Headteacher Briefings: Aut 2005: Units Review

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Units ReviewHeadteacher Briefings Autumn
Term 2005
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Whatever happened to the Units Review?

• Members agreed the principles in 2003 as part of
  a suite of papers including the role of the
  special school, EY provision etc
• While the special school review has moved on as
  planned, the Unit concept has become
  progressively more dated in light of Clusters,
  better information about childrens needs and the
  advent of childrens services
• A new much clearer picture has now emerged and
  Martyn Doole has been chosen to take it forward,
  under the aegis of a new multi-agency group.

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Units Review (facts 1)

• Current arrangements go back to 1994
• As with special schools, formal designation etc
  lost in the mists of time - DfES has no record
  either!
• Schools have 25.3m delegated for statements,
  21.9m allocated by formula 3.4m for 485
  children with very severe and complex needs
• Funding delegated via formula for units comprises
  fixed sum (34k for most, 10k for VI), place
  numbers, unit designation and audit of needs

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Units Review (facts 2)

• Largest unit has 65 places (Malling), many in
  primary with single figures
• 2005/6 8.5m delegated for 57 units in 52 schools
  with 904 places. Place funding ranges from 2.5k
  to 10k) 0.7m exceptional need in addition.
• Travel to units is expensive!

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Units Review (issues 1)

• Provision is inconsistent across Kent
• Unit provision is isolated from EY, special
  schools and mainstream provision (in some cases
  even where its on a school site)
• Provision does not match current needs e.g.
  growing autism numbers, PD units now
  anachronistic when schools are more accessible,
  HI improved by surgery, many more children with
  severe and complex needs - out County risk
• There is a place costing mismatch between special
  schools and units

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Units Review (issues 2)

• Variable links with SSD Disability teams and
  health, unit staff isolated from many networks
• Not yet fully linked with development of
  Childrens Centres, 10 year Childcare Strategy
  and BSF
• School with Units have to account for results for
  all children in the school - can have adverse
  impact
• Concept of separate units for children with
  physical disability is anachronistic in light of
  improvements to accessibility and DDA requirements

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Units Review (proposals 1)

• Refresh Unit concept to make it more flexible and
  responsive to Cluster need, less permanent
  arrangements, more linkage with wider childrens
  services and special schools
• Commission provision requirements from each
  Cluster through the planning cycle
• Change the way statements are written to describe
  criteria for provision rather than an admission
  requirement

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Units Review (proposals 2)

• Generate Cluster Lead Schools for different
  needs, accountable to and funded through the
  Cluster Board
• These schools to manage all their staff through
  the Headteacher
• Strategy, monitoring and evaluation of provision,
  CPD and networking links for teachers in units
  need to be brought together with specialist
  teachers in clusters

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Units Review (proposals 3)

• Consider how clusters can apply a cap to
  numbers of additionally resourced children at any
  school that will satisfy a Tribunal
• Develop new costing systems relevant to current
  need types and consistent with other provision
  (e.g. special schools)
• Bring early years provisions fully into the
  strategy, together with other agencies
• Approach consultation processes with appropriate
  thoroughness combined with urgency

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Timetable - Key dates

• Education Libraries POC November 2005
• Options agreed for consultation January 2006
• Formal consultation Jan - March 2006
• SOAB agreement to consult on May/June 2006
• proposed designations
• Statutory consultation on Sept/Oct 2006
• individual proposals
• Implementation - phase 1 September 2007