National Strategic Commissioning Group minutes: February 2024

Attendees and apologies

• Margaret Orr, Independent Chair
• Craighalbert Centre, representing grant-aided special schools (GASS)
• CALL Scotland, representing CALL, Scottish Sensory Centre and Enquire
• The National Parent Forum of Scotland (NPFS)
• Scottish Council for Independent Schools
• Association of Scottish Principal Educational Psychologists (ASPEP)
• Association of the Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES)
• Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland
• Coalition of Care & Support Providers in Scotland and Educating Through Care Scotland
• Scottish Government (SG)

Apologies

• Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)
• Education Scotland (ES)

Items and actions

Welcomes and introductions

The Chair welcomed members of the National Strategic Commissioning Group (NSCG) to the first meeting of 2024.

Note of last meeting (13 December 2023)

A copy of the note from the previous meeting was circulated to members in advance of the meeting. Members were in agreement the note accurately reflected discussions and were content for it to be published on the group’s webpage. The Chair provided updates on the actions from the previous meeting.

Group members were asked to provide written feedback on the options, or alternatives in relation to the next steps following published research report in September 2023. These comments were received and incorporated into a paper on next steps following research to be presented today.

The Scottish Government were to update the webpages for the group and review the publication of minutes before April 2021. Members were updated that work on the webpage is currently underway and is on track for Summer 2024 completion. Further updates will be provided at the group’s meetings in June and September.

Next steps following research

The Scottish Government introduced a paper outlining the feedback received on the options presented at the previous meeting along with proposed next steps for the group’s activity in light of the feedback. The following summarised feedback was received on the options and next steps were proposed to members in December 2023:

1. Professional Learning

• Broad support was received subject to detailed costs and confirmation of available budget. An updated proposal has been developed for the group’s consideration at today’s meeting.

2. Parental Advice

• The group were supportive of this option, but had concerns of duplication with the work in this area being undertaken as part of the ASL Action Plan delivery. It was proposed the group consider any work in this area to be led by the ASL Project Board, aligned to the ASL Action Plan and Morgan Review.

3. Presumption of mainstream

• The group were not supportive of work being undertaken in this area as it was not deemed a priority focus for the group. It was proposed this option should not be progressed further.

4. Placements for children with complex additional support needs

• The group were not supportive of this option. Whilst it was considered an important area for consistent practice, the group did not deem it a priority focus for the group’s activity. It was proposed this option should not be progressed further at this point, but will be kept under consideration for the future.

In addition to proceeding with option (a), the Scottish Government presented two further options to be included in the group’s activity for the next 12 months. These were:

• Refresh the draft strategic commissioning operational plan that was prepared in 2019. The operational plan outlines the process by which services would be commissioned. This would be brought to the group’s meeting in June.
• Building on the 2023 research findings, undertake an evaluation of the capacity of enhanced support provision and services that are in use across local authorities in the provision of support for pupils with complex additional support needs. The aim would be to build upon our evidence base of where there are sufficient services and where there is capacity for improvement to support decision making on priority areas for services to be commissioned. For example, there are known concerns in relation to the provision of support for pupils who have identified needs arising from neurodivergence. If agreed, the Scottish Government will develop a detailed proposal with partners for taking this work forward.

During the discussion, the following points were raised by members:

• Focus on specific additional support needs such as those arising from neurodivergence may not be appropriate for this group to progress. The group’s remit is support for pupils with complex additional support needs regardless of where those needs arise. Clarity would be welcome on the budget for this work.
• If taken forward, it will be important to engage with ’local authorities at the earliest opportunity to begin the evaluation of enhanced support provision in use. The ADES Additional Support Needs and ASPEP networks could inform these discussions.
• This work should include GASS and independent specialist provision, to get a complete view of national provision.
• Specific consideration should be given to children and young people with neurodivergence, complex medical needs, and personal care needs.
• Consideration could be given to staffing ratios within enhanced provision.

The group were content to take forward this recommendation in principal, noting all points raised during the discussion. A draft proposal will be brought to the Commissioning Group at its meeting in June.

