SEND Suciency Plan
October 2023
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 1 of 52
SEND Sufficiency Plan ....................................................................................................... 0
1: Introduction ................................................................................................................. 2
2: The Current Picture ......................................................................................................... 6
3. Future Demand ................................................................................................................. 9
4. Kent Provision ................................................................................................................ 15
5. Recommendations to improve future SEND sufficiency planning ......................... 39
6. Funding ........................................................................................................................... 45
7. Next Steps ....................................................................................................................... 46
8. Glossary .......................................................................................................................... 47
9. Appendices ..................................................................................................................... 51
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 2 of 52
1: Introduction
Kent’s Strategy for Children and Young People with SEND 2021-2024 sets out an
ambition to ensure that “Children and young people experience a high quality,
inclusive education within the most appropriate setting to meet their needs”; and that
we “ensure children and young people with SEND are included in their local
community.”
1
The SEND Code of Practice sets out that for most children with SEND,
there is a presumption that their education will be within a mainstream setting and
KCC’s ambition is that most children and young people with an EHCP will also be
able to access appropriate provision within or within a reasonable distance of their
local community.
2
The County Council has a statutory duty under section 14 of the Education Act 1996,
to ensure there is a sufficiency of school places available to meet the needs of all
children and young people living within our authority. This includes the need to
secure provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
In addition, section 315 of the Education Act 1996 requires that arrangements for
children with SEND be kept under review. 'Special educational needs' is a legal
definition and refers to children with learning problems or disabilities that make it
harder for them to learn than most children of the same age. Those with more
complex needs will have an integrated assessment and, where appropriate, a single
Education, Health and Care plan for their support.
3
In March 2022, the government published its SEND review: right support, right place,
right time. “The SEND Review sets out government’s proposals for a system that
offers children and young people the opportunity to thrive, with access to the right
support, in the right place, and at the right time, so they can fulfil their potential and
lead happy, healthy and productive adult lives.”
4
To meet the needs of children with SEND, a range of education provision is available
in Kent, within both mainstream and special schools, to provide the best education to
support individual pupil needs. Kent has 24 Special schools, including two new
schools opened in recent years, and will have a 25
th
Special school for secondary
age young people with SEMH opening on the Isle of Sheppey in September 2024.
Some Kent mainstream schools have dedicated SEN Specialist Resource Provisions
(SRPs) which are specially designed to support pupils with specific special
educational needs alongside a mainstream education. Pupils attending a school with
named Specialist Resource Provision will have access to specialist timetabled
lessons as well as attending mainstream lessons with peers, where appropriate. At
the same time, research is constantly being undertaken into ways to support children
with various needs to remain within mainstream settings, alongside their peers, in
1
Strategy for Children with Special Educaonal Needs and Disabilies.
2
SEND Code of Pracce 0 to 25
3
SEND Code of Pracce, January 2015
4
Summary of the SEND Review, Right Support Right Place Right Time
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 3 of 52
their local communities. As mainstream schools develop their expertise on special
needs education, they are more able to provide for increased numbers of children
with an Education Health and Care Plan. In order to support the consistency of
approach to inclusion for children and young people with SEN across Kent’s
mainstream schools, KCC has implemented a detailed programme of training for
schools, to include whole school nurture and an Inclusion Leadership Development
programme. Further information on Kent’s approach to supporting children and
young people within mainstream settings can be seen within KCC’s “Countywide
Approach to Inclusive Education (2023- 2028)” which sets out standards and
expectations for inclusive education in Kent.
5
These were agreed following extensive
and detailed collaboration with schools, settings, parent/carers, young people, and
other key stakeholders. The CATIE was informed by the SEND Code of Practice, the
Kent Strategy for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and/or
Disabilities 2021-24 and research published in the Local Government Association
report ‘Developing and sustaining an effective local SEND system.’
Kent is the largest local authority by population with 246,585 pupils
6
. It has a
statistically significant number of pupils with an Educational Health Care Plan
(EHCP). The number of EHCPs in January 2023 was 18,930. The percentage of
Kent school age children (5 to 19 years) with an Education, Health and Care Plan
(EHCP) was between 2.9% and 3.1% of the cohort between 2015 to 2017. This had
increased to 3.8% by January 2020 and to 5.2% of the school age population by
January 2023.
7
In England in 2023 the percentage of pupils with an EHCP was
4.3%. This includes all state-funded nursery, primary, secondary and special schools,
non-maintained special schools, pupil referral units and independent schools.
8
The increase in Kent, both in percentage and numbers (as the school population has
grown overall), has led to an increased reliance on independent providers. Kent has
greater proportions of children supported in either special or independent schools
than national averages. In response to this level of demand and range of presenting
needs, a range of long and short-term solutions have been implemented across
KCC’s maintained specialist sector providers as well as in many mainstream
schools. Examples of the impact of this rapid growth can be seen in both the range
of pupils’ identified EHCP primary need in many individual special schools who have
had to adapt quickly to meet the needs of their current pupil cohorts, in the growth of
satellite classes and in the number of schools that have had to give up specialist
curriculum accommodation or important social spaces to create more classroom
capacity. The demand for specialist places has been significant. We have continued
to invest in provision; however, this has still been insufficient to meet demand
resulting in an even greater use of independent sector providers. 1,800 additional
5
Countywide Approach to Inclusive Educaon
6
KELSI Facts and Figures 2022
7
Explore Educaon Stascs
8
Explore Educaon Stascs, Special Educaonal Needs in England
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 4 of 52
special school places have been created (43% increase) over 5 years. In addition,
the number of Specialist Resource Provision (SRP) places has increased by almost
500 places (70% increase) over the same 5-year period. Kent has 74 SRPs, an
increase of 12 since 2016.
Our increased reliance on independent sector providers, rate of increase in growth of
EHCPs – outstripping the rate of growth in all other local authorities - and higher
percentages of children and young people being educated in specialist education
provision rather than in mainstream, has led to financial pressures and the inclusion
of Kent in the Department for Education’s Safety Valve programme.
9
By entering into
the Safety Valve agreement with the DfE, we will be putting in place a range of
measures to make sure appropriate provision is available. This will include ensuring
there is sufficient and consistent capacity across the county to support children with
severe and complex needs in their local area wherever possible and implementing
new models for reintegration of children and young people into mainstream schools.
Currently, the three largest primary need groups for EHCPs are: Autistic Spectrum
Disorder (ASD), Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) and Social,
Emotional and Mental Health needs (SEMH). Most schools report that children’s
needs are becoming more complex. This supports the trend seen nationally that
special schools are needing to provide places for more complex children. High levels
of complex need more often require more physical space for equipment, or breakout
areas and quiet rooms, smaller class sizes and staff with additional specialist
expertise and experience.
In parallel with the development of this first SEND Sufficiency Plan, we are
undertaking several reviews that will inform policy direction and future revisions of
this plan:
• Special School Review
• Specialist Resource Provision Review
• Early Years Review
• High Needs Funding Review
We are also working with schools and key stakeholders in localities to develop new
approaches to locality services around SEN and have undertaken a deep dive into
provision for children and young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health
(SEMH) needs to inform new approaches. We will look to build on this through the
Special School review and a future review of Alternative Provision in Kent, linked to
supporting children and young people with SEMH needs.
9
Dedicated Schools Grant: Very High Decit Intervenon
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 5 of 52
In 2021 an in-depth review was undertaken into provision for Kent’s 16- to 19-year-
olds – Pathways for All.
10
The next steps from this review will also form the basis for
future provision planning for young people with SEND, working collaboratively across
all sectors to improve pathways into employment and independent adult lives.
Additional interdependencies support the development of the post-16 offer across
the county. The Pathways for All – 16-19 review focusses on the improvement of the
entire post-16 offer and landscape across Kent, with multiple recommendation
implementation group outcome aims assisting towards the broadening of the SEND
offer. The review produced multiple recommendations, including the development of
the offer below level 2, and the need to develop a comprehensive offer on a local
level, implemented via collaboration. All 8 of the recommendations aim to improve
the accessibility and understanding of post-16 across the County, improving
inclusion and outcomes. The impact of this work will further support the sufficiency
plan recommendations, underpinning it with additional collaborative work to ensure
the breadth of offer and access to appropriate educational provision improves Kent-
wide.
Aims of the SEND Sufficiency Plan
The purpose of this SEND Sufficiency Plan is to inform and support the local
authority in its development of strategic place planning for SEND educational
provision in the medium to long term. The SEND Sufficiency Plan will sit under the
Commissioning Plan for Education Provision in Kent to inform strategic educational
place planning. There are 4 key aims for the Kent SEND Sufficiency Plan.
1. Inform medium to longer term commissioning/decommissioning of places for
children and young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan
2. Inform capital investment planning and future bids to DfE Wave programmes.
3. Inform high level discussions with providers around required changes to
current provision to meet future needs.
4. Support the delivery of the Safety Valve programme, to bring Kent in line with
other local authorities’ patterns of provision.
Development of the SEND Sufficiency Plan
To create the SEND Sufficiency Plan, we looked at capacity and designated
numbers in Kent provisions, pupil travel patterns, destination and progression data
around outcomes and transition, alongside forecast pupil data to identify gaps in both
the capacity, type and geographical location of specialist provision.
Multiple data sources were available to inform the gap analysis. This included
Special School and Specialist Resource Provision (SRP) capacity, commissioned
10
Kent 16 to 19 Review, Pathways for All
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 6 of 52
places, school census information
11
, live SEND data through Power BI, progression
and destination reporting tables, the SEN2 return, the 2023 update to EHCP
forecasts, stakeholder views and information from interdependent projects.
The data modelling, gap analysis and initial conclusions will inform the sufficiency
planning assumptions around which structured consultation with all stakeholders,
including parents, carers and young people will take place during the autumn of
2023. Feedback from the consultations will inform any revision to the commissioning
proposals in this and future iterations of the SEND Sufficiency Plan.
Consultation Timetable
Date
Action
October – November
2023
Plan for consultation alongside Kent Commissioning Plan
21
st
November 2023
SEND Sufficiency Plan goes to CYPE Cabinet Committee
1
st
December 2023
Cabinet Member for Education takes decision
25
th
January 2024
SEND Sufficiency Plan goes to Cabinet alongside Kent
Commissioning Plan
2: The Current Picture
There are two ways to analyse EHCP data. It may be more appropriate in some
instances to look at the entire cohort which includes children and young people aged
0-25 years. Alternatively, in some instances it is more appropriate to look at cohorts
of pupils attending educational settings (including schools and post-16 providers.)
This cohort includes children and young people across the primary, secondary, and
post-16 educational phases.
Nationally, the percentage of children and young people with an educational health
care plan (EHCP) has continued to increase, “a trend of increases since 2016.”
12
“In
2023 the national rate of the 0- to 25-year-old population with an EHCP was 3.1%,
compared to 4.2% in Kent,”
13
totalling 18,930 children and young people.
11
Information from SCAP23 reported that data from the school census for SRPs was found to be
unreliable. Roll data was only available for 49/65 SRPs due to incomplete school census returns, and
in several cases the data that was reported was obviously incorrect.
12
Explore Educaon Stascs, Special Educaonal Needs in England
13
EHCP Numbers – Kent at Naonal Average 2023, Kent Analycs
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 7 of 52
Percentage of 0 to 25 Population with an EHCP (2023)
14
Please note, these figures may be different to other published figures due to the method of analysis.
In the bar chart above, the top line of 4.2% indicates the Kent percentage of pupils
with an EHCP aged 0 to 25. The bottom line of 3.1% indicates the national
percentage. The districts of Swale, Thanet, Dover and Folkestone and Hythe all
reported a rate higher than the Kent average, and all Kent districts were above
national average apart from Tunbridge Wells.
