases.

An improving offer of Post 16 provision, with some evident strengths in relation to trends

linked to the national average for Neet.

Our joined up response towards mental health during and in the ongoing aftermath of

Covid-19, with strong mental health provision in schools and an innovative strategy, based upon the experiences of our young people. We have strong numbers of young people accessing early intervention services and a reducing number who are requiring emergency support.

Areas For Development

Identification and assessment of need in schools can be inconsistent. There is a need to

ensure that we have robust local procedures and a stronger impact from our specialist services to ensure that schools feel confident about meeting needs at the earliest point.

Improve the quality, timeliness and impact of EHCPs.

7 | P a g e Doncaster SEND Strategy 2022-2025

The way that our systems support the role of the SENCo in schools so that all schools are

confident and capable in meeting the needs of their students.

We need to develop early intervention approaches across the system. This includes the

way that we fund schools. We recognise a need to ensure earlier access to funding and stronger accountability around how these funds are used.

Our support for children and young people who are on neurodevelopmental pathways

so that pre and post diagnostic support is better. We are also aware of the need to reduce waiting times for diagnosis.

The range of specialist provision beyond our mainstream settings so that our provision is

proportionate to need, supports inclusion and ensures that children and young people are educated as close to home as is possible.

The way that we work together as commissioners.

The planning of transitions at all phases, particularly into training and employment.

8 | P a g e Doncaster SEND Strategy 2022-2025

Your Voice

We asked children, young people and parents for their views to support with the development of our strategic priorities. Below are a selection of responses.

“The voice of the child is crucial from the start of the

“Schools should be supported to identify

journey.”

needs earlier.”

“EHCPs need to

be more consistent.”

“I wish I had been

“There should be greater training and

given help when I

was younger.”

awareness about different types of

needs in our

schools.”

“Communication should be better between services.”

“I want my child to get the support they

“I want my school to do more to support

“I don’t want to have to fight for

need without the need for a diagnosis”

the support my

my mental health needs”

child needs.”

“I want there to be somebody who knows me

“There should be more accountability

around how services and support are

well.”

delivered.”

9 | P a g e Doncaster SEND Strategy 2022-2025

Local And National Context

Local Drivers For Change

Team Doncaster’s central mission ‘Thriving People, Places & Planet’ is the key driver for the actions of the partnership up to 2030 and is geared towards six wellbeing goals set out in the wellbeing wheel below. To achieve these goals, Team Doncaster has agreed the ‘Great 8’ Priorities. The SEND strategy will have an impact upon the ‘Healthy and Compassionate’ and ‘Safe and Resilient’ wellbeing goals.

Wellbeing Goals Great 8 Priorities

• Tackling Climate Change.
• Developing the skills to thrive in life & work.
• Making Doncaster the best place to do business & create good jobs.
• Building opportunities for

healthier, happier & longer lives for all.

• Creating safer, stronger, cleaner,

and greener communities where everyone belongs.

• Nurturing a child & family friendly borough.
• Building transport & digital connections fit for the future.
• Promoting the borough & its

cultural, sporting & heritage opportunities.

The SEND Strategy will also deliver a range of activities around support for transitions, mental health, the development of curricula, and pathways to employment. These will contribute to the delivery of ‘Equitable and inclusive lifelong learning that empowers people to fulfil their potential and thrive in life and work’ as set out in the Doncaster Education and Skills 2030 strategy, alongside broader key areas of transformation covering the four key learner stages.

10 | P a g e Doncaster SEND Strategy 2022-2025

National Drivers For Change

The March 2022 government Green Paper on SEND delivered three key findings; outcomes for children and young people with SEND or in AP are poor, navigating the SEND and AP system is not a positive experience for children, young people and their families, and the system is not delivering value for money. In response to this, the review outlined six national priorities that will underpin a renewed future for the delivery of special needs provision across the country and were used to inform the development of this strategy. These are set out below.

In addition to this, the DfE ‘Delivering Better Value’ project is working with 55 local areas in order to create a more sustainable high needs expenditure position, through improved practice and collaboration. The Doncaster partnership will be working in collaboration with this project to ensure that we have a clear evidence base for future action around sufficiency planning and funding decisions. It will also support us in developing deep partnership engagement linked to the wider delivery of this strategy.

11 | P a g e Doncaster SEND Strategy 2022-2025

National Strategic Landscape

Our SEND strategy in Doncaster is informed by several national strategic documents. These are accessible via the links or Qr codes below.

12 | P a g e Doncaster SEND Strategy 2022-2025

Our Journey So Far

Our partnership working has supported a number of initiatives which have improved key outcomes such as reducing permanent exclusions and improving absence.

Ofsted and care quality commission inspection in May 2019 identifies key areas for development.

