Alternative Provision – an update

1. Alternative Provision – an update Ralph Holloway, SEN Transformation Manager May 2017

2. Historical context • Essex has three maintained PRUs (Mid, NE and South) and one AP free school (West); • PRUs given delegated budgets from April 2013; • Previously budgets and admissions managed centrally by ECC; • AP review in Essex took place in 2013.

3. AP review 2013 • Schools presented with a number of options for future commissioning of PRU places; • Decision made:

4. Decision made through consultation with schools and at Schools Forum • Schools in the Mid, NE and South quadrants agreed to take responsibility for the funding and provision made for permanently excluded pupils and those unable to attend school due to illness (physical and mental health such as anxious school refusal); • PRU in West Essex closed and Aspire Academy opened in September 2014 with local management arrangements.

5. Decision made through consultation with schools and at Schools Forum • Numbers split by behaviour and medical/anxious school refusal; • PRU numbers agreed through Schools Forum: Mid – 115 NE – 152 South - 198 • PRUs receive £10k base funding for each pupil up to the total funded number; • Top up funding from the commissioner.

6. Current position • There has been a significant increase in the number of permanent exclusions: • 2016/17 – 120 • 2012/13 – 55 • Positive referrals remain high (though this data is not routinely provided); • PRU capacity is significantly stretched as a result.

7. Key issues • Increased demand for AP; • Low rates of reintegration; • Reduced capacity to offer full time provision; • Inequity of funding between the AP schools; • Lack of clarity over funding; • Funding pressures on system; • Increasing numbers of medical referrals; • Current funding system makes positive referrals unattractive; • The BAP element of hard to place panels is no longer effective in some areas; • Primary admissions.

8. Proposed ways forward • Review of all AP to include provision for permanent exclusions, medical/ASR and positive referrals and other provisions directly commissioned by schools; • Review and remodelling of the current funding model for Essex PRUs; • Consultation on current funded numbers for Essex PRUs; • PRU capital programme; • Full report to Schools Forum; • Consultation on revised admission arrangements for Essex PRUs.

9. Reintegration and Inclusion Panels It is proposed thatEssex looks to move towards a monthly panel system to consider the needs for vulnerable learners. These panels to replace the current: • Hard To Place aspect of the BAP meetings; • Admission panels to AP schools; • Ad hoc meetings for primary schools when at crisis; • Meetings in schools to discuss medical referrals.

10. Reintegration and Inclusion Panels Panels will consider: • Statutory referrals; • Reintegration of excluded pupils; • Hard to place pupils; • Complex medical cases; • Referrals of pupils with a statement/EHCP to PRUs.

11. Representation at meetings • AECS; • AP schools; • All secondary school heads or those empowered to admit; • Primary – representative from cluster but empowered to admit; • LA services to include STT, EPS, Family Solutions, MECES, SAS, Youth Service, YOT); • Third sector; • Health/EWMHS.

12. Transparency • Data must be shared; • Managed moves come to panel for ratification; • Weighting system to determine support, or possibly funding for a placement? • Those schools with places available must not be disadvantaged over those who are full; • Being full is not a reason to refuse to admit; • Panel decisions over rule waiting list.

13. Transparency • If schools refuse to admit following decision – case will be reheard by next panel if still felt appropriate placement direction to be considered; • Referrals to AP school must be for a maximum of 2 terms (behaviour), half term medical.