Conservative Councillor Frances Nicholson has pressed Somerset Council for answers over whether children with special educational needs and disabilities had suitable school places in place for the start of the new academic year.
Cllr Nicholson raised the issue at Somerset Council's Executive meeting on 2nd September, following concerns earlier in the summer about significant delays completing SEND phase transfers.
At a briefing for councillors in June, members were told that large numbers of children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) still did not have their suitable September placement finalised.
Cllr Nicholson asked for updated figures on how many children now had placements, how many were still waiting and what education would be provided to children unable to begin at their intended school or setting at the start of term.
Placements confirmed
In its response, Somerset Council said that on 10th June there were 182 children in the cohort up to Year 6 whose phase transfer had not been completed, representing 48% of the cohort.
For the Year 11 cohort, 353 children, or 78%, did not have their phase transfer in place.
By the beginning of September, the council said suitable placements had been confirmed for 357 children in the younger cohort and 425 in the Year 11 cohort, with all of those children able to attend from the beginning of the September term.
The council noted that the overall number of children in the cohorts had changed since June as children moved into and out of Somerset.
35 children receiving interim provision
Cllr Nicholson also sought details about children who would not be able to begin the term in a suitable school placement and what provision would be made for them in the meantime.
The council confirmed that, as of 2nd September, 35 children would have a SEND interim package in place, comprising 16 children in age groups up to Year 6 and 19 in the Year 11 cohort.
For every other child in the phase transfer cohorts, the council said a school or setting had been agreed for a September start.
The Liberal Democrat administration said it expected the "vast majority" of the remaining 35 children to have a school place by the October half-term.
Tutoring and mentoring while children wait
Cllr Nicholson asked specifically how children still waiting for a placement would receive education that met their needs in the meantime.
The council said interim packages would primarily consist of tutoring and mentoring, and that sufficient provision was available to meet demand.
A small team of officers has also been assigned specifically to work with settings and families, with the aim of securing school placements for children in this remaining group no later than the October half-term.
The interim packages are initially being agreed until that point.
