Minutes:
The Overview and Scrutiny Officer referred to the previous discussion on 13 January 2020 with regards to a review topic to present to Cabinet in early 2021.
Performance information in quarter 1 and 2 had shown that the number of Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) completed in the allotted timescale had not met the target of 90%. Members had raised concerns about this and suggested EHCPs as a review topic.
A review of EHCPs would focus on understanding the demand and the reasons driving demand and the proposed objectives of the review would be to examine:
· the criteria and process for EHCPs
· the increased demand and the reasons for this
· how DCC and partners were addressing the demand
· the plans in place to meet future targets and demand
The Chair hoped to bring a scoping report to the meeting in March or April 2020 with a view to starting the review May/June 2020. There would be approximately 4 review group meetings as the review activity needed to be completed and a report presented to Cabinet by early 2021.
Councillor Coult confirmed that EHCPs not being completed in time had a huge impact of families and schools.
Councillor Hall queried whether the scope could be widened to children who fell short of qualifying for an EHCP. The Chair confirmed that the review could not delve into the requirements for an EHCP as this was a matter which would be subject to professional scrutiny.
Councillor Batey confirmed that this would build on the Elective Home Education review group work which had been undertaken and noted that most Councillors had constituents who they knew were struggling with children due to assessments not being completed in a timely manner.