Management Information Sheet
Cluster Development and Preparation for Cluster Based Commissioning for SEND
As schools continue to strive to do the best for their children and young people in a fast changing world, partnership with other schools including through our clusters remains of great importance. Not only does cluster working ensure that good practice is shared and that individual schools are not left isolated, the cluster approach means that planning for a particular community is coherent and that all contribute to supporting the most vulnerable. The steady delegation to schools of increasing proportions of funding means that clusters are as important as ever.
Following the Cluster Consultation we now have an opportunity to develop governance and other cluster arrangements, not least in preparation for changes in September as referred to in MI Sheet 68/12. This MI Sheet refers to governance and finance especially as these relate to cluster based SEND funding. It provides some suggested actions for clusters.
Norfolk's Clusters will largely remain unchanged as a result of the consultation carried out over the last two terms. They provide a key opportunity for collaboration on a geographical basis for the benefit of pupils in each area. Based on the outcome of the consultation, the local authority will continue to attach high value to this form of partnership. Alongside other forms of partnership (i.e. Federations, Academy chains, Trusts) we will continue to promote school to school collaboration through clusters on aspects of school improvement, mutual support, purchasing, commissioning and other areas.
The Local Authority is actively working with a range of partners and consultative groups including Schools Forum to help prepare clusters for the increased responsibilities in September. Where the appropriate arrangements are in place, clusters will then be in a position to provide for pupils with high levels of need in their area and distribute the resources appropriately.
Governance:
The Local Authority is currently working with the Norfolk Governors' Network to develop guidance for cluster governance. The draft document circulated at the last cluster chairs meeting already provides clusters with the opportunity to capture the vision and aims and set out key processes for governance. This will be complemented by suggested arrangements for SEND commissioning as well as finance and HR policies to provide the necessary legal basis for shared budget arrangements and employment of staff. As part of the briefing to governors, Sebastian Gasse will be presenting on the cluster governance and Judith Carter will be presenting on SEN Funding at two NGN and Governor Services joint conferences. These are on 4th May in King's Lynn and 12th May in Norwich. Attendance is free for all Norfolk governors but you do need to register as soon as possible to reserve a place. You can do this online at www.ngn.org.uk. We are also working with Governor Services to develop further guidance and support for governing bodies.
Key dates:
Cluster Governance Arrangements (DRAFT) - distributed to Cluster Chairs 8th March 2012
Draft SEND Cluster Toolkit with suggested governance processes - available on request from 17th April 2012
Consultation with NGN Cluster working group - 26th April 2012
Norfolk Governors' Network and Governor Services joint Conferences - 4th May 2012 and 12th May 2012 (bookings via ngn.org.uk)
Draft Finance and HR policies for clusters - draft to Finance Consultative Group 18th May 2012, prior to release to all clusters
Suggested Cluster Governance Arrangements (Final) - 11th June 2012
Clusters have agreed governance arrangements in place - by 13th July 2012
Suggested actions:
Plan necessary meetings to discuss and agree cluster governance before September 2012.
For further questions regarding general cluster issues and governance please contact Sebastian Gasse.
SEND Cluster Toolkit
The toolkit has been devised to provide groups of schools with the best possible professional advice to manage a change in the way resources are allocated for the benefit of pupils.
The distribution of SEND funding to clusters presents many opportunities. Potentially a school or setting could benefit from:
Opportunities associated with collaboration can only be fully maximised with investment in to the collaborative processes themselves. The model presented within this framework is intended to be a 'starting' point, and as such, each SEND focused cluster is encouraged to consider its own opportunities and to define how these will be achieved.
Schools will be aware of the potential for further changes, for example those suggested in the government green paper for SEN. The changes promoted through the use of the toolkit should enable schools to develop processes to cater for SEND pupils regardless of the future commissioning authority (Cluster/School/Parents/LA).
The SEND Cluster Toolkit has already been made available to a number of clusters for piloting and can be requested from Judith Carter by any school interested to see the draft materials. We are on target to adhere to the timescales outlined in the previous MI Sheet 68/12.
Finance
The arrangements for separate cluster finance are now in place and budget planning can start from 9th May, once the necessary processes have been followed. These have been outlined in MI Sheets 26/12 and 33/12. For further details please contact Alison Randall.
A collection of links and support materials can be found on the Norfolk Schools Website. For questions related to this MI Sheet please contact the relevant person mentioned above or Gordon Boyd, Lead Adviser/Manger Education Strategy and Partnership Development.
