Content

9.1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
9.2
 
 
 
 
 
9.3
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
9.4
 
9.4.1
 
 
 
 
9.4.2
 
 
 
9.4.3
 

The Committee received a report of the
Commissioning Officer, Integrated Commissioning. The report set
out the Exclusion Prevention Alternative Provision
(AP) service and described how the services have been delivered to
date.
 
This report then set out the
proposal to commission a new Exclusion Prevention Alternative
Provision service which will commence from April 2024, with
additional capacity and improvements to the delivery model, to
better meet the needs of children and young people and further
prevent exclusion.
 
Members asked that an addition to the
recommendations be made, as follows:
 
‘has experience or a
track record of working with young people from communities least
served.'
 
 
RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:
That the Education, Children and Families
Policy Committee: -
 
-      
approves the commissioning of Exclusion Prevention
Alternative Provision from an external provider which has
experience or a track record of working with young people from
communities least served for a period of three years
and for an estimated value of £1.5m, as set out in this
report, with the ability to increase capacity by up to
£900,000 if additional funding can be identified.
 
Reasons for
Decision
 
We recommend that an Exclusion
Prevention Alternative Provision Service is commissioned from an
external provider for a period of three years, in order to support
vulnerable children to develop social and emotional skills and
resilience to help them engage with learning and avoid
exclusion.
 
This approach is in line with the proposed future model of delivery reviewed by Committee in
January 2023, which recommends, among multiple strands of AP,
targeted short term provision to assess and address the risks of
exclusion.
 
The intended impact of the proposed commission
is:
 
• Exclusion will be prevented for at
least 85% children supported.
• A reduction in suspensions and improved
attendance for children supported.
• Schools will have increased knowledge,
skills, and capacity to meet the needs of children at risk of
exclusion.
• Children will tell us they feel better
able to cope at school, engage with learning and have a greater
sense of belonging.
• Parents and schools will see positive
change in their children.
• Reduced number of full-time places
required at Sheffield Inclusion Centre (currently 300).
 
If this proposal is approved, members will be
kept up to date on progress via member briefings, and further
updates as required.
 

9.5      Alternatives Considered and Rejected
 
9.5.1   Not recommissioning Exclusion Prevention AP
was considered.
 
9.5.2   This was rejected as high-quality
preventative AP is needed to mitigate against the increase in
exclusions. Exclusion Prevention AP has been successful in the city
in preventing exclusion for most children accessing. It is not
affordable for AP on the AP Network to deliver provision of this
kind without being subsidised, as a very high level of staffing is
required.
 
9.5.3   Delivering the AP in house was
considered.
 
9.5.4   This was rejected as specific expertise and
extensive experience in reengagement / Nurture AP is needed to
deliver high quality interventions. This level of expertise does
not exist within current Council services and there would be a
significant additional cost to developing this.