Percentage of Pupils with an EHCP in Kent and England 2007-2022
15
14
EHCP Numbers – Kent at Naonal Average 2023, Kent Analycs
15
Commissioning Plan for Educaon Provision in Kent 2023 to 2027, page 128
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 8 of 52
The national “proportion of pupils with an EHCP increased to 4.3% in 2023,” from 4%
in 2022.
16
The graph above shows that EHCPs in Kent have risen above national
levels consistently since their introduction in 2014.
Attendance at Educational Provision by Education Phase
Placement
2023 Total
Early
years
Primary
Secondary
Post16
Mainstream Schools
4,963
2
2,827
1,928
206
Specialist Resource
Provision (SRP)
1,286
-
620
602
64
Maintained Special
Schools
5,972
-
2,336
2,860
776
Independent Schools
1,767
-
307
1,133
327
Post-16 / Full Time
Education
3,614
-
-
8
3,606
Other
1,263
3
87
269
904
Number calculated from EHCP 2023 Forecast
Percentage of EHCP Pupils in a Special School in 2022
17
Please note, these figures may be different to other published figures due to the method of analysis.
In the bar chart above, the top line of 41.1% indicates the Kent percentage of pupils
with an EHCP attended a special school. The bottom line of 34.8% indicates the
national percentage. The forecast rise in EHCP numbers over the coming years will
create additional pressure on the current capacity of Kent’s special schools, if this
trend continues.
16
SEND analysis of data sources June 2023, page 10
17
Kent Analycs, 2022
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 9 of 52
For those with an EHCP in Kent, primary aged children are more likely to attend
mainstream provision than secondary. There are high numbers of children and young
people attending non-maintained and independent educational provisions, adding
financial pressure and unsustainable costs.
Nationally, “the percentage of pupils with an EHC plan attending independent
schools has increased significantly in recent years.”
18
Kent reflects this trend, with an
increasing reliance on the independent sector when in-county provision and
resources cannot meet need or offer capacity.
3. Future Demand
Kent Analytics has produced a tool to forecast the number of children and young
people in Kent with EHCPs. Our forecast of new EHCPs is population driven and
produced by calculating the rates of 0- 25-year-olds with an EHCP by key population
age groups. These rates are applied to the Kent population forecast figures to
estimate the number of new children and young people with an EHCP for the next
eight years. The SEN need type proportions of the EHCP population forecast have
been based on EHCPs recorded between 2020 to 2022, whilst the placement
forecast is calculated using needs-based transition rates of each age group. Safety
Valve requirements are then applied to forecasts in order to inform future capacity
requirements in line with policy direction. Last year’s forecast for January 2023 was -
1.3% different from the actual reported number of EHCPs for the same period.
Our forecasts, based on current trends, indicate that the number of children and
young people aged 0-25, with an EHCP and funded by the local authority will rise
from 18,930 (January 2023) to 20,874 (January 2028.) unless the mitigating action
currently being implemented addresses this rate of growth.
18
Special Educaonal Needs and Disability: An Analysis and Summary of Data Sources
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 10 of 52
Forecast of Children and Young People with an EHCP
19
Year
Group
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
EY
42
70
46
38
38
39
39
39
40
40
R-6
5,124
6,020
6,200
6,231
6,160
6,010
5,878
5,718
5,541
5,382
7-11
5,314
6,164
6,801
7,414
7,971
8,312
8,506
8,600
8,693
8,742
12-13
1,825
2,055
2,219
2,446
2,625
2,863
3,192
3,454
3,605
3,657
14+
2,976
3,424
3,664
3,720
3,373
3,156
2,975
3,062
3,253
3,478
Total
15,281
17,733
18,930
19,850
20,167
20,380
20,591
20,874
21,131
21,299
%Change
-
16.0%
6.8%
4.9%
1.6%
1.1%
1.0%
1.4%
1.2%
0.8%
Forecast of Children and Young People with an EHCP Across Educational
Phases
20
19
KCC EHCP Forecast 2023, July 2023, Kent Analycs, page 6
20
KCC EHCP Forecast 2023, July 2023, Kent Analycs, page 7
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 11 of 52
The graph above shows the EHCP forecast across year groups (phases). The data
indicates population numbers in secondary (Year 7-11) and post-16 (Year 12-13) are
due to rise, due to population fluctuations. Forecasts indicate that primary (Year R-6)
and post-18 (Year 14+) populations are due to decrease.
Children and Young People with an EHCP by Need Type
21
Need
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
ASD
6,519
7,511
8,007
8,300
8,325
8,315
8,311
8,334
8,351
8,337
SEMH
2,897
3,580
3,860
4,133
4,215
4,241
4,264
4,309
4,351
4,372
SLCN
2,390
2,904
3,259
3,544
3,764
3,964
4,169
4,384
4,579
4,752
MLD/SPLD
1,231
1,424
1,491
1,564
1,586
1,610
1,631
1,661
1,690
1,706
SLD/PMLD
22
1,313
1,312
1,311
1,284
1,240
1,202
1,155
1,122
1,087
1,052
Other
931
1,002
1,002
1,025
1,037
1,046
1,060
1,063
1,073
1,081
Total
15,281
17,733
18,930
19,850
20,167
20,378
20,590
20,873
21,131
21,300
Nationally, “the most common type of need among pupils with an EHC plan is autistic
spectrum disorder (ASD).”
23
The need types indicating an increase in forecast
numbers in Kent are autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), speech, language and
communication needs (SLCN), and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH).
21
KCC EHCP Forecast 2023, July 2023, Kent Analycs, page 8
22
The reducon shown is due to a forecasng technicality. We do not expect the % of children and young
people with PMLC/SLD to change.
23
Explore Educaon Stascs, Special Educaonal Needs in England 2022-23
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 12 of 52
EHCP Pupils in Mainstream Schools
24
Year
Group
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
EY
4
6
2
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
R-6
2,085
2,682
2,827
2,833
2,837
2,869
2,910
2,894
2,862
2,835
7-11
1,215
1,605
1,928
2,153
2,407
2,624
2,737
2,783
2,836
2,851
12-13
127
157
164
259
209
234
275
317
335
341
14+
11
41
42
50
88
78
72
82
95
109
Total
3,442
4,491
4,963
5,298
5,546
5,808
5,998
6,079
6,132
6,140
%Change
-
30.5%
10.5%
6.8%
4.7%
4.7%
3.3%
1.4%
0.9%
0.1%
As the child population bulge moves through secondary and post-16 cohorts, the
number of children attending a mainstream school or entering further education is
set to rise. In 2023, 32.8% of the EHCP cohort were attending mainstream schools
(6.8% accessing SRP support.) KCC aims for the percentage of children and young
people educated in our mainstream schools (including SRPs) to increase to 36.6%
by 2028. Within mainstream schools, more pupils are forecast to have a need type of
ASD, SLCN and SEMH than other SEN needs. This pattern is forecast to continue
over time.
EHCP Pupils in a Mainstream School with an SRP Named
25
Year
Group
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
R-6
584
637
620
630
622
604
586
570
566
556
7-11
560
600
602
665
727
803
870
933
967
990
12-13
522
59
52
57
65
66
71
80
90
98
14+
2
7
12
8
12
12
12
13
15
18
Total
1,198
1,303
1,286
1,360
1,426
1,484
1,539
1,596
1,637
1,662
%Change
-
8.8%
-1.3%
5.7%
4.9%
4.1%
3.7%
3.7%
2.6%
1.5%
The forecast indicates a decreasing pressure on specialist resource provision in the
primary phase as the primary age population decreases, alongside a gradually
increasing demand in the secondary and post-16 age groups, reflecting population
changes. This indicates a need to increase mainstream sixth form offers to EHCP
students, ensuring early identification of students for whom this opportunity could be
extended. In 2023, 6.8% of the EHCP cohort accessed SRP support. This is forecast
to rise to 7.6% by 2028. Of the current EHCP cohort who access SRP support,
52.7% have a primary need of ASD. The next highest SEN need type is SLCN,
currently at 28.2%.
24
KCC EHCP Forecast 2023, July 2023, Kent Analycs, page 9
25
KCC EHCP Forecast 2023, July 2023, Kent Analycs, page 11
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 13 of 52
Pupils in Maintained Special Schools
26
Year
Group
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
EY
3
7
0
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
R-6
2,023
2,236
2,336
2,361
2,316
2,222
2,114
2,014
1,882
1,763
7-11
2,419
2,635
2,860
3,097
3,337
3,624
3,864
4,032
4,132
4,205
12-13
483
521
548
513
508
564
663
687
723
775
14+
171
208
228
221
164
148
128
152
160
156
Total
5,099
5,607
5,972
6,196
6,328
6,562
6,773
6,889
6,900
6,902
%Change
-
10.0%
6.5%
3.7%
2.1%
3.7%
3.2%
1.7%
0.2%
0.0%
Pressure for places in maintained special schools is forecast to decrease slightly in
the primary and post-18 populations, in contrast to the secondary and post-16
cohorts both of which increase significantly over time. The forecast rate of increase
in demand for maintained special schools is indicated to reduce to 1.7% by 2028.
This is in line with KCC’s aim to educate 33% of the children and young people with
an EHCP in maintained special schools by 2028. The expansion over recent years of
several of Kent’s special schools, to include a reduction in age range to meet
demand, has resulted in fewer places being available for Year 6 to Year 7 transfer for
pupils coming from primary special schools or from mainstream primary schools.
This pressure is “hidden” from a data perspective but is a serious and continuing gap
that needs to be addressed.
Need Type of Pupils in Maintained Special Schools
27
Need
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
ASD
2,627
2,936
3,125
3,165
3,166
3,176
3,206
3,201
3,161
3,118
SEMH
624
655
708
761
786
893
963
992
973
972
SLCN
515
647
750
890
1,010
1,128
1,247
1,344
1,436
1,502
MLD/SPLD
280
300
303
317
325
352
374
391
395
398
SLD/PMLD
845
847
853
818
793
757
719
686
652
622
Other
208
222
233
244
247
256
263
274
283
290
Total
5,099
5,607
5,972
6,196
6,328
6,562
6,773
6,889
6,900
6,902
In 2023, 52.3% of special school pupils had a need type of ASD. This is forecast to
decrease to 46.4% by 2028. Forecasts indicate the need type of SLCN in maintained
special schools will increase significantly over the next five years, rising from 12.6%
in 2023 to 19.5% in 2028. This rate of increase is not seen in other SEN need types
and will require further investigation to establish whether this pattern is likely to
continue.
26
KCC EHCP Forecast 2023, July 2023, Kent Analycs, page 12
27
KCC EHCP Forecast 2023, July 2023, Kent Analycs, page 12
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 14 of 52
EHCP Pupils in Independent Schools by Year Group
28
Year
Group
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
EY
0
1
0
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
R-6
298
325
307
291
269
204
160
135
126
125
7-11
850
1,060
1,133
1,214
1,212
976
751
579
488
428
12-13
167
187
207
206
223
196
171
180
169
130
14+
81
108
120
109
74
60
56
51
53
57
Total
1,396
1,681
1,767
1,821
1,780
1,437
1,138
946
837
740
%Change
-
20.4%
5.1%
3.1%
-2.3%
-19.2%
-20.8%
-16.9%
-11.5%
-11.6%
The independent sector plays an important role in Kent’s education provision.
