Recommendations for post-16 High Needs provision
A report commission by the Local Government Association, the Association of Colleges and Natspec has set out key recommendations for improving post-16 High Needs provision. The recommendations address funding, transitions, strategic planning and joined up working. They include calls for:
- More collaboration throughout the psot-16 community – between Local Authorities (Las), between LAs and providers, between post-16 further education and other providers, this could be supported by a having a single repository for data on High Needs students
- Proactive planning to identify where new provision might be needed
- Better transitions between life stages and settings, including from secondary to further education and beyond ensuring that “cliff edges” around provision are avoided
- An improvement in the content of EHCPs making them more fit for post-16 purposes.
- Funding to reflect the central focus on delivering successful outcomes for young people and be central to having this fundamental principle restated
The report concludes by highlighting how LAs and providers can use existing practice to develop stronger and more robust approaches to post-16 High Needs provision and meet many of the recommendations. It also notes how the potentially more radical proposals, particularly with regards to funding, are also entirely achievable.
The full report is can be read by following this link.
