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Local Government and the SEN Green Paper. Some Thoughts. May 18 2011. www.lga.gov.uk. Local Councils welcome…. Improved choice for parents and young people Increased personal budgets Focus on lifetime outcomes A single system 0 -25 Integrated assessment – and less of it
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Local Government and the SEN Green Paper Some Thoughts May 18 2011 www.lga.gov.uk
Local Councils welcome… • Improved choice for parents and young people • Increased personal budgets • Focus on lifetime outcomes • A single system 0 -25 • Integrated assessment – and less of it • Having a single plan for health, education and care – but should also include work • Greater transparency in assessment and funding • Clarity of roles of local authorities & voluntary sectors • Increased diversity and types of providers
Challenges (1) • Creating a single but flexible assessment system which is transparent and minimises conflict of interest • Ensuring partners to a single plan meet their obligations – especially health • Retaining support for parents and young people to find their way through a more diverse range of providers • Reforming funding formulae • Creating a single 5-25 system • Transport
Challenges (2) • Clarifying roles of Local authorities, education funding agency, skills funding agency • Accountability of all schools and colleges • Regulation of independent special schools and colleges • Timescales and impact of policy turbulence • Impact of funding convergence (& less of it) • Different legal basis SEN / LLDD- especially appeals
What local councils are doing • Working in partnership on LLDD and SEN • Improving involvement with parents & young people • Bringing rigour and equity in placement decisions • Increasing choice, especially where there is a lack of local provision • Improving relationships with FE & specialist colleges • Integrating SEN and LLDD processes • Some extending mediation systems to LLDD • Reviewing costs of transport and IAG
To watch out for ... • Impact of IAG cuts on LDA assessments • Staff cuts in national and local government – disruption to existing relationships • Little national guidance ; much local variation • Second guessing the outcome of the Green Paper process • Reducing costs – sometimes drastically
LAs would like ISCs to . . . • Strengthen links with local FE providers • Focus of outcomes of young people returnign to their home community • Offer a much more flexible mix of services – including less for some learners • Radically change the residential model – less long term full time, more short stays • Offer expertise locally • Take part in multi LA discussions – e.g. Greater Manchester
Contacts donald.rae@local.gov.uk