However, Kent has an overreliance on the independent sector to place children who
have not been accommodated in the Kent system. As part of the Safety Valve
Programme, Kent’s aim is to reduce the percentage of children and young people
with EHCPs placed in the independent sector, particularly at points of phase
transition. It is therefore critical to ensure we will have a sufficiency of Year 7 places
in our maintained special schools for those children requiring a special school place,
as well as sufficient Specialist Resource Provision to support mainstream secondary
school support to pupils with an EHCP.
Forecasts, in line with Safety Valve, indicate a direction of travel where independent
placements will significantly reduce for the secondary phase (year 7-11) from 2025.
This is in conjunction with smaller reductions across other age groups. In 2023, 9.3%
of the EHCP cohort attended an independent provision. The forecast indicates this
will need to reduce to 4.5% by 2028.
The tables below set out the forecast changes in provision numbers in line with
Kent’s Safety Valve Programme for Kent’s post-16 cohort. The recommendations to
underpin this changing approach are included in the SEND Sufficiency Plan.
EHCP Forecast for Year 12 and 13 Aged Young People
Yr12-13
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
Mainstream
127
157
164
259
209
234
275
317
335
341
SRP
52
59
52
57
65
66
71
80
90
98
P16/FT Edu*
835
926
945
1,147
1,389
1,575
1,777
1,952
2,045
2,070
Maintained
Special
483
521
548
513
508
564
663
687
723
775
Independent
167
187
207
206
223
196
171
180
169
130
Other**
163
205
303
265
230
228
235
238
243
242
Total
1,825
2,055
2,219
2,446
2,625
2,863
3,192
3,454
3,605
3,657
Number calculated from EHCP 2023 Forecast
*Includes General FE and tertiary colleges, higher education, other further education, sixth form colleges and SPIs
**Includes awaiting provision, educated at home, other-arranged by LA, other-arranged by parent and other/educated
elsewhere.
The greatest increases in provision for those in years 12 and 13 need to be
encouraged in mainstream settings. The number of places offered through FE,
28
KCC EHCP Forecast 2023, July 2023, Kent Analycs, page 13
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 15 of 52
mainstream schools, and mainstream with SRP support needs to, on average,
double by 2030. Careful consideration needs to be given to the numbers of year 12
and 13 young people in the ‘other’ category, as this includes those who are awaiting
placement. Close monitoring of those who are NEET or awaiting provision needs to
continue and be reviewed on a regular basis as it is for statutory school aged
students via the placement process, alongside a reduction in bespoke provision.
EHCP Forecast for Year 14+ Aged Young People
Yr14+
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
Mainstream
11
41
42
50
88
78
72
82
95
109
SRP*
2
7
12
8
12
12
12
13
15
18
P16/FT Edu**
2,092
2,527
2,661
2,881
2,673
2,540
2,417
2,484
2,645
2,847
Maintained
Special
171
208
228
221
164
148
128
152
160
156
Independent
81
108
120
109
74
60
56
51
53
57
Other***
607
533
601
450
362
319
291
280
285
291
Total
2,976
3,424
3,664
3,720
3,373
3,156
2,975
3,062
3,253
3,478
Number calculated from EHCP 2023 Forecast
*Yr14+ SRP includes those recorded at units attached to mainstream. Confirmation that this is a data error has been received.
**Includes General FE and tertiary colleges, higher education, other further education, sixth form colleges and SPIs
***Includes awaiting provision, educated at home, other-arranged by LA, other-arranged by parent and other/educated
elsewhere.
The year 14+ forecast shows rising numbers of young people with an EHCP in
mainstream school sixth forms, which will present a challenge given the majority of
these offer a fixed two-year programme of study. However, these numbers may
represent exceptions made for students requiring an additional flexible year to
complete level 3 study. Data errors on Synergy have resulted in some instances of
year 14+ young people being registered at SRPs, showing a need for improved
record keeping. Forecasts, to fall in line with Safety Valve Agreements, indicate
placements within independent settings should reduce by approximately 50% over
the next 7 years, alongside a gradual reduction in placing in maintained special
schools in the older age groups. Post-16 and full-time education institutions should
aim to reduce the number of year 14+ age learners over the coming years and
encourage positive progression to independence or alternative adult support. Much
like the post-16 cohort, careful consideration should be given to year 14+ young
people in the ‘other’ category, with a reduction of EHCPs in this category and a focus
on progression to independence and appropriate ceasing of EHCPs.
4. Kent Provision
Specialist Resource Provision
“Resourced provisions are places that are reserved at a mainstream school for
pupils with a specific type of Special Educational Needs (SEN), who are included
within the mainstream school and activities, but require a base and/or some
specialist facilities around the school.
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 16 of 52
Resourced provisions:
• are designated specifically for making this kind of SEN provision
• are treated as specialist provision for funding purposes
• cater for a specific area or areas of SEN (for example specific learning
difficulties)
• are for pupils with an EHC Plan
• should support pupils with SEN support and EHC Plans through delivering in-
reach and/or outreach activities.”
29
In Kent there are 74 SRPs provided by 65 schools covering the primary and
secondary phases with some limited post-16 places.
Total Places for Kent SRPs (2023-24 Commissioning)
Total
SRPs
Primary
SRP
schools
Primary
places
Secondary
SRP
schools
Secondary
places
Notes
North
9
120
6
116
Includes 1 secondary multiple SRP
East
11
195
8
282
Includes 1 primary multiple SRP
Includes 5 secondary multiple SRP
(with 1 school providing 3 SRPs)
South
11
281
4
97
Whitfield and Aspen School offers
165 primary places.
West
10
144
6
195
Includes 1 primary multiple SRP
The Malling School offers 120
secondary places, including 20
post-16 places.
Total
41
740
24
690
1,430 places (commissioned)
The table above indicates the number of SRP schools across the Kent areas by
primary or secondary phase. It also shows the number of commissioned places for
2023 – 24. There are more primary than secondary school SRPs, but generally the
secondary school SRPs provide more pupil places. There are only 20 post-16 SRP
places, and these are commissioned for The Malling School SRP. The overall
numbers can mask some gaps in provision at secondary for designations.
There are several SRP schools that offer a multiple SRP and are commissioned for
more than one SEN need type. The schools are shown in the table below.
School
District
Phase
Designation
Canterbury Academy
Canterbury
Secondary
ASD, HI and SLCN
Garlinge Primary
Thanet
Primary
ASD and PD
Leigh Academy
Dartford
Secondary
SLCN and HI
Molehill Copse Primary
Maidstone
Primary
SLCN and HI
Sittingbourne Academy
Swale
Secondary
SLCN and HI
St Anselm’s Catholic School
Canterbury
Secondary
ASD and PD
The Archbishops School
Canterbury
Secondary
SPLD and VI
Westlands Academy
Swale
Secondary
SPLD and PD
29
2023 KCC SRP SLA
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 17 of 52
Two schools are commissioned as having one SRP with a dual designation.
Reculver School in Canterbury district has a designation of C&L VI and is
commissioned for 15 places. The Malling School in Tonbridge and Malling district has
a designation of ASD and SLCN and is commissioned for 120 places, including 20
post-16 places.
Bromstone Primary School in Thanet district is not designated as an SRP but has a
special arrangement with KCC offering 20 places for children with an EHCP for
SLCN or VI.
Kent Schools with Specialist Resource Provision by SEN Need Type
30
The map above shows the location of the SRPs. Each SRP has a designation for
SEN, as shown. There are currently no primary or secondary SRPs for SEMH.
Commissioning for ASD SRPs
In Kent, and following the national trend, ASD is the largest pupil cohort at 42.3% of
EHCPs. The local authority commissions 36 SRPs for pupils with ASD as their
primary need on their EHCP. Four schools offer ASD provision with another
designation (Garlinge Primary, Canterbury Academy, St Anselm’s Catholic School
and The Malling School.)
30
Management Informaon KCC, 2022
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 18 of 52
The secondary SRP for ASD at Canterbury Academy is a designated Cullum Centre.
A Cullum Centre is a Specialist Resource Provision that is established in
collaboration with the National Autistic Society (NAS), Cullum Family Trust and Kent
County Council. There is a current proposal to expand this provision to include
primary provision. We are in discussion with NAS and the Cullum Family Trust
regarding plans to invest in a small number of Cullum Centres across Kent subject to
evidence of need and a business case undertaken as part of the overall SRP
Review.
Kent has more primary ASD SRPs commissioned (21) than secondary ASD SRPs
(15). However, secondary school SRPs are often commissioned for more pupil
places.
District Commissioning for ASD SRPs
DAR
GRA
SEV
CAN
SWA
THA
ASH
DOV
F&H
MAI
T&M
TW
Total
Number of
Primary ASD
SRPs
3
2
0
2
1
1
1*
3
0
2
2
4
0
21
Commissioned
primary places
2023/24
53
20
0
47
8
24
25
0
29
30
68
0
304
Number of
Secondary
ASD SRPs
2
1
1
1
2*
1
0
1
0
1
1
4
0
15
Commissioned
secondary
places,
2023/24
64
15
10
67
44
0
25
0
20
14
52
0
311**
*Multiple SRP
**The Malling School (T&M Secondary) is included as an ASD provision in the table above. It is commissioned for ASD and
SLCN pupil places as one total by KCC. The number of commissioned places is not included in the table above, but in the
SLCN commissioning figures.
The district breakdown shows further detail with 3 districts without a primary phase
SRP for ASD (Sevenoaks, Dover and Tunbridge Wells). There are 3 districts without
a secondary phase SRP for ASD (Thanet, Dover and Tunbridge Wells).
However, Dover provides places in Kent’s largest primary SRP at Whitfield Aspen
School. It has a designation of PSCN although pupils with a primary need of ASD are
on roll. Secondary transfer for pupils is available to the SRP at Aspen 2 at
Christchurch. Currently it cannot meet all the demand from children attending
Whitfield Aspen primary school receiving SRP support requiring a secondary
mainstream place with support from the SRP.
SRPs and Grammar Schools
DAR
GRA
SEV
CAN
SWA
THA
ASH
DOV
F&H
MAI
T&M
TW
Total
Number of
SRP grammar
schools
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
Commissioned
places
0
0
0
35
0
0
0
0
0
0
22
0
57
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 19 of 52
Two grammar schools provide an SRP, designated for ASD (high functioning). There
are 32 grammar schools in Kent, and 10 districts do not offer an SRP at a grammar
school. Currently there is no ASD SRP grammar school offering places for girls.
The SRP review will be considering commissioning decisions identified by the gap
analysis reflected in the SEND Sufficiency Plan.
District Commissioning for SRP for SLCN
DAR
GRA
SEV
CAN
SWA
THA
ASH
DOV
F&H
MAI
T&M
TW
Total
Number of
Primary SLCN
SRPs
2
0
0
1
3
1
1
1
1
1*
1
0
11
1*
Commissioned
primary places
2023/24
26
0
0
20
55
20
10
12
22
6
20
0
165
Number of
Secondary
SLCN SRPs
1*
0
0
1*
1*
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
2
3*
Commissioned
secondary
places,
2023/24
14
0
0
20
60
0
0
14
0
0
120**
0
228
*Multiple SRP
**The Malling School (T&M Secondary) is included as an SLCN provision in the table above. It is commissioned for ASD and
SLCN pupil places as one total by KCC. The number of commissioned places is included in the table above.
Bromstone Primary School (Thanet) is not an SRP. It is an ESTA with commissioned places and has been part of the SRP
panel process since September 2022.
The table above shows there are 17 SLCN SRPs for primary and secondary pupils.
A total of 393 primary and secondary places were commissioned.
There are 3 districts with no primary or secondary SRP (Gravesend, Sevenoaks and
Tunbridge Wells). There is also no secondary SRP in Thanet, Ashford, Folkestone &
Hythe and Maidstone. In the district of Tonbridge & Malling, there is a large
secondary SRP, The Malling School.
