Special Schools in Devon

Please provide the following information in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000:

For each special school (section 41 approved) in the Devon area:

1. The current total student numbers and student capacity for each school

Section 41 schools are independent and therefore Devon County Council does not hold information relating to student numbers and student capacity. Capacity information should be sought directly from each school.

2. For each academic year from 1 September 2018 to date, the total student numbers and student capacity for each school

Please refer to the answer to question 1.

3. For each academic year from 1 September 2018 to date, the pupil admission number for each year group broken down by academic year from 1 September 2018 to date

Special Schools do not determine a Published Admission Number (PAN) in the way mainstream schools do. Their capacity in each cohort is a matter for the school according to its resources and how they have already been deployed.

4. For each academic year from 1 September 2018 to date, the number of students on the school roll for each year group on the following dates:
a) 1 September
b) 30 April

Devon County Council does not hold this information.

5. For each academic year from 1 September 2018 to date, the total funding provided by Devon County Council

Devon County Council does not hold information by academic year.  This is because we budget and monitor in financial years, not academic years.

Information in response is provided in this Funding paid to special schools (financial years) spreadsheet.

6. For each academic year from 1 September 2018 to date, the mandatory training requirements for case managers in the SEN 0-25 Team

There is no SEN specific mandatory training. Although the service has reviewed this and is putting in place a training programme this year.

Staff have been expected to complete the following mandatory training:
•  Prevent
•  Fire Safety
•  Health and safety
•  Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
•  Data protection and Cyber security

All training is on the job and through coaching and covers the below competencies

Side by Side Coaching – EHC Needs Assessment

  • Shadow a team member as they complete the tasks in relation to your role
  1. Receiving requests for assessments
  2. 6 week decisions
  3. 16 week decisions
  4. Issuing draft EHCPs
  5. Issuing Final EHCPs
  6. Assigning Funding levels
  7. Managing Data – using IT systems
  8. Move in and move out of DCC

Side by Side Coaching – Review and Maintenance of EHCPs

  • Shadow a team member as they complete the tasks in relation to your role
  1. Reviewing an EHC Plan
  2. Transfer between phases of education.
  3. Amending an existing Plan – proposed amendments
  4. Issuing amended EHCPs
  5. Finalising EHCPs
  6. Assigning Funding to EHCPs
  7. Managing Data – using IT systems
  8. Move in and move out of DCC

All Team members have completed

Safeguarding Children Level 3 – designated officer course – Managers

Level 2  CPRA Child Protection Raising Awareness – all team

Level 2  CPRA Child Protection Raising Awareness – all team

7. The job description and person criteria for each job role in the SEN 0-25 Team

SEN Support Officer

SEN Co-ordinator

SEN Area Education Officer

SEN Team Manager

SEN Assessment Co-ordinator

SEN Mediation and Tribunal Officer

SEN Mediation and Tribunal Support

SEN Planning and Contracts Officer

Senior Manager SEND

8. The minutes of all meetings at which pupil admission numbers/ pupil admission for ACE Tiverton School and Glendinning Academy (Newton Abbott) were discussed from 1 September 2020 to date

Devon County Council does not hold this information. Both establishments are free, special schools within the Wave Multi Academy Trust (MAT). As such, the meeting was held by the MAT, not the Local Authority.