Review of SPCs

Summary

The request sought details on independent inspections of Specialist Provision Centres (SPCs) and terms of reference for a review into Additional Educational Needs (AEN). The authority provided links to validation reports for seven schools but stated it does not hold information regarding the specific AEN review details requested.

Key Facts

• Seven schools with Specialist Provision Centres have completed the external validation process to date.
• The external validation process is being implemented via a phased approach.
• The pilot phase of the validation process is scheduled to complete in January 2025.
• The Department of Education, Sport and Culture does not hold information regarding the terms of reference or timescales for the AEN review.
• Parent information from validation visits is available on individual school websites.

Data Disclosed

• 15 schools
• 7 schools
• 2024-12-09
• 2024-12-20
• January 2025
• 4310017

Exemptions Cited

• Information not held

Original Request

Dear Sirs, Following the independent report into funding of schools undertaken by the premier advisory group and the subsequent associated press. Please provide the following information: When the islands SPCs were last independently inspected / audited in relation to quality of offering In the mentioned response 'to conduct a full review into AEN' please provide details of the following: - any associated terms of reference in relation to such a review and appointed persons / organisations in order to conduct such a review and their credentials - expected timescales of such a review - what stakeholder input will be sought from external parties ie, parents, health professionals, third sector and any engagement with uk specialists in order to to undertake best practice and comprehensive views

Data Tables (1)

Data Tables (reformatted)

Full Response Text

Policy, Strategy and Governance Division Department of Education, Sport and Culture Thie Slieau Whallian Foxdale Road St Johns IM4 3AS

Telephone: (01624) 685808 Website: www.gov.im/dec Email: dec@foi.gov.im

Our ref: 4310017 20 December 2024

Dear ###,

We write further to your request received 9 December 2024, which states:

"Dear Sirs,

Following the independent report into funding of schools undertaken by the premier advisory group and the subsequent associated press. Please provide the following information:

When the islands SPCs were last independently inspected / audited in relation to quality of offering

In the mentioned response 'to conduct a full review into AEN' please provide details of the following:

• any associated terms of reference in relation to such a review and appointed persons / organisations in order to conduct such a review and their credentials
• expected timescales of such a review

• what stakeholder input will be sought from external parties ie, parents, health professionals, third sector and any engagement with uk specialists in order to to undertake best practice and comprehensive views"

• When the islands SPCs were last independently inspected / audited in relation to quality of offering

In relation to the current external validation process which forms part of the Department’s Quality Assurance Model:

Out of the 15 schools that have completed the external validation process so far, the following 7 schools have Specialist Provision Centres, which have formed part of the current external validation process to date.

The parent information following the external validation visits, can be found on the individual school websites and by way of advice and assistance the weblinks are provided below:

• QEII - https://qe2.sch.im/pages/index/view/id/148/2024%20Validation%20Summary • Peel Clothworkers’ - https://peelclothworkers.sch.im/pages/index/view/id/67/2024%20Validation% 20Summary • Castle Rushen - https://crhs.sch.im/pages/index/view/id/365/Validation • Ballakermeen - https://bhs.sch.im/blog/index/view/id/447/External%20Validation • Onchan - https://onchan.sch.im/pages/index/view/id/182/Validation%20Summary%202 024 • Cronk Y Berry - https://cyb.sch.im/pages/index/view/id/146/Quality%20Assurance • St Ninian’s - https://snhs.sch.im/blog/index/view/id/1350/External%20Validation%20Report %20Published

By way of advice and assistance, the external validation process has been implemented via a phased approach, the pilot phase will not be complete until January 2025, when all other school and educational services will go through the external validation process.

1. In the mentioned response 'to conduct a full review into AEN' please provide details of the following:

2. any associated terms of reference in relation to such a review and appointed persons / organisations in order to conduct such a review and their credentials

3. expected timescales of such a review
4. what stakeholder input will be sought from external parties ie, parents, health professionals, third sector and any engagement with uk specialists in order to to undertake best practice and comprehensive views"

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested.

Please quote the reference number 4310017 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will

be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.