Agenda item

Specialist Resource Provision Review

To provide an update to the Forum on the review undertaken of Bracknell Forest Specialist Resource Provisions.

Minutes:

Jenny Baker updated on the work of the subgroup which was focused on SRPs and banding descriptors. Regarding SRPs.  Nathan Jones had presented to secondary Headteachers and received their feedback. Liz Savage was supporting the banding descriptors project. There had been little progress in moving forward but this would be explored further at the next meeting of the subgroup. Members of the Schools Forum were invited to contact Jenny Baker if they wished to join the subgroup. 

 

The Forum considered a report presenting the findings to date of the review of SRPs in Bracknell Forest and were invited to provide comments. Keith Grainger noted on page 14 of the report that “The Rise” was not the proper title of the provision. Furthermore.  the provision was based in North Bracknell.  not Crowthorne & Sandhurst. Nathan Jones agreed to amend that.

 

Action: Nathan Jones

 

Nathan Jones explained that most of the schools hosting SRPs were visited with the exception of one primary school which instead had a virtual meeting. The one secondary SRP would be visited during the autumn term. Parents and the Carer Forum were met on two occasions and briefed on developments.  and discussions had been held with the Head of SEND.  Head of Early Years and advisory teaching service.

 

Nathan highlighted the lack of understanding about SRPs including the funding mechanism.  the requirement for 50% attendance in the mainstream classroom.  the complexity of children that should be accessing the SRPs.  and how to access SRPs.

 

Meadow Vale Primary School had decided to close the Rainbow (nursery) provision at the end of the 2021/22 academic year. The school had also voiced concerns around the utilisation of the Speech.  Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) provision due to low uptake.  and Nathan had recommended further work to understand the reasons why.

 

A working group had been set up to review all the above concerns as well as looking at the development of secondary provision. Nathan had recommended starting with 30 places over two providers.

 

The Forum queried whether there was sufficient knowledge of the needs of the children and how demand compared to the number of places offered. Nathan Jones explained that he was working with colleagues in Early Years to find a way to predict more accurately the number of children moving through the system. There was still capacity in primary SRPs.

 

The Forum enquired how the issue of parents not knowing how to access SRPs was going to be resolved. Nathan Jones replied that the department had developed an initial proforma which would be hosted on individual school websites and on the local offer. The team had also been working with the parent carer forum. The Forum requested an update to be provided at the next meeting of the Forum.

 

Action: Nathan Jones

 

The Forum asked whether all specialisms were covered by services within the Borough? Nathan Jones responded that there would always be a small group such as children with hearing or visual impairments which would need to be catered for outside the Borough.  but the rest of the needs were covered in the Borough.

Supporting documents:

 

Contact Information

Democratic services

Email: committee@bracknell-forest.gov.uk