SRPs for SEN HI Across Districts
DAR
GRA
SEV
CAN
SWA
THA
ASH
DOV
F&H
MAI
T&M
TW
Total
Number of
Primary SRP
schools for HI
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1*
1
0
3
1*
Commissioned
places 2023/24
13
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
14
4
9
0
40
Number of
secondary
SRP schools
for HI
1*
0
0
1*
1*
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
3*
Commissioned
places 2023/24
4
0
0
4
15
0
0
0
0
0
0
9
32
*Multiple SRP
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 20 of 52
SRPs for SEN VI Across Districts
DAR
GRA
SEV
CAN
SWA
THA
ASH
DOV
F&H
MAI
T&M
TW
Total
Number of
Primary SRP
schools for VI
0
0
0
1*
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
Commissioned
places 2023/24
0
0
0
**
0
0
0
0
4
0
0
0
4
Number of
secondary
SRP schools
for VI
0
0
0
1*
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1*
Commissioned
places 2023/24
0
0
0
3
0
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
8
*Multiple SRP
** SRP is commissioned for C&L VI by KCC for 15 places in total and not specifically VI
SRPs for SEN PD Across Districts
DAR
GRA
SEV
CAN
SWA
THA
ASH
DOV
F&H
MAI
T&M
TW
Total
Number of
Primary SRP
schools for PD
0
1
0
0
0
1*
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
1*
Commissioned
places 2023/24
0
8
0
0
0
6
0
0
0
0
0
7
21
Number of
secondary
SRP schools
for PD
0
1
0
1*
1*
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2*
Commissioned
places 2023/24
0
9
0
12
15
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
36
*Multiple SRP
Most children and young people with physical disability, hearing or visual impairment
attend mainstream schools. A small number have needs that require access to the
specialist expertise and equipment that can be accessed through a specialist
resource provision attached to a mainstream school. More detailed analysis will have
to be undertaken to inform future commissioning requirements for SRPs for PD, VI
and HI which can then be reflected in a future SEND Sufficiency Plan.
Summary
Overall, investment in the expansion of secondary SRPs will specifically support
CATIE priority 4 “ensuring smooth transition between education phases "as currently
we have a significant gap in the pathways for pupils requiring access to SRP support
when they transition from primary to secondary education. The expansion of
secondary SRPs will also increase the capacity of mainstream secondary schools to
meet the needs of the increased numbers of children and young people with an
EHCP that will need to be educated in Kent mainstream schools.
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 21 of 52
District (Area)
Headlines
Action
Sevenoaks
(North)
22.9% of secondary age SRP pupils living
in S/oaks attend the 1 secondary SRP.
The majority travel to Tonbridge & Malling
(40%) and Dartford (22.9%). No primary
SRP.
Commissioning to
be identified on
completion of
SRP review.
Dartford (North)
Most SRP pupils at both primary and
secondary attend an SRP in Dartford.
Intention to
commission a
primary SRP and
secondary SRP
linked to new
schools serving
new housing at
Alkerden Primary
and Secondary
(2025)
Gravesham
(North)
At primary 40% of pupils who live in
Gravesham attend an SRP in the district,
dropping to 32.6% at secondary. The
majority of secondary SRP pupils attend
an SRP in Dartford (52.2%), 13% attend
an SRP in Tonbridge and Malling and
2.2% attend an SRP in Swale.
Any additional
commissioning to
be identified on
completion of
SRP review
Canterbury (East)
Mixed range of designations across
primary and secondary SRPs which
means for some needs there are no clear
pathways. For primary the majority of
pupils attend a school with an SRP in
Canterbury (92.8%). This drops to 67.9%
for secondary, who also attend SRPs in
Swale (24.5%), Dover (3.8%) & Tonbridge
and Malling (3.8%)
Intention to
commission a
Cullum Centre
through
expansion of a
current primary
SRP for ASD in
Canterbury
Academy Primary
school. Any
additional
commissioning to
be identified on
completion of
SRP review
Swale (East)
78.8% of primary SRP pupils who live in
Swale also attend an SRP in the district.
For secondary age pupils, 90.6% live in
the district and attend a school in Swale.
At the secondary phase there are SRP
pupils travelling from every district (except
Tonbridge & Malling and Tunbridge Wells)
to Swale. A significant proportion of SRP
pupils travelling to Swale come from
Canterbury (24.5%) and Thanet (15%)
Any additional
commissioning or
adjustments to
SRP provision to
be identified on
completion of
SRP review
Thanet (East)
Much broader range of SRP designations
across primary SRPs (ASD, PD, HI, VI &
Intention to
commission a
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 22 of 52
SLCN).
Secondary SRP designations are more
limited and specialised (VI). There are no
clear pathways from primary to
secondary, especially in relation to ASD.
The majority of secondary SRP pupils
travel to schools in Canterbury (35%) and
Swale (15%).
secondary SRP
for Thanet.
Any additional
commissioning or
adjustments to
current SRP
provision to be
identified on
completion of
SRP review
Folkestone &
Hythe (South)
6 SRP holding schools, 5 primary and 1
secondary (Marsh Academy) with an ASD
designation. 34.3% of secondary SRP
pupils attend the 1 SRP in Folkestone &
Hythe, others travel to SRPs in
Canterbury (28.6%), Dover (20%) and
Ashford (11.4%). A small proportion travel
to Swale (2.9%) and Tonbridge & Malling
(2.9%)
Intention to
commission a
secondary SRP
for ASD. Any
additional
commissioning to
be identified on
completion of
SRP review
Dover (South)
Proportion of primary SRP pupils who live
in Dover and attend a Dover school is
high (89.7%) but drops to 66.2% for
secondary. Where a secondary age SRP
pupil does not attend a Dover school,
they are more likely to attend one in
Canterbury (26.5%) and Thanet (1.9%)
Intention to
expand the
secondary SRP at
Christchurch
Academy (Aspen
2). Any additional
commissioning to
be identified on
completion of
SRP review.
Ashford (South)
There are pathways from primary to
secondary SRPs although these are
limited as there is only one secondary
SRP in the district, designated for ASC.
The primary schools have designations of
ASC or SLCN.
The majority of primary aged SRP pupils
who live in Ashford also attend a school in
Ashford (80.6%), this proportion reduces
for secondary aged SRP pupils with only
51.4% both living and attending school in
Ashford. Secondary aged SRP pupils who
live in Ashford are more likely to travel to
districts in other areas (East Kent: Swale
8.6% & Canterbury 17.1%; West Kent:
Tonbridge & Malling 11.4% & Maidstone
2.9%) than districts also within South
Kent (Folkestone & Hythe 8.6%).
Any additional
commissioning to
be identified on
completion of
SRP review
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 23 of 52
Maidstone (West)
There are limited pathways as there is
only one secondary SRP (designated as
ASC) compared to 3 primary SRP with
designations of ASC, HI and SLCN.
The proportions of both primary SRP
pupils (59.1%) and secondary SRP pupils
(20.8%) who both live and attend a school
in Maidstone is low.
In both cases pupils are travelling to
schools typically within other districts
within West Kent (Tonbridge & Malling
34.1% primary SRP pupils and 72.9%
secondary SRP pupils; Tunbridge Wells
secondary pupils only 2.1%), so the area
can be seen to be meeting needs. Where
pupils do not attend a school in another
West Kent district they are travelling to
Swale in East Kent (4.5% primary age;
2.1% secondary), Dartford (primary only
2.35%) and Ashford (secondary only
2.1%).
Any additional
commissioning to
be identified on
completion of
SRP review
Tonbridge &
Malling (West)
10 SRPs in the district, 6 primary and 4
secondaries with clear pathways across
phases, excluding HI (but there is a HI
SRP in the neighbouring district of
Tunbridge Wells).
92.8% of primary age SRP pupils both
live and attend school in Tonbridge and
Malling, this is maintained for secondary
SRP pupils with 90.6% both living and
attending school in the district.
Travel pattern data indicates that, like
Swale, this district may be compensating
for gaps in other districts as secondary
aged SRP pupils are travelling from all
districts across Kent, excluding two
(Dover and Thanet).
Any additional
commissioning to
be identified on
completion of
SRP review
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 24 of 52
Tunbridge Wells
(West)
Unclear pathways between 1 primary
SRP with a specialist designation (PD)
and 1 secondary SRP with a different
specialist designation (HI). No provision
for the most prevalent needs across the
county such as ASC and SLCN.
Only 48.4% of primary aged SRP pupils
both live and attend a school in Tunbridge
Wells with the remaining SRP pupils
travelling to SRPs in other districts within
West Kent (Tonbridge & Malling 45.2% &
Maidstone 6.55).
The proportion of secondary aged SRP
pupils who both live and attend a school
in Tunbridge Wells decreases, compared
to primary SRP pupils, to 26.7%, the
second lowest proportion of all districts in
Kent.
The remaining 73.3% of secondary aged
SRP pupils who live in Tunbridge Wells
are travelling to the neighbouring district
of Tonbridge & Malling to be educated.
Any additional
commissioning to
be identified on
completion of
SRP review
Kent Special Schools
Kent has a total of 24 special schools. These include 21 maintained special
schools,1 special academy and 2 academy free schools. In 2023, 88% of Kent’s
special schools were graded as good or outstanding by Ofsted. There are 18 special
schools that are all-through schools (primary and secondary). There are 17 special
schools that offer post-16 placements for pupils.
Kent Special Schools by SEN Need Type
Kent special schools use the four areas of need from the EHCP categories for their
designations. These include Communication and Interaction, Social Emotional and
Mental Health, and Physical and Sensory. The SEN area of need for Cognition and
Learning is identified as the category of Profound Severe and Complex Need,
(PSCN)
31
. This special school designation is unique to Kent and broadly covers the
sub-group of cognition and learning (C&L) SEN needs.
31
KsENT Special Schools Admissions Guidance
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 25 of 52
*Note: On the map above, the PSCN category is replaced by Cognition and Learning, reflecting the sub-category used by the
DfE.
The location of the special schools combined with the size of the county and their
designations means that many pupils have long and costly daily return journeys to
attend their school.
Home location of pupils attending Bower Grove, Maidstone (PowerBI 2023)
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 26 of 52
The scale and range of this issue is illustrated by the map above which shows the
home locations for 142 secondary aged pupils that travel to a special school in the
Maidstone district, Bower Grove. The school is designated for SEMH, with an age
range of 4-16 years. The map indicates that there is a range of primary SEN need on
the EHCP for pupils on roll. The SEN need types include ASD, MLD, SEMH, SLCN.
Return daily journeys will impact on the time of the pupils and their opportunities to
be part of their local community. It also will incur significant and long-term financial
costs for the local authority.