The new graduated approach towards SEND and Inclusion was developed by local partners.

The coronavirus pandemic led to a change in the profile and prevalence of need across the borough. There has been a robust response from local agencies but this sustained increase in demand has had an impact on our local resources, with the number of EHCPs rising significantly.

New and innovative specialist provision was opened in the form of Bader School and the Big Picture Learning project.

Extensive consultation across a range of stakeholders up to September 2022 enabled us to identify the principles and key priorities outlined in the strategy.

13 | P a g e Doncaster SEND Strategy 2022-2025

Our Vision

Our vision, developed in consultation with children, young people and families, is clear and concise. We want to deliver bold reforms that will provide the best possible support for our children and young people so that they can live happy and fulfilling lives. We are unwavering in our commitment to ensuring that services are joined-up, accessible and are able to offer support at the earliest point. Aligning our thinking and approaches to the principle of ‘Right Support, Right Place, Right Time’ set out in the SEND review will enable us to achieve our overall mission of being the most child friendly borough in the country.

Our Principles

Our partnership has set five strategic principles that will underpin our work.

14 | P a g e Doncaster SEND Strategy 2022-2025

For clarification purposes these can be expanded on, as shown below.

• Deliver effective partnership leadership with a sharp focus on capacity, efficiency, and clarity of purpose. • Ensure that children and young people are educated as close to home as possible. • Reinforce the principles of early intervention and provide stronger accountability across the system. • Improve capacity and sufficiency of provision in all schools and specialist settings.

Move resources, expertise, and accountability closer to schools to support earlier intervention in settings.

15 | P a g e Doncaster SEND Strategy 2022-2025

Our Priorities

Our principles outlined above, alongside extensive internal and external consultation, have informed the creation of our six key priorities, outlined below. These priorities will form the core of the strategy and the partnership actions outlined on the following pages.

1: To ensure that the graduated response is delivered coherently and consistently, ensuring that planning for young

people is timely, of high quality and centred around voice

and aspirations.

6: To improve the use of information across

2: To implement a high- quality, partnership-

the partnership to better inform strategic

Responses

wide response to children and young people’s mental health

planning and joint

commissioning.

Strategic Priorities

needs.

5: To deliver positive, well planned transitions

3: To ensure that neurodevelopmental pathway support meets

for young people with

Provision

SEND to ensure that they are prepared for

the needs of all in a

adulthood.

consistently timely

4: To ensure that all Doncaster school provision effectively meets the needs of students who have SEND.

manner.

16 | P a g e Doncaster SEND Strategy 2022-2025

Priority One: To Ensure That The Graduated Response Is Delivered Coherently And Consistently, Ensuring That Planning For Children And Young People Is Timely, Of High Quality And Centred Around Voice And Aspirations. We know this is important because most parents and carers of children and young people with SEND would prefer their children to be educated in their local area, provided that provision is of a suitable and high quality. They have asked that the partnership work to reduce inconsistencies in care, support and provision. This will involve the delivery of a single workforce plan, covering all key partners including council teams, health, social, care and educational settings. This will involve the delivery of a single work

Actions:

Deliver a robust local graduated response to need in

order to ensure consistency of identification and assessment.

Ensure the child or young person with SEND and their family is at the centre of the

To improve processes and capability to deliver improvmenets in the timeiness of EHCPs within This will be supported by a single workforce plan which sets out how improvemetns will be mde to the delivery of planning process at a corporate and individual level statutory expectations.

services at each level.

Ensure that all elements of SEND Support and EHC plans are developed in conjunction

Ensure that all education, health and care provision is aligned to plan outcomes and that there is clarity around the

Develop a clear and effective with the child and their process for securing timely family, are clearly communicated and understood by all delivery information sharing and assessment from health nature and purpose of support from external agencies and therapeutic services.

partners and are implemented effectively.

services.

Develop a targeted early intervention funding system to support young people and schools, without the necessity

Establish a routine Qa process Develop a local sufficiency plan to ensure that Doncaster to secure consistently high quality plans and ensure that has sufficient places to meet rising need and to prevent the the annual review process for an EHCP, centred on a includes a review of the quality of the EHC plan and a needs-led local funding process, supported and moderated by a specialist LA use of ‘out of borough’

commitment to making placements.

alterations if required.

SEND team.

Re-shape council services in Develop the quality, and raise order to deliver a coherent awareness, of the published Extend clinical support into SEND by supplementing our outreach service and a sufficiently resourced central SEND team with the capacity local offer so it provides all stakeholders with easily accessible information and Dmo with a Strategic Dco alongside an operational Dco to support children, schools, helps to ensure effective person-centred planning to lead at Rdash.

and families through high quality case work.

meet their needs.

