Agenda item
QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
A maximum of 15 minutes will be allocated to public questions submitted in writing to Democratic Services (democratic.services@trafford.gov.uk) by 4 p.m. on the working day prior to the meeting. Questions must be relevant to items appearing on the agenda and will be submitted in the order in which they were received.
Minutes:
Questions from Elizabeth Stanley
1. How many tribunals appeals were there in 2022, including numbers that went to a hearing and cost to the council including staff time in defending those tribunals?
11 appeals were lodged, with Council’s position being upheld at 0.
Written response sent by the Director of Education Standards, Quality, and Performance
We pay legal £15,000 a year for advice on all cases which would include Tribunals. Staff time would need to be calculated on a case-by-case basis.
2. How of those tribunals in 2022 was the outcome that the tribunal agreed with the Local Authority?
Verbal response from the Director of Education Standards, Quality, and Performance
0
3. How many tribunal appeals have been submitted in 2023 so far?
Verbal response from the Director of Education Standard, Quality, and Performance
Five from January
4. Number of complaints about the EHCP Team and process to date in 2023?
Written Response from the Director of Education Standard, Quality, and Performance
There have been 12 complaints.
5. Number of EHCP case managers and their current case load?
Verbal Response from the Director of Education Standard, Quality, and Performance
One Service Manager, One Senior EHC coordinator, and 11.49 coordinators, with their case loads are roughly between 220 to 280 EHC Plans.
6. Number of vacancies in the team?
Verbal Response from the Director of Education Standard, Quality, and Performance.
None at this time, with temporary additionality in place at this time and looking to continue.
7. How many EHCP needs assessment requests are there per month, (average)?
Verbal Response from the Director of Education Standard, Quality, and Performance.
Data taken from 2022 as this was a complete year. The lowest number was 28 during the summer holidays. 62 was the highest in June and July, with the average being around 40.
8. Number of children and young people with EHCP’ s without a school place for September?
Written Response provided by the Director of Education Standards, Quality, and Performance.
For Year 6 transition placements, we named 94% prior to the February statutory deadline and all of the remaining 6% had placements named for September 23. Year 11 placements are currently going through the enrolment process and as such, the team are working through these to establish confirmed placements and any that will be deemed as NEET.
9. Number of children and young people who do not have an EHCP naming their new school/college placement for September?
Written Response provided by the Director of Education Standard, Quality, and Performance.
All C/YP have either a named provision or establishment type.
10.How long are the wait times for health assessments, occupational therapy, autism assessments, mental health assessments, Physiotherapy assessments, are they completed in time for draft EHCP’s to be sent to families?
Written Response provided by the Director of Education Standard, Quality, and Performance.
May 2023 data, wait to first contact:
· Autism assessment – 55 weeks
· Occupational Therapy – 27 weeks
· Physiotherapy – 21 weeks
|
Waiting Times / RTT (Referral to Treatment) |
Weeks |
|
Average Ref. to 1st contact / Appt (6 wks target) |
0.6 |
|
Average Ref to 2nd contact / Appt (12 wks target) |
13.7 |
|
Average 2nd to 3rd contact/Appt (6 wk target) |
7.9 |
Verbal Response from Director of Education Standards, Quality, and Performance.
This is part of the first ambition from the report provided to the Committee. Often seek views from SEND conferences that have been organised through Gorse Hill and the Youth Cabinet. There is a commitment to person-centred reviews, with any EHC plans being reviewed and SENCOs receiving training on ow to make sure that the voice of the child is shared through the review. Karen made very clear that they are aware that this is something that can be improved, and that there is a commitment to getting better.
The Corporate Director for Children’s Services added that there is a section included on each EHC plan titled ‘My Plan’, that helps to provide the young person with their own voice, and helps those who are non-verbal to capture their views.
Head of SEND & Inclusion added that there was recently a well-attended SENCO Forum, where good practice has been shared to focus on the child’s voice.
12.Why are the numbers of refusals to assess higher this year, the test for requesting an EHCP needs assessment is that the child or young person ‘may’ have Special needs, it’s a very low bar?
Verbal Response from the Director of Education
We had sought clarification on which part of the report the question had come from, following this, it can be seen from the table being referred to that it says the end of June, so a full data set is not available yet, and this is likely to change.
Questions from Jayne Dillon
Regarding SEND update and Education, Health and Care Plan Quality Assurance & Timeliness
13.The EHCP caseload has dropped in 2023 compared to 2022. Why is this please?
Verbal Response from the Director of Education Standards, Quality, and Performance.
Same point as above, that due to being part year, we don’t currently have the full data.
14. What is the current situation with annual reviews? Are changes families need being incorporated in the Plans in a timely manner (rather than just at transition stages).
Written Response from the Director of Education.
Most changes happen at transition periods unless there has been a change in needs or placement that relates to the need for ‘significant’ change as outlined in the Code of Practice. Within our SEND Ambitions and service plans we have actions in regard to developing our timeliness of response to parents relating to requested change. Progress is reported to the SEND partnership board.