Travel Patterns for Special Schools by School District
32
District
where pupil
lives
School
district
Ashford
School
district
Canterbury
School
district
Dartford
School
district
Dover
School
district
Folkestone
& Hythe
School
district
Gravesham
School
district
Maidstone
School
district
Sevenoaks
School
district
Swale
School
district
Thanet
School
district
Tonbridge
& Malling
School
district
Tunbridge
Wells
Ashford
70.4%
5.2%
0.0%
8.1%
3.8%
0.0%
7.4%
1.1%
0.0%
1.1%
1.1%
1.8%
Canterbury
4.9%
59.2%
0.2%
12.6%
1.6%
0.0%
1.2%
0.2%
1.6%
17.0%
1.4%
0.0%
Dartford
0.6%
0.0%
15.2%
0.0%
0.0%
11.4%
5.0%
50.3%
0.0%
0.9%
6.1%
10.5%
Dover
4.9%
10.4%
0.0%
43.1%
26.0%
0.0%
0.3%
0.0%
0.0%
15.0%
0.3%
0.0%
Folkestone &
Hythe
17.0%
3.6%
0.0%
19.8%
55.0%
0.0%
1.3%
0.0%
0.0%
2.3%
0.5%
0.5%
Gravesham
0.6%
0.0%
14.3%
0.0%
0.0%
51.3%
3.6%
17.3%
0.6%
0.3%
7.2%
4.8%
Maidstone
3.2%
0.3%
0.8%
0.0%
0.0%
0.8%
82.2%
2.2%
1.2%
0.3%
4.0%
5.1%
Sevenoaks
0.4%
0.0%
7.9%
0.0%
0.0%
4.3%
4.0%
39.2%
0.7%
0.4%
18.3%
24.8%
Swale
2.8%
9.0%
0.4%
1.2%
0.1%
0.7%
19.4%
0.1%
60.3%
3.5%
1.6%
0.9%
Thanet
1.5%
3.5%
0.0%
11.1%
0.7%
0.2%
0.0%
0.0%
0.3%
82.6%
0.0%
0.0%
Tonbridge &
Malling
1.0%
0.0%
1.0%
0.0%
0.0%
2.7%
34.1%
6.8%
0.2%
1.4%
33.3%
19.6%
Tunbridge
Wells
2.4%
0.0%
1.2%
0.0%
0.0%
0.8%
16.1%
3.6%
0.0%
0.4%
12.4%
63.1%
All data comes from the January 2022 SEN2 list and relates to children attending KCC Special Schools
The table above shows the percentage of children who attend a school by district
matched with their home district. For example, 82.6% of special school pupils that
live in Thanet attend a special school in their home district.
SCAP23 – Special School Capacity Survey
The DfE collects information about the capacity of schools each academic year. This
is referred to as SCAP. In 2023, for the first time, information was collected on
special schools. Some schools are based across more than one site and/or provide
satellite provisions. The tables below show the information submitted, organised by
school designations using the DfE sub-type categories.
For the purposes of SCAP23, capacity for special schools has been measured as
the higher of commissioned places or number on roll (as of January 2023). For
secondary special schools with sixth forms, the sixth form capacity is the higher of
total commissioned places or total number on roll subtracted by the higher of pre-16
32
Travel Paerns of EHCP Pupils at KCC Special Schools – April 2023, Kent Analycs
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 27 of 52
commissioned places or pre-16 number on roll i.e., sixth form capacity is a balancing
item that may not necessarily equal post-16 commissioned places. This approach
masks the situation in some Kent special schools where the numbers on roll exceed
the recommended capacity of the school. From 2023 to 2025 the Department for
Education’s (DfE’s) NCA programme will ensure accurate and up-to-date information
on pupil capacity is available for every government-funded secondary school and
special school in England. This will provide a complete record of pupil capacity in
special schools for the first time and will be reflected in future SCAP returns and
sufficiency assessments.
The designated number reflects the number of pupils that a school is statutorily
expected to have on roll.
Communication and Interaction (also designated for ASD)
School name
District
Age range
Designated
number
2022/23
SCAP23
Primary
(R-6)
SCAP23
Secondary
(7-11)
SCAP23
Sixth
form
SCAP23
total
capacity
Aspire*
Swale
4-11
168
152
0
0
152
Broomhill
Bank
Tunbridge
Wells
11-19
318
0
254
97
351
Grange Park
Tonbridge
and Malling
9-19
150
12
94
69
175
Laleham Gap
Thanet
4-18
188
58
149
12
219
Snowfields
Academy
Maidstone
11-18
280
0
175
0
175
Stone Bay
Thanet
4-19
90
70
24
9
103
*This school had a DfE Categorisation of Cognition and Learning in error. This has been corrected by MI for future data
collection.
The EHCP forecasts for Kent, which replicate data for national trends, show that
ASD is the most prevalent SEN need type. School census data indicates that pupils
with an EHCP with a primary need of ASD are found on roll across many of Kent’s
special schools. The six schools above are recognised by the local authority as
offering specialist provision for children and young people with ASD. This is reflected
in the admissions criteria of the schools.
These special schools include one primary phase school, three secondary phase
schools and two schools that are all-through. Five schools provide post-16 places.
These provisions are spread across districts, with two schools in Thanet. There are
seven districts without this type of special school, Dartford, Gravesham, Sevenoaks,
Canterbury, Ashford, Dover, Folkestone & Hythe.
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 28 of 52
Social, Emotional and Mental Health
School name
District
Age
range
Designated
number
2022/23
SCAP23
Primary
(R-6)
SCAP23
Secondary
(7-11)
SCAP23
Sixth
form
SCAP23
total
capacity
Bower Grove
School
Maidstone
4-16
208
89
149
0
238
Elms School
Dover
5-16
96
55
103
0
158
Goldwyn School
Ashford
10-18
195
0
175
28
203
Portal House
School
Dover
11-16
80
0
80
0
80
Rowhill School
Dartford
5-16
106
45
104
0
149
St Anthony’s
School
Thanet
5-16
112
34
76
0
110
The Orchard
School
Canterbury
5-16
96
32
73
0
105
There are seven schools designated for the SEN need type of SEMH. There are no
primary only phase schools, two secondary phase schools and five schools that are
all-through. There is one school that offers post-16 places. The SEMH schools are
spread across districts, with two schools situated in Dover and six districts,
Folkestone & Hythe, Tonbridge & Malling, Tunbridge Wells, Swale
33
, Gravesham and
Sevenoaks without this category of special school.
Cognition and Learning (also known as PSCN)
School name
District
Age
range
Designated
number
2022/23
SCAP23
Primary
(R-6)
SCAP23
Secondary
(7-11)
SCAP23
Sixth
form
SCAP23
total
capacity
Five Acre Wood
School
Maidstone
2-19
580
431
261
80
772
Foreland Fields
School
Thanet
2-19
230
133
89
29
251
Meadowfield
School
Swale
4-19
366
206
137
47
390
Milestone
Academy*
Sevenoaks
2-19
237
167
159
44
370
Nexus School
Tonbridge
and Malling
2-19
228
143
103
30
276
Oakley School
Tunbridge
Wells
2-19
252
92
94
31
217
St Nicholas’ School
Canterbury
3-19
310
159
160
34
353
The Beacon
School
Folkestone
and Hythe
3-19
650
174
169
65
408
The Ifield School
Gravesham
4-19
190
125
101
39
265
Wyvern School
Ashford
3-19
270
179
124
46
349
*Milestone Academy had a DfE categorisation of SEMH in error, this has been corrected by MI for future data collection
33
Swale will have an SEMH school from September 2024 based on the Isle of Sheppey
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 29 of 52
There are ten schools designated for the SEN need type of C&L or PSCN. There are
no primary only or secondary only phase schools and the ten schools are all-through
and also offer post-16 places. The C&L or PSCN provisions are spread across ten
different districts. There are two districts, Dartford and Dover, without this designation
of special school, however The Beacon School does have a satellite school in
Walmer that is opening on a phased basis in the district of Dover.
Physical and Sensory
School name
District
Age
range
Designated
numbers
2022/23
SCAP23
Primary
(R-6)
SCAP23
Secondary
(7-11)
SCAP23
Sixth
form
SCAP23
total
capacity
Valence School
Sevenoaks
4-19
80
38
47
34
119
There is one only school designated for Physical and Sensory to serve Kent.
Special School Satellites
Ten special schools have satellites which are classes hosted in mainstream schools
and run by staff employed by the special school. These provisions offer an
opportunity for pupils to learn alongside their mainstream peers, with support from
specialist teaching staff as appropriate. The satellite pupils remain on roll of the
special school and are included in the designated number of the special school.
Across the ten schools, there are 68 satellites classes, across 25 sites. In addition,
Snowfields School has a satellite school in Cranbrook, and The Beacon School has
a satellite school in Walmer. All schools that have satellite classes are PSCN
designation except for Bower Grove School.
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 30 of 52
School name
District
Designation
Age range
Satellite site and district
Bower Grove
School
Maidstone
SEMH
5-16
1 class on 1 site
Westborough Primary, Maidstone
Five Acre
Wood School
Maidstone
C&L
PSCN
2-19
19 classes on 3 sites
Holmesdale School, Tonbridge &
Malling
St Katherine’s School, Tonbridge &
Malling
Palace Wood School, Maidstone
Foreland
Fields School
Thanet
C&L
PSCN
2-19
4 classes on 3 sites
Garlinge Primary, Thanet
Hartsdown Academy, Thanet
East Kent College, Thanet
Meadowfield
School
Swale
C&L
PSCN
4-19
2 classes on 1 site
34
Sunnybank Primary, Swale
Milestone
Academy
Sevenoaks
C&L
PSCN
2-19
10 classes on 4 sites
Cherry Orchard Academy, Dartford
Dartford Primary Academy, Dartford
Leigh Academy, Medway
Wilmington Academy 6
th
form, Dartford
Nexus School
Tonbridge
and Malling
C&L
PSCN
2-19
3 classes on 1 site
Wouldham, Tonbridge & Malling
Oakley School
Tunbridge
Wells
C&L
PSCN
2-18
1 class on 1 site
Oakley School, Tonbridge & Malling
St Nicholas’
School
Canterbury
C&L
PSCN
3-19
18 classes on 7 sites
Parkside, Canterbury
St John’s, Canterbury
Chartham, Canterbury
Canterbury Primary, Canterbury
Canterbury Academy, Canterbury
Spires, Canterbury
Canterbury College, Canterbury
The Beacon
School
Folkestone
and Hythe
C&L
PSCN
3-19
7 classes on 2 sites
Castle Hill, Folkestone & Hythe
Walmer (satellite school), Dover
Wyvern
School
Ashford
C&L
PSCN
3-19
3 classes on 2 sites
Towers School, Ashford
Great Chart, Ashford
In some cases, the number of satellites classes reflects the localised capacity
pressures on these schools for places and the lack of ability for the schools to be
expanded on their current sites. However, the benefit of satellite classes is that it
provides a model of special school education that enables greater social and some
educational integration with mainstream pupils where appropriate.
Independent Non-Maintained Provision
Where the Local Authority is unable to provide a specialist school placement in a
Kent maintained special school or a mainstream school with an SRP, placements are
commissioned in the independent and non-maintained sector.
34
Proposed second site (Meadoweld) in discussion for 2 classes at Fulston Manor School, due to open
September 2024.
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 31 of 52
District
NMISS
schools
total
ASD places
SEMH places
Speech, language
and communication
needs places
Total*
Ashford
6
127
111
25
263
Canterbury
1
2
6
0
8
Dover
5
138
80
15
236
Folkestone & Hythe
1
7
13
0
20
Gravesend
1
37
2
0
39
Maidstone
1
1
0
0
1
Sevenoaks
3
44
44
6
94
Swale
2
14
54
3
71
Thanet
9
72
97
20
189
Tonbridge & Malling
1
13
0
0
13
Tunbridge Wells
1
18
33
1
55
NMISS not Kent area
51
174
107
42
374
Total Places
-
647
547
112
1363
From school census data (Jan 2023)
*Includes pupils in NMISS in the district with other SEN needs
In the table above the data shows the number of independent schools by district and
the pupils, that Kent has a responsibility for, who attend these schools by need type.
It indicates that ASD is the largest SEN cohort, closely followed by SEMH. The
district shown is for the school location and pupils may travel across districts to
attend the school from their home location. Dartford is the only district without
NMISS provision. There are an additional 51 NMISS that are not located in the Kent
area.
