Agenda item

Report of Strategic Director, Care Wellbeing and Learning

Committee received a presentation from Michelle Richards, Executive Headteacher as Eslington Primary School and Furrowfield School.

Eslington Primary School provides support for children with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs, aged 5-11. The school operates over two sits and has 64 pupils, the school has the capacity for 68 pupils including two permanent excluded emergency places.  Furrowfield School has 73 pupils aged 11-16 with SEMH needs, the school is currently two over capacity. The school also has a residential unit with 14 beds for pupils who require 24 hour care and education.

It was noted that pupils with SEMH difficulties often have extremely challenging behaviour. In addition, approximately 98% of pupils have additional needs as well as SEMH, such as; ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ASD, ODD, Muscular Dystrophy, Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. A lot of pupils have very complex mental health issues.

Across both schools there are 25 Looked After Children, four pupils adopted from care, 10 pupils on the Child Protection register and seven children in need.  Early intervention work is ongoing with 20 pupils.  At Eslington school, 43% of pupils are in receipt of free school meals and 41% at Furrowfield. Therefore the schools are dealing with the most deprived, challenging pupils. It was noted that many of the pupils who leave the school return to this specialist provision because their needs are not being met at mainstream schools.

The challenges faced by the schools and its pupils were identified, including the cuts to funding streams with vulnerable pupils in the North East being hit the hardest and access to support services becoming increasingly difficult. Levels of classroom support have been cut due to budget cuts, as well as the change to Universal Credit affecting families of pupils attending the school. There are also difficulties around accessing health services, in particular mental health services, for pupils and parents. The schools are also facing challenges in terms of social problems such as drugs, legal highs, alcohol abuse, smoking which affects pupils coming into school, particularly Key Stage 4 pupils. Domestic violence and family breakdowns is also negatively impacting on pupils, it was reported that two pupils have slept rough recently due to a family breakdown and running from care.  It was acknowledged that, despite the challenges, the schools are meeting targets and results while managing behaviour. Four Ofsted inspections have been carried out over the last year, Furrowfield was judged good and Eslington was outstanding.

In terms of successes it was reported that 44% of pupils attained age related expectations at the end of KS2, 100% of pupils who have the cognitive ability to attain made expected or exceeded levels of progress. Five pupils out of 13 attained at least one grade C or above GCSE, and 10 of the pupils out of 13 are in education, training or employment. It was also noted that three pupils made the successful transition into secondary mainstream schools in year 7. Committee was advised of one young person who lived at the residential provision due to his mother being a heroin addict, he was allowed home at weekends and, due to the positive progress made in all areas, his support was reduced from Child Protection to Child in Need.  It was also reported that the school is the only special school to receive the Rights Respecting School Award.

Expertise are being shared across the region as well as outside the region in Lincolnshire, in order to raise funds. Discussions are also ongoing with Special Headteachers around mental health strategies and programmes for staff and pupils.  It was noted that at Furrowfield a full time psychotherapist has been appointed to offer intense therapeutic work, there is also a licensed life coach who the school is selling out to other schools, the school is starting to promote a multi-agency team to promote mental health.

The point was made that previously Furrowfield focused on the discipline of its pupils but is now focused more on the education of the pupils, it was felt that this should be encouraged.  It was acknowledged that if there is one protective factor in a child’s life, for example their home life, the school and the child can succeed.

It was questioned whether there is a waiting list for the schools. It was confirmed that there continues to be demand for SEMH places and more provision is needed. The size of Eslington school has doubled over two sites, however, to increase numbers further would require a further site. It was also noted that a Child Protection Social Worker lead is needed in order to complete the multi-agency approach.  Progress of each child is tracked through Connexions and links post 16.

It was queried how many permanently excluded pupils are transferred to Eslington and Furrowfield. It was confirmed that two permanent excluded places are held for pupils with no Education, Health, Care Plan (EHCP). The Behaviour Team are liaised with so the school knows what to expect. It was questioned what happens to those pupils who do not have anywhere to go. It was acknowledged that the High Needs budget is overspent and more young people are not fitting into mainstream schools, therefore mainstream schools are being encouraged to deal with these challenging pupils within their own provision. It was also confirmed that there are not many pupils with EHCP’s in the Pupil Referral Unit as if they had a plan base on mental health needs they should be in Furrowfield not the PRU.

The re-inclusion rate was queried and it was confirmed that the number of pupils moving into mainstream school is low and is not necessarily used as a measure of success. It was noted that the schools still deliver mainstream education whilst addressing SEMH needs.

It was questioned who funds residential places. It was confirmed that these places are funded by the Council, per child money is based on where the child is funded, £10,000 plus top up funding. Residential place get more on top and although this is expensive it avoids the need for a child to go into care which would cost more if the provision was not there.

RESOLVED    -           That the Committee considered the successes of provision for

SEMH pupils in the borough and current challenges to maintain high quality provision.