19 May 2023 weekly update

Dear Colleagues,

A busy week with much of my time spent in meetings.

At Children and Young People’s Cabinet Committee on Tuesday, a lively debate was generated firstly by our paper on Services provided by The Education People (TEP) and then the reviewed Countywide Approach to Inclusive Education. With regard to TEP and early years, I do need to give some reassurance that contrary to comments made on Radio Kent, we are certainly not cutting 25% of Early Years Services. The paper focused on the three-year budget reduction to TEP (2023/24 to 2025/26). This amounts to £400K in this financial year of which the EY elements of the amount is £129,000. This equates to less than 3% of the total early years spend within the TEP contract and is in line with the Council’s budget agreed in February 2023.

Also on Tuesday, Kent hosted a visit by His Majesty’s Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman and her team, which included finding out more about UASC, a tour of one of the East Kent College Group (EKCG) sites and a multi-agency meeting in the afternoon. Ms Spielman also visited Broomhill Bank School. This was a great opportunity to talk in some detail about both the challenges and positive developments across Kent and thank you to all that supported the visit.

Audit and Governance Committee took place on Thursday and included an agenda item on SEND transport management response. The report provides a detailed update on actions completed and underway in Children, Young People and Education (CYPE) and Growth, Environment and Transport (GET) directorates. Governance and Law indicated they will be updating on their actions at the July committee meeting.

School Funding Forum took place today and in the afternoon Alison Farmer, AD SEN, and I presented a briefing session for the Scrutiny SEND subcommittee on the statutory framework for SEND, prior to the next meeting which is focused on EHCPs.

I previously circulated the details of the forthcoming headteacher briefings which I hope you will be able to attend. The full agenda will be circulated after half-term but I am delighted it will include input from participants in our Inclusive Leaders of Education as well as HMI Lee Selby. In response to your feedback we are also building in an opportunity to network with colleagues and officers.

• Tonbridge and Malling - Monday 19 June, 1pm to 4pm - The Hop Farm
• Dartford - Thursday 22 June, 9am to 12 noon - Birchwood Park Golf Club
• Folkestone and Hythe - Friday 23 June, 9am to 12noon - Hythe Imperial Hotel
• Canterbury - Thursday 29 June, 1pm to 4pm - The University of Kent.

To reserve your place please use the booking form

We are also in the process of setting up the second set of meetings for Academy Chief Executives which will take place on the morning of Monday 3 July in the South and afternoon in the North.

We have included my recent letter to the sector in this bulletin - we are seeking to send education leaders to work with us on the SEND improvement journey and I do hope you will give this opportunity your consideration. I am taking leave from Thursday 25 May so no Kelsi e-bulletin next week I’m afraid. Do enjoy your half term when it comes.

Best wishes

Christine McInnes
Director of Education