URL: https://lincolnshire.moderngov.co.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1069

Decision Maker: Executive Director of Children's Services

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose: • The PD Outreach Service was commissioned by the Council’s Children’s Services on behalf of schools as part of the Inclusive Lincolnshire Strategy. The Service is one of three outreach support services working with schools to support pupils to remain in mainstream education and is funded through the High Needs Block of the Dedicated Schools Grant. • The PD Outreach Service is delivered by St Francis Special School via a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). An MOU is a collaborative agreement between two or more parties and is a statement of intent that does not create legal obligations. It is not a contract for services and therefore falls outside of the Public Contract Regulations and the Council’s Contract and Procurement Procedure Rules. • The MOU arrangements commenced 1st September 2015 and a new MOU was agreed from 1st September 2020 which is due to end on 31st August 2025. The annual value of the MOU arrangements was £140,436. However, Hardship Fund claims have been agreed between 2023/24 and 2025/26 financial years due to increased staffing costs. • The PD Outreach Service offers bespoke packages of support to Lincolnshire mainstream schools and academies to support pupils with profound and multiple disabilities to remain in mainstream education. • Although not a statutory service, the continuation of an MOU arrangement for a PD Outreach Service will continue to support the Council in its statutory responsibilities in relation to meeting the needs of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). • The continuation of an MOU arrangement will ensure seamless continuation of high quality outreach support for schools to ensure vulnerable pupils with profound and multiple disabilities are continued to be supported to remain in mainstream education (where appropriate to do so). • The continuation of an MOU arrangement for a PD Outreach Service provides the opportunity for the Service to be considered as part of wider outreach support services review. • The Council’s Children’s Services Executive Directorate Leadership Team, which includes the Executive Director of Children’s Services and the Executive Councillor for Children’s Services, Community Safety, Procurement and Migration, agreed on 9th December 2024 to the continuation of an MOU arrangement with St Francis Special School for delivery of the PD Outreach Service from 1st September 2025 to 31st August 2027. A new MOU arrangement will be put in place with St Francis Special School from 1st September 2025 to 31st August 2027. The funding for the Service has increased to reflect increases in staffing costs and also includes a 3% annual inflationary uplift to help mitigate against the requirement for any future hardship fund claims.

Content:

Date of Decision: December 9, 2024