Joining in - June 2008
Few local authorities have formal policies or clear criteria for admissions to resource bases. Some local authorities make entry criteria too broad in order to admit pupils with a wide range of needs. Overall, local authorities don’t have a clear overview of whether or not pupils have access to a full curriculum, or how well pupils are progressing. They collect data on individual pupils, but not on groups of learners.There is good partnership working within local authorities at an operational level, but partnership working with other agencies needs to be improved. Pupils across Wales don’t all have enough opportunities to integrate into mainstream classes. Where inclusion does work well, staff are fully involved in the mainstream class activities.
Recommendations
The Welsh Assembly Government should:
- collect robust data on the whereabouts of resource bases attached to schools and the groups of pupils they work with;
- continue to extend the integrated children’s system so that information can be better shared across local authorities in Wales; and
- encourage LEAs to develop comprehensive admissions and exit policies with clear criteria for resource bases.
Local authorities should:
- fully involve external partners when planning provision;
- collect and analyse data about pupils who have moderate learning difficulties defined as their main need and other groups of pupils with specific needs within their resource bases to inform strategic planning; and
- review the groups and needs of pupils in resource bases regularly and make appropriate changes where necessary.