Issue - meetings

The Panel considered and noted the report of the Scrutiny Manager recommending that the Panel consider the appended information on SEND pressures, the SEND Capital Programme and home to school transport and the approaches proposed to address the identified challenges.

Cllr Winning – Cabinet Member for Children and Learning, Tammy Marks – Head of SEND, Pete Boustred – Head of Transport and Planning and Annamarie Hooper – Service Manager, Service Delivery, Performance & Compliance were in attendance and, with the consent of the Chair, addressed the meeting.

The Panel received a presentation, attached to the papers of the meeting, setting out the various factors and considerations relating to the provision of home to school transport including potential plans to enhance and improve the service whilst attempting to address an increase in demand.

The Panel discussed a number of points including:

• The proposed changes to eligibility criteria in the draft policy;
• Timescales for the school travel service transformation programme;
• Opportunities to reduce the cost of the service;
• The growing demand for SEND services in the city;
• The SEND capital programme and the need to improve SEND provision and consistency within mainstream schools in Southampton.