SpLD Services & Provision Hertfordshire

1. SpLD Services & Provision Hertfordshire ENF CONFERENCE JANUARY 2015 Anne Powell-Davies

2. Background • The current range of SpLD services and provision was established over 20 years ago • The provision was developed to improve quality of provision for children with literacy difficulties, including building expertise in local schools • There have been major changes in the last 20 years in national expectations on schools for the identification and management of children with SpLD.

3. Current SpLD Services & Provision in Hertfordshire • 10 Primary bases • 2 Secondary bases • 1 advisory teacher supporting 55 secondary settings • Funding for accredited training for school staff. All SpLD services are funded from the High Needs DSG Block

5. Rationale for looking at SpLD services • There have been a number of specific matters arising for some bases which need consideration. • It is some time since the commissioning arrangements between LA and SpLD bases have been reviewed. • A number of other services are being reviewed – for example behaviour, autism and special school outreach. • In addition there are wider issues impacting on services for children with SEN, such as national funding changes for high level needs, SEN reforms and the strategy and framework of DSPL and local commissioning.

6. It is therefore timely to: • Take an overview of the current position for our SpLD services across the county • Identify an overall picture of needs & current use of resources • Respond to specific issues arising at bases to inform the County and Area DSPL groups decision making • Develop proposals for the future use of available resources

7. In the first phase the current operation of bases has been considered as well as data about the use of resources/provision. Moving forward it is important to consult with stakeholders including commissioners, receivers and users of the service, including school and parental engagement at a strategic level.

8. In 2014/15 there are 85 statements identifying SpLD as primary need. 6 of which are in secondary bases (3 each in Francis Combe and Barnwell)

9. 10Primary bases Total cost £1,547,870 Providing Outreach support, consultation and training

10. Examples of Primary Support Base work IN SCHOOL • Primary bases work around individual child level, and may be involved for up to three terms, Following active involvement they may offer a monitoring visit to ensure intervention and ongoing strategies are working well(number of active individual pupil pieces of work vary from base to base). • Bases also offer school focused consultation sessions where the school bring issues or questions for exploration with staff from SpLD base.

11. Range of work • Bases also offer networking sessions for SENCos / INCos which may be held on a termly basis where local information and good practice is shared. • Training sessions offered: • may be in the form of hosting sessions run by guest speakers from within or outside the authority (eg “Differentiation in the Primary Classroom”) • may be run by Base Team staff on areas such as improving classroom support skills, where there may or may not be a nominal charge for attendance.

12. 2 Secondary bases Total cost £336,049 Providing places for a small number of pupils

13. In September 2014: 3 students (Y11) in Francis Combe 3 students (2 Y9 and 1 Y10) at Barnwell.

14. Accredited training has been available for all mainstream and special schools. Its aim has been to improve the knowledge, understanding and skills of schools and staff working with pupils with SpLD and literacy/numeracy difficulties. Some of the available accredited training courses can, for example enable teachers to assess students for GCSE/GCE access arrangements. Provision of Funding for accredited SpLD staff training

15. Questions to consider • After 20 years of increasing schools’ capacity to meet SpLD - what’s needed now? • Local Offer – is the balance right between what schools provide ordinarily for SpLD and the use of High Needs resources? • Is there an opportunity to think differently to get the best use of resources e.g. continuing reduction in call on secondary base places, use of primary resources, advisory teacher role?

16. Hertfordshire’s SpLD provision should be considered in the light of the current context, available funding, present operation, current and future needs and service to schools to enable educational settings to better support children and young people experiencing SpLD.

17. Thank you