Kent Resident Pupils Attendance at Independent Special Schools and
Independent Schools
-
ASD
SEMH
SLCN
Total district
attendance*
Dartford
33
13
7
58
Gravesham
32
11
6
50
Sevenoaks
50
22
12
95
Canterbury
60
49
24
139
Thanet
74
78
32
211
Swale
63
88
25
189
Ashford
49
39
9
116
Dover
81
47
4
144
Folkestone & Hythe
42
31
3
83
Maidstone
28
31
10
82
Tonbridge & Malling
34
17
2
56
Tunbridge Wells
25
15
2
57
Total
571
441
136
1280
Live data from PowerBI (06/09/2023
*Total includes other SEN need types
The table above shows the number of pupils (YR to Y11) attending NMISS with an
EHCP that Kent has a responsibility for. The district indicates the pupil’s home
location and shows that the districts with the highest numbers of pupils attending an
independent, non-maintained provision are Thanet, Swale, Dover and Canterbury. It
shows that ASD is the largest SEN cohort, closely followed by SEMH.
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 32 of 52
Summary
In order to address the number of special school places for PSCN and ASD that will
be required based on the forecast numbers that include the planned reductions in
placements in the independent, non-maintained sector:
• A satellite school of The Beacon is opening in Walmer (Dover district). The
school has a designation of PCSN but will include pupils with ASD. The SRPs
at Whitfield Aspen and Dover Christchurch will then be more able to take
higher numbers of pupils with ASD as pupils with more complex needs are
able to attend The Beacon (Walmer).
• A new special free school (120 place) has been agreed by the DfE to serve
the Canterbury district coastal area. This school will have a designation of
PSCN and ASD. The new school will enable children to access a maintained
special school provision closer to home and reduce pressure on schools in
Thanet and Swale.
• A new special free school (250 place) has also been agreed for North Kent. To
support the evidence-base for the need, particularly for a PSCN/ASD school,
the two PSCN schools currently serving the area are significantly over
capacity. Those schools are Milestone Academy in New Ash Green and Ifield
School in Gravesend.
• A secondary satellite of Meadowfield school is planned at Fulston Manor to
provide pathways for the children attending the satellite classes at Sunny
Bank primary school and to help with the pressure for places at Meadowfield.
• Further satellites are planned for Swale (Isle of Sheppey), Tonbridge and
Malling and Tunbridge Wells
For SEMH, a new special free school is opening on the Isle of Sheppey from
September 2024 for secondary pupils, with the intention to commission 40 primary
places at key stage two from September 2026, either through expansion of the new
school or through a satellite provision to be based on the site of a local primary
school.
Any additional required commissioning of SEMH special schools or special school
places will be informed by the Special School Review recommendations expected in
2024.
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 33 of 52
Post-16 Pathways Available for Children and Young People in Kent
Kent provides a wide range of provision for young people post-16. Kent has a large
number of secondary school sixth forms across the grammar and comprehensive
sectors, multiple FE college groups, a number of SPIs (Specialist Post-16
Institutions) and a Supported Employment and NEET service, delivered by The
Education People. The image above shows the continuum of provision currently
available to the Kent post-16 cohort.
The post-16 landscape is ever changing. There is a constantly changing picture for
young people moving through the system to meet the needs of upcoming cohorts,
subject demands and in response to government funding. Those with an EHCP are
required to make decisions around their post-16 pathway much earlier than those in
mainstream education, and there is no guarantee that courses or provisions will be
available at the point of transition. This can increase local authority workload when
changes occur. It is important that EHCP students are provided with impartial and
timely progression information, empowering them to make informed decisions. Post-
16 institutions should have information provided to them on future cohorts, including
their needs and interests, as early as possible in order to plan future provision.
Mainstream Sixth Form
Progression to mainstream sixth form is low within the EHCP cohort. Kent’s 92
mainstream sixth forms currently support a small number of higher attaining SEND
young people, through a predominantly level 3 offer across the board. Although
mainstream sixth form coverage across Kent is uniformly distributed, the entry
requirements are often not accessible for many of the EHCP cohort. Information from
the mainstream application system shows that there is minimal availability of lower-
level courses.
35
35
KentChoices
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 34 of 52
Specialist Resource Provision
SRP provision for post-16 students remains low in Kent. For 2022/23 there were 20
commissioned places at The Malling School, however 51 SRP places were provided
across 6 districts (a snapshot taken from February 2022.) No places were provided
in Dartford, Gravesham, Sevenoaks, Thanet, Folkestone and Hythe or Maidstone.
There are a growing number of young people attending both special and mainstream
independent school for post-16, who may benefit from this additional support within a
local mainstream school. Data also suggests that progression into mainstream
provisions from SRPs is significantly higher than other specialist settings.
Progression of Specialist Resource Provision Cohorts
36
2019 School Type
2021 School Type
Count
% share
of 2019
school
type
% share
of total
cohort
(N=828)
SRP
General FE / Colleges / HE
42
58%
5%
-
SRP
16
22%
2%
-
Specialist Post-16 Institutions
5
7%
1%
-
No Current Placement
3
4%
<0.5%
-
Le
2
3%
<0.5%
-
Mainstream
2
3%
<0.5%
-
Independent Special
1
1%
<0.5%
-
Other
1
1%
<0.5%
-
Maintained Special
1
1%
<0.5%
Total
-
73
100%
9%
Further Education Colleges
Kent has 3 FE college groups based in the county, with 11 Kent campuses and one
in Medway. There are currently no FE college sites in Tunbridge Wells or Sevenoaks.
EHCP learners who are able to access mainstream courses can access a wide
variety of vocational areas across Kent. There are fewer options for those not
working at level 1. There is currently no forecasting or expected cohort
characteristics shared with the FE colleges in Kent. Conversations have begun
between KCC and the Kent FE groups from the Pathways for All and SEND FE
conference strategic working groups, to assess the current offer and collaborate to
find ways to best support their local communities.
36
SEN post-18 Placements Strategy Report September 2021 (2021 school type for the SEN 2019 Year 11 cohort
in SRP in 2019.
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 35 of 52
Specialist Post-16 Institutions
Geographical location of Specialist Post-16 Institutions (PowerBI 2023). Note that some SPIs are not represented
on Local Authority systems.
There are 16 Specialist Post-16 Institutions (SPIs) spread across Kent, with 4
catering for 19+ and the remainder offering provision from 16 onwards. There are
varied offers across Kent locations, ranging from employability and vocational
courses to specific vocational areas such as music, sport, animal care or horticulture.
Due to their location and often specialist subject focuses, many students are
travelling long distances with accompanying travel times to access these provisions.
There is a lack of consistency in how SPIs and their learners are recorded on local
authority databases, making it challenging to achieve robust reporting. A lack of
forecasting information provided to establishments, alongside a challenging
landscape for independent providers, makes planning and resourcing a key
challenge for SPIs. KCC arranges placements directly with SPIs.
Special School Sixth Forms
Geographical location of Special School Sixth Forms with a sixth form offer (PowerBI 2023)
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 36 of 52
There are 17 special schools in Kent offering post-16 provision. In 2023, 776 EHCP
post-16 pupils were being educated in Kent’s maintained special school sixth forms.
The offer varies across the county, with some special schools encouraging an
internal progression, and others progressing pupils externally where possible. Some
Kent special school sixth forms deliver alongside partner FE institutions to deliver a
wider curriculum offer.
Data from 2019 shows that the likelihood of remaining in a special school post-16 is
high. Retention of the cohort may be due to a lack of appropriate local provision that
meets need, alongside a concern from families that the mainstream offer is not
suitable.
Progression of Maintained Special School Cohort
37
2019 School Type
2021 School Type
Count
% share
of 2019
school
type
% share
of total
cohort
(N=828)
Maintained Special
Maintained Special
187
55%
23%
-
General FE / Colleges / HE
77
23%
9%
-
Specialist Post-16 Institutions
35
10%
4%
-
Left
14
4%
2%
-
No Current Placement
10
3%
1%
-
Other
10
3%
1%
-
Mainstream
4
1%
<0.5%
-
SRP
1
<0.50%
<0.5%
Total
-
338
100%
41%
Independent Provisions
Independent school placements are made by the local authority in circumstances
where county provision is not suitable or available and can also be expressed as a
parental preference. In 2023, there were 327 post-16 independent school
placements. The increase in secondary independent placements is a concern as if
these placements are retained post-16, additional financial pressure could result,
especially as there will be population growth in this age-range. The need types for
independent placements are predominantly ASD and SEMH.
37
SEN post-18 Placements Strategy Report September 2021 (2021 school type for the SEN 2019 Year 11 cohort
in Maintained Special in 2019)
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 37 of 52
Post-16 Independent Placement Need Type Breakdown (NMISS and ISP, 2022-
23)
Need Type
NMISS*
ISP**
Total
ASD
100
40
140
SEMH
64
6
70
SLCN
26
7
33
PD
6
10
16
SLD
6
6
12
SPLD
5
2
7
HI
4
3
7
MLD
4
2
6
VI
0
5
5
PMLD
2
1
3
Not recorded
1
2
3
Data from Finance for Post-16 Pupils 21-22 and 22-23, this data may differ from the forecast figures
* Non-maintained independent special school
** Independent Specialist Provider
In 2022-23, post-16 students attended 58 NMISS and independent schools and 23
ISPs. Looking at post-16 independent provision, the ASD cohort is the largest,
followed by SEMH, which would indicate that to reduce the spend in independent
provision there needs to be strategic planning for these two SEN need types.
Apprenticeships
The local authority promotes apprenticeships to both young people and employers
through its trading company, The Education People. This route may become
increasingly challenging for learners with an EHCP, as we see the movement of
apprenticeships towards higher levels, with low numbers of level 2 apprenticeship
standards available. There is also a low uptake of special schools around free advice
and information about apprenticeships.
38
Supported Internships
“A supported internship is a bespoke study programme to support SEND students
aged 16 to 24 with an education and health care (EHC) plan to gain the right skills
needed in the modern workplace.”
39
There are several routes via various Kent
providers which are displayed on the kent.gov.uk website. Numbers from Synergy
indicate a very small number of young people have taken this route. Recent
employer-based challenges, such as covid19, mean some placements may be
hesitant to offer opportunities to young people due to business pressures, which may
have a knock-on effect on employment routes.
38
Data provided by The Educaon People and CXK ASK Programme.
39
Employment for SEND Young People, Supported Internships
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 38 of 52
NEETs/Those Awaiting Placement
Home location of pupils recorded as NEET of Awaiting Placement (PowerBI 2023)
The map above shows the countywide home locations of all post-16 young people
with an EHCP in Kent who are not engaging in an education placement (those not in
education, employment or training and awaiting placement.) There are clusters in
multiple coastal locations, as well as across west and north Kent, despite the
availability of provision in these areas. The Local Authority has a duty to track and
support young people (under their duty to support participation, Raising the
Participation Age) from school leaving age until their 18
th
birthday, and a further duty
to support those with an Education Health and Care Plan until the age of 25.
40
Attainment of post-16 learners in Kent
Kent’s Accelerated Progress Plan aims to “provide a focused update from an
education perspective against the following areas of weakness” including tackling the
“poor standards achieved, and progress made, by children and young people with
SEND.
41
The attainment of a young person with an EHCP directly impacts their transition
options post-16, with the majority of Kent’s offer requiring some level of prior
40
KELSI, CorePlus Team Tracking Young People
41
Kent Area Accelerated Progress Plan
A full area and district breakdown of area and district providers from special school sixth forms,
FE college campuses and specialist post-16 instuons is available in appendix 1.
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 39 of 52
qualification. Of the 22 special schools where attainment data was available from
2022
42
, the following outcomes can be seen:
• 7 special schools had over 50% of year 11 pupils achieving one or more pass
(grade 1 to 9) for GCSE.
