Cllr Helen Binmore's speech to the Council Meeting on Wednesday evening
Mayor, I am delighted to second this motion, which once again demonstrates this Councils commitment to delivering a ‘Borough of Opportunity’ for ALL children in order to give them the very best start in life.
This Council prides itself upon our ‘Schools of Choice’ strategy, which aims to provide a top quality education for all children, including all those who attend our range of ‘Outstanding’ Special Schools that we’ve heard about tonight.
To give this some context, some 26% of the 17 000 children in our schools have some form of Special Educational Need, so this area is of real significance to many of our residents.
Therefore nearly 2 years ago Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh commissioned a review of S.E.N. provision in the borough to ensure that it was being delivered appropriately and to ensure that we deliver our manifesto pledge to make the statementing process less adversarial.
During the short time of the review a lot has been achieved and many more plans are in the pipeline, for example:
- Acoustics in schools have been surveyed and improvements made so children with hearing impairments can now more easily access the curriculum.
- The provision of Speech and Language and Occupational Therapy has increased allowing for more early intervention.
- Provision for pupils with Dyslexia and Specific Learning Disabilities has increased with more specially qualified teachers in our schools.
- Respite provision is being strengthened and this will be widened even further with Autistic specific respite planned at the new Queensmill School site.
- Successful travel training has taken place giving young people with S.E.N. the opportunity to become more independent, not only does this support their transition into adulthood it has received positive feedback from both students and their parents alike.
- The new Hydrotherapy pool at Jack Tizard is a great success and enjoyed by children from all over the borough.
- A Special Educational Needs website is in the pipeline which will further improve involvement and communication and build on the successful S.E.N. Newsletter, AND
- The number of tribunals and appeals are decreasing. Working towards this manifesto pledge means a better outcome for parents, appropriate educational outcomes for children, and not least the best possible use of resources.
In summary, top quality local provision, tri-borough working and this review are all enabling the best possible outcomes and use of resources.
This administration acknowledges that ‘one size does not fit all’ and is proud of this Boroughs diverse portfolio of schools ranging from:
- our ‘Outstanding’ Special Schools, and
- our ‘Outstanding’ Pupil Referral Unit that we’ve already heard about tonight,
- to the two hugely popular new Free Schools,
- our two highly sort-after Academies,
- the recently announced new Studio School as part of the Fulham College Federation,
- our over subscribed Voluntary Aided and greatly improving Local Community Schools.
Here in H&F we have some of the most outstanding head teachers in the country, schools are thinking creatively and exploring exciting opportunities, and more proposals for Federations, conversion to Academy status, and new Free Schools are in the pipeline.
More local parents are choosing local schools. We will deliver much needed additional primary places and ensure a top quality education for all local residents.
That is our policy and I commend it to the Council.
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