Actions:

• Scottish Government to update the draft strategic commissioning operational plan (that was originally prepared in 2019), the plan will need to be presented to the NSCG in June
• Scottish Government to develop a detailed proposal for an evaluation of the capacity of enhanced support provision and services that are in use across local authorities in the provision of support for pupils with complex additional support needs for members’ consideration

Leadership pathways

The Scottish Government introduced a paper updating on the progress with the leadership pathways proposal agreed at the group’s meeting in April 2021. Work has so far been focussed on the Into Headship programme. Potential local authorities, interested in offering host school and participants for the proposed placement trials, have been identified. A couple of possible issues were highlighted. Firstly, the potential risk that only a small portion of the participants would be able to take advantage of the placements whilst undertaking the Into Headship programme due to its existing demands. Secondly, the Into Headship programme does not currently involve any placement element, and any changes to the programme (such as the introduction of a placement element) would be considered a significant change and would therefore need to be considered as part of the next reaccreditation process, which is next due in 2026.

In light of progress to-date and potential issues, the following next steps were identified:

• Consideration is given to the enhancement of content within the Into Headship programme’s online learning modules on the legislative roles of being a headteacher. These modules are hosted on Education Scotland’s website. Subject to the group’s agreement, the Into Headship Oversight Group will be informed that work will take place with the aim of reviewing and updating content within the modules ahead of the Autumn 2024-25 cohort, or as soon as possible thereafter.
• Consider any further opportunities, linked to quality assurance of the programme, to enhance aspects related to understanding and leadership of complex additional support needs in the Into Headship programme in line with the Standard for Headship. Any work in this area would follow the above update and take place ahead of the programme’s reaccreditation in 2026.
• Undertake a trial of week-long placements in special schools for depute heads from mainstream provisions (working in collaboration with the special school heads) in 2024-25. The placement schools would be identified from local authority, independent and grant-aided special school (GASS) provision by a design group formed of representatives from relevant stakeholder groups. This design group would also collaborate on a programme of professional learning to support leaders taking part in the placements. In order to maximise this opportunity and proceed at pace, this trial will be offered in the first instance to those who have completed the Into Headship programme. The trial would be evaluated by partners from the design group. The evaluation would inform a future decision on the value of a placement element to existing leadership programmes, including Into Headship.

Two further opportunities to develop complex additional support needs professional learning were also identified:

• Following the evaluation of the placements trial outlined above, options would be identified to align to wider work on education leadership.
• Consideration could also be given to the professional learning opportunities available to promote an understanding of complex additional support needs to a broader range of the education workforce. This would link with work underway by Education Scotland on the development of a professional learning framework for inclusion.

Costs associated with the development of the options and the trial placement would be met through the Doran Review's budget for national strategic commissioning, subject to Ministerial approval. Members were asked to consider if they would like be part of the trial placements design group. Interest should be communicated to the SG secretariat.

Members were content to proceed with the options in principle. Updates on this work will be provided at future meetings. This will include the associated costs, which are subject the agreement of Ministers.

Action:

• Scottish Government to work with Education Scotland on the review and update of their Into Headship module content on the legislative role of being a headteacher
• Scottish Government to consider, with partners, any further opportunities, linked to quality assurance of the Into Headship Programme, to enhance aspects related to understanding and leadership of additional support for learning for pupils with complex additional support needs
• Chair to convene a design group to develop the trial of a placement programme to run in the 2024-25 school year. Details and associated costs will be submitted to the Scottish Government and the NSCG for the agreement of Scottish Ministers before the trial commences
• NSCG members to consider whether they would like to be part of the Trial Placements Design Group and inform the SG secretariat accordingly
• Education Scotland to consider the professional learning opportunities available to promote an understanding of complex additional support needs to a broader range of the education workforce - this would link with work underway by Education Scotland on the development of a professional learning framework for inclusion

Any other business

No other business was raised. The Chair thanked members for their attendance and contributions.

Date of next meeting

The Chair updated members on the date and nature of their next meeting:

• Wednesday 12th June 2024

 

Scottish Government