Agenda item

Warwick Tomsett, Head of Targeted Services and Joint Commissioning and Ann Wallace, Service Manager – Children in Need, introduced the item.

The Committee heard that after-school and holiday provision at Drumbeat had previously been funded. 18 months ago, the Dedicated Schools Grants changed and provision of these services had been covered through the general fund but there was no budget to cover it. After-school or holiday provision is not funded in any other school in the borough, and other local authorities do not fund this provision either. The provision was creating an overspend  and officers were working with the school and parents on a model that would use alternative sources of funding and that would be available to other schools to use if they wanted to.

It was reported that these discussions were ongoing and that working parents were willing to contribute to the cost. The majority of parents were using these services as childcare while they worked, although some were using it for short breaks, the Committee heard.

Officers explained that Lewisham partners (including the council) had received a positive Ofsted report on SEND provision.  The report had been circulated to members.  The Committee heard that some parents did not share this view, and were not satisfied with the services that Lewisham offered. 

The time being 9:25pm it was MOVED, SECONDED and RESOLVED that standing orders be suspended to allow committee business to continue beyond 9:30pm.

The following was noted in discussion:

·         National Department for Education criteria regarding travel policy had not changed, but the council had been more robust about assessing need and implementing the criteria.

·         In some cases where home school transport had been discontinued the child had either moved or was now older and able to be more independent.

·         Each case was assessed individually. For the majority, the only criteria that was applied was distance from home to school. For those closer to school, an assessment was necessary.

·         Officers mentioned the benefits of working with young people to support them to be independent.

·         Concerns were raised – reflecting the findings of the Ofsted report - that details of services were not adequately disseminated to parents, and where parents were getting this information, it was through voluntary sector organisations such as Parent Engage or Signal rather than through awareness of the local offer.

·         Some parents had experienced lack of continuity/information sharing at Kaleidoscope and felt that the Ofsted inspection did not reflect their experience. These parents had indicated that they would respond to Ofsted directly.

·         Improved signposting of the local offer was a key issue, and work was being done to clearly communicate through case workers, placing links on every communications, through schools, websites etc.

·         Ofsted inspectors heard mixed views and the report reflects this.

·         The inspection covered Children’s Centres as well as kaleidoscope.

·         The overall number of children being provided with transport was lower than in 2015, but higher than in 2016.

·         There had been no appeals this year. Last year there had been around 50 appeals of which 10 were successful.

·         Officers were exploring the reasons why usage of Cyberzone – a self-referral club for families with disabled children aged 7 and over – had dropped so significantly that there was talk of closing it down due to underuse. It had previously been oversubscribed.

·         Young people who are eligible for transport and short breaks provision require an adult social care assessment upon turning 18, and the eligibility criteria is different.

·         Personal budgets can be made directly to parents, but only some aspects of care and support can be purchased this way.

·         Cuts to short breaks have not been made but demand has increased so there will be an overspend next year unless the eligibility criteria are changed.

·         A £1m overspend on transport is forecast.

RESOLVED that:

1)    the report be noted.

2)    A referral be made to Mayor and Cabinet, requesting a review of funding levels for SEND provision and in particular travel assistance and short breaks. The Chair should draft the referral to take account of the comments made in this meeting and the views of the Mayor under the previous item, and share the draft with the committee by email to enable comment before the referral is submitted to Mayor and Cabinet.