• 8 special schools (designated cognition and learning) did not enter any
students for GCSE qualifications (a cohort of 143), with a further special
school entering fewer than 5 pupils.
• 11 special schools have 100% of pupils with low prior attainment.
• Percentage of disadvantaged pupils in special schools ranges from 25% to
87%, against a local authority average of 22%, and a national maintained
school average of 26%.
43
These factors make it increasingly challenging for young people with SEND to
access post-16 mainstream education in Kent. Forward planning must ensure that
there are adequate spaces for young people not able to access a level 1 or higher
qualification in a mainstream setting.
Post-16 attainment is challenging to measure as the local authority does not collect
outcomes for post-16 study for the SEND or mainstream cohorts. This increases the
difficulty for providers in ensuring they offer appropriate provision that meets the
needs of upcoming cohorts and means the measuring of progression is limited.
5. Recommendations to improve future SEND sufficiency
planning
Pre-16 and General Recommendations
Recommendation
Actions
Future commissioning of
SEND provision: SRP
Review
recommendations.
• The SRP Review, alongside locality planning
to be consulted on and subsequently built
into future planning, for example for further
investment in secondary SRPs.
• The SRP Review to confirm the role and
extent of Cullum Centres to support pupils
with an EHCP with primary need of ASD as
part of Kent’s continuum of provision for
SRPs.
• The SRP Review to explore the meeting of
needs and gaps in provision availability for
Hearing Impairment (HI), Visual Impairment
(VI) and Physical Disability (PD). To report
and inform changes required.
42
Key Stage 4 aainment data, 2022
43
Aainment KS4 2022 DfE published performance tables
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 40 of 52
Future commissioning of
SEND provision. Special
School Review
recommendations.
• Current forecasts indicate an additional 253
special school places will be required by
2027 based on current capacities (i.e. not
addressing the schools currently over
capacity).
• Further work is required to agree the
designations, geographical areas and options
for delivery of this additional capacity.
Explore the requirements
of residential provision for
children and young
people with an EHCP.
• As a subsequent phase of the Special School
Review, consider Kent’s options for meeting
the requirements for residential provision.
The outcome to inform future sufficiency
planning for residential capacity.
Explore the potential for
site expansion of special
schools.
• Secure agreement and funding to carry out
feasibilities on any special schools identified
as having sufficient site capacity for potential
future expansion. Based on current capacity
information held this will inform future
options.
Develop mainstream
school accommodation
for pupils with EHCPs.
• Develop criteria for investment in mainstream
schools for adjustments to accommodation to
meet needs of an increased percentage of
children with EHCPs e.g. ASD friendly
environments, quiet/calming spaces and/or
rooms for therapeutic support.
• Criteria and advice to be developed and used
to inform capital investment.
Review the Accessibility
Strategy for Kent.
• Accessibility Strategy to inform utilisation of
the School Access Initiative budget and to
support improved access and inclusion for
children with SEN.
• Ensure map of accessible schools is
available for families to inform decisions on
preferences. Geographical spread /access to
be ensured.
• Schools to be encouraged to publish
accessibility plans on their websites.
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 41 of 52
Review the provision of
Alternative Provision (AP)
• Building on the deep-dive report into SEMH,
undertake a review of AP to include hospital
school/health needs alongside the provision
and support available for children and young
people with an EHCP with a primary need of
SEMH.
• This will inform the continuum of provision for
children and young people with SEMH and
the capacity requirements to be included in
future sufficiency planning.
Parental and young
person engagement and
consultation
• Work with SEN and Communications teams
to build in the approach taken for consulting
on future sufficiency proposals.
• Incorporate these into engagement activity
for parents and young people (including
support groups) that will inform future
sufficiency planning.
Improve data quality to
support SEN planning
• Continue to address the data quality and
checking of data across key data sets used
to inform SEN planning. Census data is
particularly unreliable.
• Continue to improve the district data to
inform more detailed planning.
Investigate options for
capturing “live” roll and
placement data for
special schools to inform
placements.
• Develop a business case for system to
support “live” placement and roll information
that can inform place planning.
• To also identify hidden “pinch-points” for
capacity purposes e.g., to predict lack of Year
7 places for specific geographical areas or to
meet certain need types.
Post-16 Recommendations to Improve SEND Sufficiency
Recommendation
Actions
Encouraging pathways to
independence
• Implement conversations around progression and
independence earlier in the EHCP process to
reduce anxiety, lack of information, and concerns
around plan ceasing.
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 42 of 52
Forecasting the post-16
cohort
• Provide forecasts on a yearly basis 3 years in
advance for all post-16 (by district or catchment
area) settings across the landscape to ensure
appropriate planning time. This should include
historical and expected attainment data to allow
for appropriate course level planning.
• Provide detailed information on upcoming cohorts
from Kent Special Schools to local post-16 and FE
partners, including information on need types and
therapies, and use local forums to build effective
local partnership working.
• Review the local post-16 offer available to EHCP
learners with a comparison the local need types
and cohort sizes on a yearly basis through
continued sufficiency research.
Further exploration of
incidences of
independent placement
• Explore the pathways of those in independent
settings, and the offer that was required to support
them. Set out accountability standards for post-16
providers to ensure appropriate provision is being
offered across the county.
Review and improve the
data collected around
post-16 EHCP learners
• Implement an agreed capacity or expected cohort
numbers for all post-16 provisions, reviewed every
year to compare against attendance data, for
accountability and monitoring. Work
collaboratively to ensure providers understand
their requirements regarding data collection.
• Design a training plan for education providers
around the use/completion of data and the ways
to improve data accuracy. Include the impact of
incorrect completion in this CPD.
• Increase the quality of annual reviews and EHCPs
for post-16 SEND learners, ensuring all plans
effectively reflect the information required by post-
16 providers at key transition stages.
• Review current data recording practices of post-16
placements. Amend current recording to campus
specific records, amending ‘other’ provisions to
more specific destinations. Implement system
changes and CPD to support consistency.
• Develop a moderation system to ensure
forecasting and provision is synergising and
improve data accuracy across FE and SPIs.
• Implement systems to track aspiration and
intended pathways from Year 9 to ensure local
providers are aware of upcoming cohorts and
preferred vocational areas.
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 43 of 52
Review the progression
information provided to
young people (including
via careers education,
information, advice and
guidance, annual reviews
and EHCPs) for Post-16
EHCP learners.
• Review the knowledge of post-16 in teaching and
support staff in specialist settings.
• Implement conversations around progression and
independence earlier in the EHCP process to
reduce anxiety, lack of information, and concerns
around plan ceasing.
Commissioning Recommendations
Commissioning recommendations for this first plan are limited by the need for the
Special School, SRP and Early Years reviews to complete. The outcomes and
recommendations from these reviews will be key to informing future commissioning
decisions. Commissioning recommendations from the SEND Sufficiency Plan will be
reflected in Kent’s Commissioning Plan for Education Provision 2024 to 2028 but are
set out in tables below.
For Post 16, actions are underway to meet demand regarding place planning, with
engagement from all FE groups as part of multiple projects around access for
students to mainstream settings. The phases of implementation of the SEND
Sufficiency Plan will be influenced by the medium and longer-term commissioning
decisions that result from the data presented.
Agreed and planned additional specialist provision across Kent Specialist
Schools
*TPP: total planned places
Provision
Proposed
Opening
Date
Need
Type
District
Potential
Number
of
Places
TPP
2024-
2025
TPP
2025-
2026
TPP
2026-
2027
TPP
2027-
2028
TPP
between
2028-31
Special School (All
through) - Whitstable
2026
PSCN/
ASD/
SEMH
Canterbury
120
0
0
48
28
44
Special School (All
through) - Swanley
2026
PSCN
Sevenoaks
250
0
0
114
66
70
Isle of Sheppey
(Secondary)
2024
SEND
with
ASD
Swale
120
40
40
40
0
0
Expansion of Special
School for SEMH and ASD
to include Primary provision
or a primary satellite.
2026
SEND
with
ASD
Swale
40
0
0
10
10
20
1 x secondary Satellite of
PSCN School
2024
PSCN
Swale
20
10
10
0
0
0
Special School Satellite
– Isle of Sheppey
2024
ASD
Swale
60
12
12
12
12
12
Satellite of a PSCN
School
2025
PSCN
Tonbridge
and
Malling
50
0
50
0
0
0
Satellite of a PSCN
School
2026
PSCN
Tunbridge
Wells
50
0
0
50
0
0
Total Special School
Places
N/A
N/A
N/A
710
62
112
274
116
146
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 44 of 52
Agreed and planned additional Specialist Resource Provisions
*TPP: total planned places
Provision
Proposed
Opening
Date
Need
Type
District
Potential
Number
of
Places
TPP
2024-
2025
TPP
2025-
2026
TPP
2026-
2027
TPP
2027-
2028
TPP
between
2028-31
Cullum Centre
2024
ASD
Canterbury
9
3
6
0
0
0
Alkerden (Primary)
2026
ASD
Dartford
15
0
0
4
4
7
Alkerden (Secondary)
2026
ASD
Dartford
25
0
0
5
5
15
Expansion of Aspen SRP
at Christchurch Academy
2024
PSCN
Dover
30
6
6
6
6
6
Folkestone Academy
2024
ASD
Folkestone
& Hythe
30
6
6
6
6
6
Secondary SRP
2025
ASD
Thanet
30
0
5
5
5
15
Total SRP Places
N/A
N/A
N/A
139
15
23
26
26
49
Further Education Commissioning (2023-24)
FE College
Commissioned Numbers (2023-24)
North Kent College Group
220 places (160 Kent and 60 OLA)
EKC Group
628 places (544 Kent and 84 OLA)
MidKent College
90 places (90 Kent)
Data provided by KCC finance, 2023
Summary of Commissioning Recommendations for Post-16
Theme
Recommendation
Specialist Resource
Provisions
• Increase the commissioning of post-16 SRP
places, encouraging a minimum in each district to
reflect local need. Explore the incentives for
increasing post-16 SRP capacity and relay this to
the wider mainstream sixth form landscape.
Mainstream Sixth Forms
• Work with mainstream sixth forms to increase the
offer at for EHCP learners.
Further Education
Colleges
44
• Continue the exploration of expansion of courses
in FE colleges below level 2, reflecting local need
on a district basis, considering those districts
without an FE campus. Work to commission
additional places for those with ASC and SEMH.
• Continue the KCC and FE collaborative process to
ensure young people are encouraged towards
mainstream settings, sharing positive outcomes.
44
This recommendation is also being progressed through the Pathways for All Recommendation 4.4
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 45 of 52
Careers Information,
Advice and Guidance
45
• Commission a review of careers advice in all
specialist settings in Kent, including access to
qualified careers advisors in special schools and
access to independent advice in post-16 settings.
• Design a consistent training programme for post-
16 provider professionals around need types, best
practice, positive progression outcomes and
resources for SEND learners. Initial market
researching around CPD requirements would
need to be undertaken.
• Implement exposure and experiences of
mainstream FE to those cohorts not majority
progressing to mainstream destinations, with a
focus on special schools and families accessing
independent provision around key phase
transfers.
• Implement early exposure to mainstream
destinations to all with an EHCP earlier than the
stated Year 10 annual review, by building
relationships between special schools and FE
colleges, by utilising engaging resources.
• Implement a central resource of information with
engaging and accessible resources around
provision, offer, capacity and support services
available from all post-16 provision in Kent.
Encourage providers to keep this updated,
reflecting positive outcomes they have supported.
Distribute and advertise this to the public and
implement this into professional advice to
families.
