To Update Reading Schools Forum on the progress to date following the Report “Alternative Provision-case for change” presented to Forum on 8th October 2020.
Following the Schools Forum Meeting in October 2020 it was proposed that a review in the use of Alternative Provision across Reading Schools and Services within Brighter Futures for Children (BFfC) should be completed. This review should be led by schools and supported by the Commissioning, Contracts and Procurement Team (CCP). Mandy Wilton, Head of Cranbury College was nominated and agreed to lead this review.
For the scope of this project the focus will be on placements of children and young people in Alternative Provisions via pupil referral units, mainstream schools or BFfC services. It will also include off site provisions and other non-school based provisions including online learning and home tuition.
These provisions will either be funded directly from the High Needs Block of the Designated School Grant or directly from schools. The age focus will be Key Stages 1-4 it is expected most provisions being in Key Stage 3 and 4.
To develop a clear agreement and understanding of what constitutes Alternative Provision across all Stakeholders
To audit use of Alternative Provision and off-site Provision
To have clear transparent costings of Placements across all Alternative Provision Providers and other provisions used to include those named on Education, Health and Care Plans as Education, other than at School (EOTAS) by BFfC
To develop a central directory of BFfC Approved Alternative Providers where information is provided and held centrally electronically.
With colleagues to have a clear agreement of what constitutes “Quality” Provision and identifying Provisions where the Outcomes for Children and Young People are Good or better where providers are not subject to Ofsted Inspections
Develop effective Commissioning of Alterative Provision and explore the benefits of the use of a Dynamic Purchasing Framework to be used by BFfC and Schools to allow more cost-effective purchasing
To have clear commissioning arrangements for:
To develop clear Governance arrangements for procuring and placing Children and Young People in Alternative Provision and other non-school provisions.
This project will focus on Children and Young People Key Stages 1-4 with most focus on Key Stage 3 and 4. Post 16 and 19 Alternative Provision Placements will be considered but additional groups may be required to take this further with different membership. This will be discussed at the Steering Group.
This Project may highlight broader SEND Sufficiency needs within this sector which may need further development work.
A Project Steering Group has been identified. Membership will be;
The Steering Groups inaugural meeting will be on the 9th December 2020
Following this meeting it will be identified when and how different stake holders will be included. Stake holders are identified as Children and Young People, Parent and Carers others to be identified in the first steering group.
Due to the dependence on schools for information there may be some slippage due to the immediate pressures of COVID. This is mitigated by using electronic/virtual communications wherever possible.
A Risk Register will be established and maintained by the Steering Group.
At this stage the interdependencies have been highlighted as;
That the Schools Forum note the progress to date with the Alternative Provision Review
That the progress of this review is reported back to Schools Forum in Early Spring Term 2021