Following the Cluster Consultation we now have an opportunity to develop governance and other cluster arrangements, not least in preparation for changes in September as referred to in MI Sheet 68/12. This MI Sheet refers to governance and finance especially as these relate to cluster based SEND funding. It provides some suggested actions for clusters.
Norfolk's Clusters will largely remain unchanged as a result of the consultation carried out over the last two terms. They provide a key opportunity for collaboration on a geographical basis for the benefit of pupils in each area. Based on the outcome of the consultation, the local authority will continue to attach high value to this form of partnership. Alongside other forms of partnership (i.e. Federations, Academy chains, Trusts) we will continue to promote school to school collaboration through clusters on aspects of school improvement, mutual support, purchasing, commissioning and other areas.
The Local Authority is actively working with a range of partners and consultative groups including Schools Forum to help prepare clusters for the increased responsibilities in September. Where the appropriate arrangements are in place, clusters will then be in a position to provide for pupils with high levels of need in their area and distribute the resources appropriately.
Governance:
The Local Authority is currently working with the Norfolk Governors' Network to develop guidance for cluster governance. The draft document circulated at the last cluster chairs meeting already provides clusters with the opportunity to capture the vision and aims and set out key processes for governance. This will be complemented by suggested arrangements for SEND commissioning as well as finance and HR policies to provide the necessary legal basis for shared budget arrangements and employment of staff. As part of the briefing to governors, Sebastian Gasse will be presenting on the cluster governance and Judith Carter will be presenting on SEN Funding at two NGN and Governor Services joint conferences. These are on 4th May in King's Lynn and 12th May in Norwich. Attendance is free for all Norfolk governors but you do need to register as soon as possible to reserve a place. You can do this online at www.ngn.org.uk. We are also working with Governor Services to develop further guidance and support for governing bodies.
Key dates:
Cluster Governance Arrangements (DRAFT) - distributed to Cluster Chairs 8th March 2012
Draft SEND Cluster Toolkit with suggested governance processes - available on request from 17th April 2012
Consultation with NGN Cluster working group - 26th April 2012
Norfolk Governors' Network and Governor Services joint Conferences - 4th May 2012 and 12th May 2012 (bookings via ngn.org.uk)
Draft Finance and HR policies for clusters - draft to Finance Consultative Group 18th May 2012, prior to release to all clusters
Suggested Cluster Governance Arrangements (Final) - 11th June 2012
Clusters have agreed governance arrangements in place - by 13th July 2012
Suggested actions:
Plan necessary meetings to discuss and agree cluster governance before September 2012.
For further questions regarding general cluster issues and governance please contact Sebastian Gasse.
SEND Cluster Toolkit
The toolkit has been devised to provide groups of schools with the best possible professional advice to manage a change in the way resources are allocated for the benefit of pupils.
The distribution of SEND funding to clusters presents many opportunities. Potentially a school or setting could benefit from:
| Quicker access to targeted provision for learners with SEND, without the sole reliance on statutory assessment. | |
| Sharing of knowledge, resources and expertise across settings in the cluster. | |
| The establishment of a shared, transparent system for the efficient and effective allocation of SEND resources. | |
| Participation within a shared, transparent system for monitoring the impact of SEND provision and outcomes for learners. | |
| Annual participation in the process of provision mapping linked to SEND by the Head, SENCO and Governor representative, within their own setting and that of the cluster, providing robust evidence of leadership and management priorities as outlined in the Ofsted evaluation schedule 2012. |
Opportunities associated with collaboration can only be fully maximised with investment in to the collaborative processes themselves. The model presented within this framework is intended to be a 'starting' point, and as such, each SEND focused cluster is encouraged to consider its own opportunities and to define how these will be achieved.
Schools will be aware of the potential for further changes, for example those suggested in the government green paper for SEN. The changes promoted through the use of the toolkit should enable schools to develop processes to cater for SEND pupils regardless of the future commissioning authority (Cluster/School/Parents/LA).
The SEND Cluster Toolkit has already been made available to a number of clusters for piloting and can be requested from Judith Carter by any school interested to see the draft materials. We are on target to adhere to the timescales outlined in the previous MI Sheet 68/12.
Finance
The arrangements for separate cluster finance are now in place and budget planning can start from 9th May, once the necessary processes have been followed. These have been outlined in MI Sheets 26/12 and 33/12. For further details please contact Alison Randall.
A collection of links and support materials can be found on the Norfolk Schools Website. For questions related to this MI Sheet please contact the relevant person mentioned above or Gordon Boyd, Lead Adviser/Manger Education Strategy and Partnership Development.