MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE EDUCATION, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND LIFELONG LEARNING SELECT COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON TUESDAY, 15 APRIL 2003 COMMENCING AT 9.30 AM

Present :

Mr J F Howe (Chairman), Mrs B D Clough, Mr C M Gauntlett, Mr C R Hancock, Mr P D Joyce, Mr A J Mellor, Mr V J Morey, Mr R C Richards

Co-opted (voting) :

Archdeacon M V Banting, Sister Patricia, Ms M Wilson

Portfolio Holder :

Mrs J L Wareham

Apologies :

Mr G S Kendall

Also present (non-voting)

Mr A C Bartlett

52.      MINUTES

RESOLVED :

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 17 February 2003 be confirmed.

53.      DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations made at this stage.

54.      PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

Mr M Swan asked a question in relation to Special Educational Needs tribunals. (PQ 12/03)

Mrs S M Swan asked a question in relation to a Special Educational Needs Working Party. (PQ 13/03)

Mrs S White asked a question in relation to the morning after pill. (PQ 14/03)

A copy of the questions and replies given are contained in the Public Question Register.

55.      SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

The Head of Select Committee and Best Value Support reminded the Select Committee that at its Development Day on 11 March 2003 the possibility of reviewing the Special Educational Needs (SEN) statementing process had been raised. To assist members an informal briefing on the processes involved had taken place on 31 March 2003. This concluded that the statementing process, with particular reference to autism, should be the subject of a review.

With the assistance of Councillor P Joyce a number of key witnesses had been identified. In addition a representative of the IW Parent Partnership would be invited. The Strategic Director for Education and Community Development would invite the Council’s Educational Psychologist together with appropriate officers.

The Head of Select Committee and Best Value Support indicated that the Council would pay reasonable travelling expenses incurred by the key witnesses. An outline was given as to how the meeting on 19 May 2003 could be arranged to assist the attendance of witnesses.

The Select Committee considered the purpose of the review and the need to ensure that it did not replicate any existing work undertaken on the Children’s SEN Best Value Review which had recently been completed.

RESOLVED :

           (a)       THAT the Select Committee undertake a review of the SEN statementing process, with particular reference to autism so to :-

                      (i)        assess the effectiveness of SEN procedures and check that they follow the law particularly with regard to statementing, use of Assessment Panels, working of dispute resolution/ appeals of LEA decisions;

                      (ii)       obtain a clear picture of information needs for Councillors with regard to SEN;

                      (iii)       make recommendations to the Executive in respect of service improvements if necessary.

           (b)       THAT the following persons be asked to attend the next meeting as key witnesses, and reasonable travelling expenses be paid :-

                      (i)        Dr Fiona J Scott, Chartered Psychologist and Research Associate, Autism Research Centre, University of Cambridge;

                      (ii)       a representative of the National Autistic Society;

                      (iii)       Cllr Christine Witcher, member of the Learning and Culture Scrutiny Committee, Oxfordshire County Council.

                      (iv)      Dorothy Harrington, Parent Partnership Officer.

56.      WORKPLAN

The Head of Select Committee and Best Value Support submitted the draft Workplan based on discussions held at the Select Committee’s Development Day on 11 March 2003.

The Strategic Director for Education and Community Development indicated that it would be possible to report on the Post 16 Examination Results at the next meting. In addition it was suggested that the 2003 Performance tables could be included in the workplan for December.

RESOLVED :

THAT the Workplan be agreed subject to the inclusion of Post 16 Examination Results being reported to the 19 May 2003 meeting and 2003 performance tables reported to the 15 December 2003 meeting.

CHAIRMAN