Capacity in post-16
providers
• Implement capacity information collection across
the board for post-16 providers to support
sufficiency planning in the future.
• Set sufficiency and destination percentage targets
for post-16 in the county, bringing Kent more in
line with national figures.
6. Funding
The pressure on the County’s Capital Budget continues, particularly as demand for
specialist and secondary school places grows. The cost of delivering school places
is currently met from the Basic Need Grant from the Government, prudential
borrowing by the County Council, Section 106 property developer contributions and
45
This recommendation is also being progressed through the Pathways for All Recommendation 4.2
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 46 of 52
the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). Government funding for ‘Basic Need’ is
allocated on a formula based upon information provided by local authorities
concerning forecast numbers of pupils and school capacity.
2023 is the first year that local authorities have had to submit capacity information
regarding state maintained special school capacity for their area. The Department for
Education’s (DfE) Free Schools Programme is another way to deliver some of the
school provision Kent needs. Kent submitted a bid to the DfE Wave 2 (Special
School and Alternative Provision) in October 2018 and secured a new secondary
SEMH school for the Isle of Sheppey, which is due to open in September 2024. As
part of KCC’s Safety Valve Programme agreement with the DfE, KCC was invited to
submit bids for new special schools to help to address the excessive costs of placing
children in independent special schools. Kent has had approval (subject to certain
conditions) for two new special schools for children and young people with Profound,
Severe and Complex Needs, one to serve north Kent and one to serve the coastal
communities of Whitstable, Herne Bay and surrounding villages.
KCC also secures developer contributions to the capital programme but has only
recently been able to request contributions for specialist provision. The budget gap
between what is needed for KCC to meet its statutory duties as school place
commissioner and what is available is significant. The local authority currently
receives no Basic Need funding for post-16. As secondary student numbers
increase, where additional post-16 provision is required, it would be the responsibility
of the Education Skills and Funding Agency to ensure this is provided. Independent
post-16 training providers cannot draw down capital funding. This hinders the
development of their offer across the county as premises costs are high. All avenues
are being explored to reduce the risks, but inevitably difficult decisions will have to be
made to prioritise KCC’s investment of the capital budget.
The cost of construction has risen since 2020 and this is likely to continue during the
plan period. We will continue to manage and mitigate this as far as we are able to,
however, pressure from inflation may become a constraint to our commissioning
strategy. It is expected that investment in our special school and specialist support
provision will have to be profiled over a ten-year period.
7. Next Steps
Following consultation and approval, the SEND Sufficiency Plan 2023 will feed into
capital plans through Kent’s Commissioning Plan for Education Provision.
Moving forward, the SEND Sufficiency Plan will be reviewed annually, considering
interdependent project outcomes.
The next SEND Sufficiency Plan (2024) will:
• be informed by the outcomes of the Special School Review, the SRP Review
and the Early Years Review, after their publication.
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 47 of 52
• include a review of residential provision, including Kent’s approach and need
for this type of provision.
• include recommendations on improved support for children and young people
with an EHCP for SEMH who are educated in mainstream schools. The
review will consider links between Alternative Provision, special schools for
pupils with SEMH and nurture provision within mainstream settings.
• include a review of requirements for children and young people with SEN
needs for HI, VI and PD for SRPs and link to the development of an
Accessibility Plan, revised and updated for Kent.
• require further in-depth work surrounding the post-16 FE sector, and how the
local authority can better inform the qualification level, course range and
number of places required across the county.
8. Glossary
SEND Need Types
ASD/ ASC
Autistic spectrum disorder/condition
HI
Hearing impairment
MLD
Moderate learning difficulties
PD
Physical disability
PMLD
Profound and multiple learning difficulties
PSCN
Profound, severe and complex needs
SEMH
Social, emotional and mental health
SLD
Severe learning difficulties
SpLD
Specific learning difficulties
SLCN
Speech, language and communication needs
VI
Visual impairment
Broad categories of SEND
46
Communication and Interaction (C&I)
• Children and young people with speech, language and communication needs
(SLCN) have difficulty in communicating with others. This may be because
they have difficulty saying what they want to, understanding what is being said
to them or they do not understand or use social rules of communication. The
profile for every child with SLCN is different and their needs may change over
time. They may have difficulty with one, some or all of the different aspects of
speech, language or social communication at different times of their lives.
• Children and young people with ASD, including Asperger’s Syndrome and
Autism, are likely to have particular difficulties with social interaction. They
may also experience difficulties with language, communication and
imagination, which can impact on how they relate to others.
46
SEND Code of Pracce
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 48 of 52
Cognition and Learning (C&L)
• Support for learning difficulties may be required when children and young
people learn at a slower pace than their peers, even with appropriate
differentiation. Learning difficulties cover a wide range of needs, including
moderate learning difficulties (MLD), severe learning difficulties (SLD), where
children are likely to need support in all areas of the curriculum and
associated difficulties with mobility and communication, through to profound
and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD), where 98 children are likely to have
severe and complex learning difficulties as well as a physical disability or
sensory impairment.
• Specific learning difficulties (SpLD), affect one or more specific aspects of
learning. This encompasses a range of conditions such as dyslexia,
dyscalculia and dyspraxia.
Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH)
• Children and young people may experience a wide range of social and
emotional difficulties which manifest themselves in many ways. These may
include becoming withdrawn or isolated, as well as displaying challenging,
disruptive or disturbing behaviour. These behaviours may reflect underlying
mental health difficulties such as anxiety or depression, self-harming,
substance misuse, eating disorders or physical symptoms that are medically
unexplained. Other children and young people may have disorders such as
attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactive disorder or attachment
disorder.
• Schools and colleges should have clear processes to support children and
young people, including how they will manage the effect of any disruptive
behaviour so it does not adversely affect other pupils.
Sensory and/or Physical Needs (S&P)
• Some children and young people require special educational provision
because they have a disability which prevents or hinders them from making
use of the educational facilities generally provided. These difficulties can be
age related and may fluctuate over time. Many children and young people
with vision impairment (VI), hearing impairment (HI) or a multi-sensory
impairment (MSI) will require specialist support and/or equipment to access
their learning, or habilitation support. Children and young people with an MSI
have a combination of vision and hearing difficulties. Information on how to
provide services for deafblind children and young people is available through
the Social Care for Deafblind Children and Adults guidance published by the
Department of Health (see the References Section under Chapter 6 for a link).
6.35 Some children and young people with a physical disability (PD) require
additional ongoing support and equipment to access all the opportunities
available to their peers.
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 49 of 52
Other Terms
Academy
“Academies receive funding directly from the government and
are run by an academy trust. They have more control over how
they do things than community schools. Academies do not
charge fees.” Academies
AP
Alternative Provision – “Schools and pupil referral units can use
a range of alternative provision to try to prevent students from
being excluded or to re-engage students in their education.”
Alternative Provision Education Outside School
Commissioned
Number
Planned education places at an institution.
Designated
Number
The maximum number of pupils the special school is set up to
provide for.
DfE
Department for Education
EHCP
Education, Health, and Care Plan
Entry
level qualifications
Qualifications available below level 1 in three stages, entry 1, 2
and 3 (with 3 being the most difficult.)
ESFA
Education and Skills Funding Agency
FE
Further Education
GIAS
Get Information about Schools (GIAS) a register of schools and
colleges in England, with information reported by the school.
Independent
School
“Private schools (also known as ‘independent schools’) charge
fees to attend instead of being funded by the government. Pupils
do not have to follow the national curriculum.” Private Schools
Independent
Special School
An independent school providing education for those with an
Education, Health and Care Plan.
Level 1
Equivalent to GCSE grades 3, 2, 1. Also available as a level 1
diploma, certificate, functional skills and other qualification
types.
Level 2
Equivalent to GCSE grades GCSE grades 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4.
Intermediate apprenticeship. Also available as a level 2 diploma,
certificate, functional skills and other qualification types.
Level 3
Equivalent to A level. Advanced apprenticeships. Also available
as AS levels, and level 3 diploma, certificate, award and other
qualification types.
NEET
Not in education, employment or training.
Net Capacity
The capacity of the educational building.
PACT
Parents and Carers Together – Kent PACT is a “forum for
parents and carers of children and young people who have
special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) within Kent
local authority.” Kent PACT
Phase Transfer
Where children and young people move between key phases of
education. E.g., early years to primary, primary to secondary, or
secondary to post-16.
Post-16
The years following statutory school age.
PRU
Pupil Referral Unit – “Pupil referral units (PRUs) teach children
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 50 of 52
who aren’t able to attend school and may not otherwise receive
suitable education. This could be because they have a short- or
long-term illness, have been excluded or are a new starter
waiting for a mainstream school place.” Pupil Referral Units
Converting to Alternative Provision Academies
Satellite Classes
Classes hosted in mainstream schools and run by staff
employed by the special school. The satellite pupils remain on
roll of the special school.
SCAP
School Capacity Survey – Collects information on educational
provision capacity for the current academic year.
SEND
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
SENDIAS
The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information
Advice and Support Services
SEND learners
For the purpose of this report, SEND learners is a phrase used
to describe those with an active education, health and care
plan.
SEN Support
SEN Support can be offered to children and young people with
an identified barrier to learning without the need for an EHCP.
SEN2
Local authorities complete annual returns for a person-level
special educational needs survey.
Special School
“A special school provides education and support to children
and young people with an education, health and care (EHC)
plan who have complex special educational needs and require
their SEN provision to be delivered in a specialist setting.”
Special Schools
SPI
Specialist Post-16 Institution
SRP
Specialist Resource Provision – “A specialist resource provision
(SRP) provides support for those, who without specialist input,
are unlikely to make progress in their learning and will struggle
to take part in mainstream school life.” Specialist Resource
Provisions
Synergy
Operational database used by KCC SEND team.
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 51 of 52
9. Appendices
Appendix 1: Area and District Breakdown of Post-16 Provision from Special
Schools, FE Colleges and Specialist Post-16 Institutions
Area
District
Local Offer
North
Dartford
North Kent College (Dartford campus)
Reynolds Training Academy (SPI)
North
Gravesham
North Kent College (Gravesend campus)
Link 19 (SPI)
Ifield School
North
Sevenoaks
SupaJam (SPI)
White Rocks Farm (SPI)
Catch22 (SPI)
Milestone Academy
Valence School
East
Canterbury
East Kent College (Canterbury campus)
SupaJam (SPI)
BEMIX (SPI)
St Nicholas School
East
Thanet
East Kent College (Broadstairs campus)
Liberty Training (SPI)
SportsConnect (SPI)
Foreland Fields School
Laleham Gap School
Stone Bay School
East
Swale
East Kent College (Sheppey campus)
BEMIX (SPI)
Brogdale CIC (SPI)
Kite College (SPI)
Meadowfield School
South
Ashford
East Kent College (Ashford campus)
Goldwyn School
Wyvern School
South
Dover
East Kent College (Dover campus)
Woodpecker Court (SPI)
Catch22 (SPI)
South
Folkestone & Hythe
East Kent College (Folkestone campus)
Romney Resource Centre (SPI)
Beacon Plus (SPI)
The Beacon Folkestone
West
Maidstone
MidKent College (Maidstone campus)
Catch22 (SPI)
Five Acre Wood School
Snowfields Academy
West
Tonbridge & Malling
North Kent College (Tonbridge campus)
North Kent College (Hadlow campus)
SportsConnect (SPI)
Grow19 (SPI)
Kent SEND Suciency Plan 2023 Page 52 of 52
The Oaks Specialist College (SPI)
West Kent YMCA Horizon (SPI)
Grange Park School
Oakley School
Nexus School
West
Tunbridge Wells
Broomhill Bank School
Oakley School