Decision details

The Cabinet considered an exempt report of the Director of Children and Family Services which sought approval to consult on the provision of increased levels of inclusion support and funding for Early Years children with additional needs to enable greater access to mainstream provisions across the county and to remove the reliance on specialist nurseries.  The report also outlined the proposed changes to the way in which Early Years children with additional needs would be supported.  A copy of the report marked ‘Agenda Item 12’ is filed with these minutes.

RESOLVED:

That a consultation process on a new model for the provision of additional locality-based inclusion support and funding for Early Years children with additional needs, as set out in the report, be approved.

(KEY DECISION)

REASONS FOR DECISION

The Council aims to enable more Early Years children with additional needs to access mainstream provision in their local communities, to reduce reliance on specialist nursery provision and ensure equity of provision across the County.  This would also ensure the Council can deliver the Government’s mainstream inclusion aspirations which are expected to be set out in the Schools White Paper.

Consultation with stakeholders on the proposed changes will help inform the proposals and the approach to implementation of the new delivery model.