To consider the above report

Members considered the adoption of an inclusion charter which had been developed by young people, parents and carers, schools, health and social care professionals as part of the area’s response to the inspection of services for young people with additional needs by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission in 2017.

Councillor N. Airey explained that the council was committed to building a borough that worked for everyone. Over the last 15 months families, schools, health practitioners and council officers had been working together to improve the experience of families with children with additional needs. Councillor N. Airey welcomed the members of Pacip (the Parent and Carers Forum) and took the opportunity to thank them for all their hard work, advocacy and contributions, particularly over the past 15 months.

This partnership working had been wide-ranging in scope and reflected in the area action plan which was being monitored by Ofsted and the DfE, who reported “excellent leadership” in their report during the summer. Part of that leadership had been the development of the Inclusion Charter which set out the principles that would help every child with additional needs be more included in all aspects of their lives.

Schools had received the Charter, along with materials to bring it to life in assemblies. These included some excellent videos made by pupils for pupils. During this year schools would be asked to assess how well they were set up for inclusion and the Charter would guide them. The Clinical Commissioning Group were adding the Charter’s principles to the expectations they had of health providers. Families and the young people would have a wallet sized card to enable them to raise inclusion, if they needed to, with services of all types.

Councillor N. Airey highlighted Reuben's case study. She asked Members to imagine they were this brilliant little four year old boy with significant medical needs that affected physical development. You were told you were going to your local leisure centre which also had the park out the back, but instead of feeling the excitement most children would, you feel scared. You worry because the disabled bathrooms are not easy to get to and are not child friendly. The play park equipment is not safe for you to use as you are getting bigger, so soon you will not be able to play in the park, or any park, at all.

Councillor N. Airey stated that there was a need to change expectations and the culture of individuals. She was asking councillors for their help across everything the council did: from parks and leisure centres, to parking and housing services. For both children and adults with additional needs, councillors must encourage officers to think about and plan for appropriate inclusion. The same was true outside of the council; when Members were trustees of voluntary groups, active in local communities, societies, churches and other organisations, councillors could and should raise their voices for inclusion. The Charter gave a simple and clear way to raise the key principles. The case studies of Reuben, Bella, Vicky and Jemma in the report highlighted what challenges young people with additional needs faced and how the council could improve life for them. The recommendation was that the Council adopted the Inclusion Charter as a guide to support planning services to help those with additional needs.

Councillor Stretton commented that she supported the thoughts behind the report but the title was confusing; why would the proposals be limited to children and young people?

Councillor Targowska wholeheartedly supported the proposals. The council must work tirelessly so that no segment of society was excluded from the democratic process. It was a no-brainer to expect the council and its partners to ensure they listened to young people and made reasonable adjustments. She thanked all involved.

Councillor Saunders commented that extensive legislation applied to the rights of individuals accessing services of the local authority in relation to care and safeguarding. There were inevitable ambiguities in relation to people of a minor age as to whether they had the same clarity of rights as they had not yet reached independent status. It was therefore reasonable that the council supplemented the legislation under the care and health acts. The proposals made it an unambiguous principle that the voices of young people should be equally heard and were equally relevant.

Councillor Dr L Evans supported the proposals, particularly as she was a council appointed trustee of Heatherwood School. The school had increased capacity and therefore attracted children from outside the borough. The policy did not state if it would apply to those children as well as borough residents.

Councillor Da Costa stated that he was supportive of the general principles and it was good that parents and schools had been consulted in drafting the document. He asked for a breakdown of the 4000 children identified, including the number with statements. He asked what resourcing would be provided to third party clubs and societies if they were also being expected to implement the proposals.

Councillor Stretton asked, in light of the explanation given by Councillor Saunders, for additional wording to be included to explain the proposals were to bring arrangements in line with adult legislation.

Councillor E. Wilson highlighted that the recommendation for improved leadership from the SEND report was clearly being demonstrated by Councillor N Airey. He was aware of young people in his area who were severely disabled and could not go to the shops, the park or the community centre as a result. He had been working for the last three years to arrange additional facilities. The Charter brought it home that all needed to think about these issues when planning facilities.

Councillor Sharp left the meeting.

Councillor N. Airey confirmed that of the 4000 young people identified, circa 900 had an EHCP. Once a school was named on an EHCP the plan applied therefore the Charter was relevant to both residents and those from outside the borough who attended a borough school. She would speak to Cllr Dr L Evans outside the meeting in relation to Cheapside. In relation to the comments by Councillor Da Costa, she would look at what support could be provided to third party clubs and societies. The proposals were not simply to bring arrangements in line with legislation, they were a result of the Action Plan involving the borough, schools and the CCG, monitored by Ofsted and the DfE. The Charter was about leadership and building a borough for everyone.

It was proposed by Councillor N. Airey, seconded by Councillor Targowska, and:

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Councilnotes the report and:

i)       Adopts the inclusion charter set out in Appendix 1 and endorses its use as guidance to all service planning on behalf of this Council.

ii)        Agrees that Councillors will promote the wider adoption of the inclusion charter and it’s principles with external bodies and groups which serve the residents of the Royal Borough.