Agenda item

The following questions had been received under Standing Order 34 and were put tot the Chairman of the Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

Question asked by David Warwick:

“In Relation to Education Health Care Plans, at the Schools Forum, it was confirmed that the County Council pays approximately half that of the City Council as its element 3 contribution, £8,000 compared to £16,000 for full time (32 hours) classroom support assistance. And further that the County Council's element 3 contribution has not risen in 10 years. Could the Council please provide a detailed explanation for this disparity and how it intends to help schools pay for the required additional classroom support staff and facilities in mainstream schools for children with additional needs going forward?”

Response by the Chairman:

No information on rates paid in respect of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP’s) has been presented to the Schools Forum. Local authorities are structured and funded very differently. Funding rates differ significantly across different local authorities, for example the 2025/26 High Needs Dedicated Schools Grant settlement for Leicestershire per pupil in specialist provision is 16% less than that received by a neighbouring authority. Leicestershire can only pass on money to schools that is available within the High Needs grant given.

In addition to this provision and the payment rate attached to it also differs as a result of SEN strategy decisions within individual authorities, for example an authority may have chosen to invest in maintaining pupils with EHCP’s in mainstream schools or alternatively as in Leicestershire invested in specialist provision through the establishment of resource bases where funding is higher.

Leicestershire is one of only a few authorities that continues to fund mainstream EHCP’s based on hours of provision and is in the process of developing a new approach to funding EHCP’s based on a banded model. This model has been co-produced with schools and has at its heart a consistent funding allocation which gives schools more flexibility to meet children’s needs.

In the short term the proposals in the Council’s 2025/26 Medium Term Financial Strategy include a 3.3% increase in the rate payable to mainstream schools for pupils with EHCP’s.

David Warwick asked the following supplementary question:

“Could the specialist provision through the establishment of resource bases referred to please be itemised. Also how is private SEND provision assessed for value for money?”

At the invitation of the Chairman, the Director of Children and Family Services responded to say that there were 32 resource bases or designated specialist provision in Leicestershire. Four of these were attached to special schools and 28 were attached to mainstream schools; 16 of which were primary schools and 12 were secondary schools.

Private SEND provision was used when a child or young person’s needs could not be met in any other provision or when the parental preference was for private provision, supported by a tribunal outcome. The Department had robust quality assurance and commissioning processes in place to ensure best value. In addition to this, strong contract management was in place in order to manage what was commercially available.

Question asked by Sue Whiting:

“How many Children with an EHCP did not have an allocated school place for the beginning of Year 7 September 2024, and what provision for their education has subsequently happened to date?”

Response by the Chairman:

There were 59 pupils on 1 September 2024 that had an EHCP with no school allocated. 48 of these students are now in school provision. Seven pupils have alternative education arrangements in place and four are still awaiting a placement.

Sue Whiting asked the following supplementary question:

“Does the response provided mean that four children with an EHCP and commenced Year 7 in September 2024 have had no educational provision at all to date in this academic year?”

At the invitation of the Chairman, the Director of Children and Family Services responded to say that the response had set out the number of children who had secured a place who did not have a place at the beginning of Year 7, and the number of children for whom the Service was seeking a placement. At the time of responding to the original question, this number was four, but that could have since changed. Whilst children awaited a school place, the Department would offer a range of support to support the child’s education. It could be that the children had received tuition or had been supported by an existing school place. The Director did not go into detail regarding the support provided to specific children.