Complex communication needs (CCN) bases in schools
What is happening with bases at schools?
Our answer about CCN bases in schools
We are investing in developing more CCN provision in each locality and are consulting with a number of schools to host one. Rather than bases, they will be known as resourced provision where the children are provided with specialist intervention to enable them to access the mainstream experience alongside their peers, as well as receiving specific targeted intervention.
Question about CCN bases in upper schools
We're interested in knowing the progress being made in finding mainstream upper schools willing to take on a CCN base in the Wimborne or Ferndown area.
Our answer about CCN bases in upper schools
We're in the process of consulting the 2 upper schools in East Dorset and hope to have an update by early autumn.
Question about provision for children who cannot cope with mainstream school but don't qualify for a special school
What is being done for those children that don't meet the criteria for a special school but can't cope within mainstream? Particularly around CCN base secondary places.
Our answer about provision for children who cannot cope with mainstream school but don't qualify for a special school
All schools have a link educational psychologist (EP) and specialist teacher and we ask schools to draw on these professionals to support them to understand what they can do differently to meet children's needs.
We have specialist teachers who have expertise in autism spectrum condition (ASC) and deliver training and coaching to staff in schools. Alongside this we are committed to increasing our outreach offer from our special schools to mainstream schools.
Question about children who need an alternative provision
Where do children go that are academically very bright but don't fit in a mainstream or typical school environment or CCN?
We could do with provision like The Beeches or The Stable in West Dorset. This might reduce Independent Services Plans (ISP) places.
Our answer about children who need an alternative provision
We're working with out mainstream schools to remove barriers and with our mental health services to improve the offer.
Question about improving the specialist or alternative provision in the East locality
Are there plans to improve the specialist and alternative provision in the East locality?
Our answer about improving the specialist or alternative provision in the East locality
Yes, we will be looking to expand our CCN provision in the East and are working with our special schools in the East to expand their own provision for our children.
Question about lack of spaces in full-time special schools
Hi all, can I please ask a question about what is happening in the here and now about the problems with the lack of spaces in the full-time local authority SEN schools?
It's wonderful that there is an ambitious strategy for all our children and young adults and that there is investment for new SEN schools, but these things take time to embed. What happens to our children that need a more specialist placement now but are caught in the nightmare of there being no space and parents having to go through the very difficult and emotional process of appeals and tribunals to try and get the right placement for our children with complex needs? Is there a joined-up approach across the board to provide better SEN provision in mainstream schools and more CCN provision which might hopefully free up spaces in the full-time SEN schools and make the process and wait times easier?
It's heartbreaking that our children now have to fall 4 to 5 years behind before they can get a specialist placement. As a parent I would like to help where I can. Thank you.
Our answer about lack of spaces in full-time special schools
We're also investing in developing more CCN provision in each locality and are consulting with a number of schools to host one.
There are plans to develop the provision in some of our own maintained special schools. We're working in partnership with the special schools to increase their capacity to support our mainstream schools by developing an offer of inclusion support to sit alongside the specialist teacher and educational psychology offer.
Question about accessing specialist provision for secondary school
Our son has complex communication needs and is a good boy in school, but explodes when he arrives home as he feels comfortable with us to offload. We were told he is unlikely to receive specialist provision again for secondary due to him not having severe behaviour issues within the school.
We have also had to fight for direct payments to support the family. Why should children that want to follow the rules and want to be good get discriminated against?
Our answer about accessing specialist provision for secondary school
I'm sorry to hear this. We have family support workers in each locality who provide support to families and are a bridge between home and school. They can work with both the family and school to intervene.