17 | P a g e Doncaster SEND Strategy 2022-2025

Priority Two: To Implement A HIGH-QUALITY, PARTNERSHIP-WIDE Response To Children And Young People’S Mental Health Needs.

We know this is important because children, young people, parents and carers have told us that getting the necessary support at the earliest opportunity is their top priority. Our actions in this area will complement the existing Doncaster Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing strategy.

Actions:

Commission new locality- based provisions for those

Develop a well-resourced and Support education settings well-trained education workforce who are able to understand emerging needs in the development of effective whole school with Semh needs focused upon reinforcing mainstream approaches to mental provision and practice.

at the earliest stage.

health.

Develop a single Cpd offer Ensure up to 15 new provisions have access to an Improve the quality and level of engagement with for schools and ensure further engagement with the in-house mental health support team from February the school improvement Trauma Informed Schools and outreach offer.

approach.

2023.

Improve the nature of challenge and support offered to schools in order

Ensure the widespread sharing of good practice through inclusion networks

Develop our approach to facilitating and encouraging

further peer challenge to strengthen accountability.

and headteacher forums.

between schools.

18 | P a g e Doncaster SEND Strategy 2022-2025

Priority Three: To Ensure That Neurodevelopmental Pathway Support Meets The Needs Of All In A Consistently Timely Manner.

We know this is important because parents and carers of children and young people on these pathways tell us that the range of provision in Doncaster to meet the needs of their children needs to be reviewed and expanded with an emphasis on early diagnosis and whole family, multi-agency support. Our actions in this area will combine with the existing work on neurodevelopmental pathways in the Doncaster Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing strategy and in due course the SEND strategy will lead on this priority.

Actions:

Build on the introduction of the new Healios digital assessment system to

Continue to review the current commissioned pathway for Adhd

develop further the use of innovative solutions that allow for

assessment in recognition of the increased waiting list.

more timely assessments.

Support schools to identify, assess and meet the needs of SEND Code K cohorts with a strengthened offer of

Strengthen post-diagnostic support for children, young people and families so that needs can be understood and met at the earliest expertise and funding, and deliver training for SENCos on effective use point.

of the Gda pathway.

19 | P a g e Doncaster SEND Strategy 2022-2025

Priority Four: To Ensure That All Doncaster School Provision Effectively Meets The Needs Of Students Who Have SEND.

We know this is important because children and young people say that they need a good basic educational grounding to progress into independent post-16 training or education.

Actions:

Develop the LA school effectiveness strategy so that there is a clear inclusive

Involve school leaders in the Develop a local ‘SENCo charter’ in order to ensure development, implementation and review sufficient recognition, support and development focus on improving provision and outcomes for of the new SEND strategy, and reinforce joint accountability for SEND for the role across all all children and young people including those with settings.

outcomes.

SEND.

Further improve our support Develop the LA school effectiveness strategy so and challenge continuum to secure effective provision, including involvement from Work with the schools with that there is a clear, inclusive focus on improving the highest levels of suspensions in order to minimise the use of these measures for SEND cohorts.

the Regional Schools Commissioner, if and when required, to ensure that the local area MATs are fully on

provision and outcomes for all children and young people including those with SEND.

board.

20 | P a g e Doncaster SEND Strategy 2022-2025

Priority Five: To Deliver Positive, Well Planned Transitions For Young People With SEND To Ensure That They Are Prepared For Adulthood.

We know this is important because, although progress has been made in a number of areas of the post-16 curriculum in recent years, both professionals and parents recognise that post- 16 SEND provision can be fragmented, lacking in coherence and does not prepare young people with SEND for work or independence as well as it should.

Actions:

Establish a ‘pathways into Carrying out a strategic analysis of the effectiveness of Fe and training provision, Improve adulthood transition planning by building robust transition plans which outline support at all key stages from 'cradle employment' SEND sub- group, which captures input from all key stakeholders, including training providers, colleges, transition workers, special school sixth forms and sixth form level 2 vocational, Esf and DWP programmes in delivering to career' and identifying specific adulthood needs participation team, DWP rep, Esf providers and a rep successful pathways into from age 14 onwards.

from the post-16 group.

employment.

Use the information gained Gather detailed input and viewpoints of Neet young people with SEND in order to develop case studies and from the strategic analysis and case studies to identify Create a mechanism for evidence-based good sharing good practice between post-16 providers..

practice and gaps in provision, and inform future

ascertain barriers to employment.

strategy.

Develop increased opportunities for young people with SEND to engage

Work with local providers to Work through the Local Integration Board to engage with employers and support fill gaps in provision and, if in work-based learning clearly linked to long-term employment opportunities and draw on learning from needed, work with the Regional Schools Commissioner and Education Funding Agency them to take on young people who have SEND.

Project Search and other to bring in new providers.

successful supportive internship programmes.

21 | P a g e Doncaster SEND Strategy 2022-2025

Priority Six: To Improve The Use Of Information Across The Partnership To Better Inform Strategic Planning And Joint Commissioning.

We know this is important because parents and carers of children and young people in Doncaster agree that having a shared professional direction can only benefit individual children. We are also aware that there needs to be more coherent arrangements for strategic commissioning. Through the DfE ‘Better Value’ project we are ensuring that our diagnostic data is comprehensive to enable this process.

Actions:

Ensure there are clear routes Build on current intelligence for children, young people, parents and carers to shape to create a SEND specific JSNA which projects future SEND education, health and Create a ‘live’ data dashboard to ensure that there is an ongoing up-to- date picture of trends within future commissioning decisions and build on existing strengths in this area, in particular the young care needs to underpin future commissioning decisions and resource the borough.

commissioners, young advisors and the work of

allocation across the Borough and partnership.

Doncaster Parent Voice.

Develop knowledge of current local provision and

Develop stronger links with Strengthen strategic management of high needs resources within the council so that there is strengthened the maintained specialist how this overlays to identified needs. This will sector, strengthen ownership of local strategy and improve commissioning, underpin future market shaping linked to agreed commissioning principles across education, health and shared accountability and quality assurance and funding arrangements.

planning.

social care.

Pool information held by Further embed, both functionally and structurally, Continue to explore the possibility of pooled budgets local authority, care and health services to provide the move towards integrated commissioning to for children and with special educational needs through a area leaders with a clear understanding of the effectiveness of provision for maintain the rate of progress already evidenced.

section 75 arrangement.

SEND.

22 | P a g e Doncaster SEND Strategy 2022-2025

Success Criteria

We will know that our actions have been successful if we can demonstrate achievement against the success criteria outlined below.

Children and parents tell us that they feel listened to and understood. They can identify

how these changes have improved their lives.

Children, young people and parents will tell us that service work in a joined up, efficient

and effective way.

Schools have a clear role in defining and driving local strategic priorities.

Children can be educated in their local mainstream provision wherever it is possible and

appropriate.

There is local provision in place for young people with social, emotional and mental health

needs.

There is a clear plan for future local provision, which anticipates how needs will be met

locally.

Schools are a friendly place for children with additional needs, they are part of the whole

school community and are offered differentiated learning opportunities to support their academic achievement.

EHCPs are of demonstrably consistent high standard.

SENCos are confident that they have the correct resources and time to be able to deliver

positive impact for children and young people with SEND.

There is a strong range of post-16 opportunities for young people that enables them to

access meaningful employment and training.

Our children are more independent and young people are prepared for adult life.

High needs funding will be more efficient, working to support young people at the earliest

point.

The qualitative and quantitative measures outlined below will sit underneath these top-level criteria as part of the strategy implementation plan.

Academic outcomes for SEND children and young people have improved.

The number of EHCP requests will decline over time.

Waiting times for Asd and Adhd diagnosis will be reduced.

The rate in the number of young people placed in out of authority placements will

reduce.

High needs funding will work more efficiently to ensure that needs are met as early as

possible.

23 | P a g e Doncaster SEND Strategy 2022-2025

Governance And Implementation

It is our intention alongside this document to develop an implementation plan that sets out our intended actions over the three years of the strategy. The plan will be designed to identify key actions, provide clear timelines alongside measurable success criteria to ensure that we, as a partnership, work in a way that is Smart, ensuring that our goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Bound.

Strategic Action(s) Action Responsible Deadline Success Criteria

In order to ensure effective monitoring, the Local Area SEND Board will meet every six weeks and report upon the progress of work-streams attached to each of the above priorities. Prior to each board a Parent Co-Production Group, a young people’s ‘Shadow Board’ and a Head Teacher group will meet in order to scrutinise progress and develop key issues. The full governance and reporting structure is set out below.

Quality and Patient Safety

Doncaster Growing Together Programme Board

Health and Wellbeing Board

Education and Skills Board Engagement Group Designated Clinical Officer SEND Board SEND Strategy Implementation Group 24 | P a g e Doncaster SEND Strategy 2022-2025

Further Information

More information on the Doncaster Local Offer for SEND and our work in practice is provided on the Doncaster Council Website. This is accessible via the link or Qr code below.

Local Offer - Special Educational Needs / Disabilities (SEND) - Homepage - Doncaster Council

25 | P a g e Doncaster SEND Strategy 2022-2025

Glossary

26 | P a g e Doncaster SEND Strategy 2022-2025