On Wednesday 15 April 2026, Oxfordshire County Council and NHS Thames Valley Integrated Care Board (NHS Thames Valley) received a letter from The Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, Secretary of State for Education, recognising ongoing improvements in services for Oxfordshire’s SEND children.

The secretary of state noted that Oxfordshire’s local area partnership (LAP) has strengthened how the views of children and young people with SEND, as well as parents and carers, are gathered and used in strategic planning.

There have been improvements in communication and information sharing across the partnership, including monitoring the impact of the partnership’s actions and enhanced timeliness of education and health care plans (EHCPs).

Significant progress in jointly commissioning services and reducing waiting times for critical support, was also acknowledged by the secretary of state in her letter.

Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Young People’s Services, said: “The government’s decision to remove the improvement notice is encouraging. Close partnership working has helped us to review, reset and rebuild services.

“The government does, quite rightly, expect the services and support we collectively provide to keep getting better. We are committed to this and will continue to engage and listen to children, young people with SEND and their families as part of our improvement journey.”

Dr Nick Broughton, Executive Lead, NHS Thames Valley, said: “We welcome the decision to lift the improvement notice and recognise it as an important milestone for SEND services in Oxfordshire. This reflects the commitment and hard work of colleagues across the local area partnership, and the willingness of organisations to come together, challenge ourselves and work differently in the interests of children and young people.

“We know, however, that this is not the end of the journey. There is still more to do to ensure services are consistently timely, joined up and responsive, and to rebuild confidence with families. We hope that parents, carers and children are beginning to see the impact of the changes being made, but we remain focused on sustained improvement and listening carefully to their experiences as we continue this work together.”

The LAP includes Oxfordshire County Council; NHS Thames Valley Integrated Care Board (formerly NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board); Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust; Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Oxfordshire Parent Carer Forum; and professional subject matter leads.

Notes

In July 2023, Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission undertook a local area partnership inspection of SEND services

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Dean Farrell, who also serves as Witney CSS’s climate action champion, is participating in the eight week programme alongside students from across the globe. The course explores cutting-edge climate science and includes a group project component.

He hopes to focus his main project on Oxfordshire County Council’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.

Dean’s journey began with carbon literacy training. The council offers the nationally recognised carbon literacy training to any interested staff to support all non-environmental professionals with understanding of how their role can support meeting climate action targets.

This training sparked a deeper interest in climate action for Dean. Encouraged by his team leader, Selina Crozier, Dean applied for the Oxford course, and, despite initial doubts, was thrilled to be accepted.

Now two weeks into the programme, Dean describes the experience as intellectually challenging and deeply rewarding.

Dean said: “This opportunity means a great deal to me. It’s not just about learning, it’s about proving to myself that I belong in this space. I’m proud to be part of something that could make a real difference.”

Dean plans to share his learning with colleagues and the people supported at community support services across the county through presentations, newsletter articles and social media updates. His goal is to make climate science accessible and relevant to local communities, while highlighting the council’s sustainability efforts.

Selina, Team Leader in Oxfordshire County Council’s Adult Social Care team, said: “Dean is living our organisational values ‒ showing ambition, responsibility, and a real drive to make a difference. We’re incredibly proud of him.”

Councillor Tim Bearder, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care at Oxfordshire County Council, said: “Dean’s achievement is a fantastic example of how individual ambition aligns with our wider organisational goals. His commitment to climate action reflects Oxfordshire County Council’s determination to reach carbon neutrality by 2030 and embed sustainability into everything we do.

“By sharing his learning with colleagues and local communities, Dean is helping to turn strategy into action and inspire others to play their part in creating a greener future.”

Dean’s story is a powerful example of personal growth, community leadership, and the council’s wider commitment to climate action.

Learn more about Witney Community Support Service, and the activities and services it provides to help people stay healthy and independent.

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Children in Oxfordshire are leaping into walk to school week (19 - 23 May) with a space-themed challenge to help build healthy habits for life.

Oxfordshire County Council is funding 29 primary schools across the county to take part in the week as part of an annual walk to school challenge delivered by Living Streets. This year, schools are launching ‘the great space walk’ and it will celebrate five themes: mental health, physical health, sustainability, road safety, and community.

Students can walk, wheel, or cycle to school every day, with each day this week focusing on one of the celebration themes, highlighting the benefits associated with these journey choices.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: "The journey to school can set children up for a lifetime. This week will get families thinking about the benefits of everyday active journeys, which can have such wide reaching positive impacts.

“The great space walk is a very exciting theme, which will no doubt inspire young imaginations and create opportunities for fun together with family and friends.”

It’s not just about walking to school, students can also take part in playground activities, physical activity lunch clubs, and even class walks.

Schools that join the walk to school challenges see an average 23 per cent increase in active travel journeys to school and a 30 per cent reduction in reliance on private car journeys to school.

Chesterton Primary School in Bicester is one of the schools participating in the challenge.

Mr. Horner, Headteacher of Chesterton Primary School, said: "We always try to participate in walk to school week, as it fits in with our wider goals regarding sustainability and the environment. Even though some of our families can't walk to school due to the nature of our catchment area, we show them that there are still alternatives to driving from door to door. The pupils (and staff) always enjoy being part of the challenges and competitions that we set, and families regularly feedback that they have really enjoyed the experience."

Students might pretend to have moon boots on when walking into school, look for exciting new life-forms, start the walk with "one small step", or take part in a solar system hunt on their way to the classroom.

More information about the national walk to school week challenge is available on Living Streets’ website, with some free resources to promote the benefits of walking to school, including a booklet, a diary, and a free family walk to school kit.

Ends

For more information about this release contact the Oxfordshire County Council communications team on 01865 323870 or email press.office@oxfordshire.gov.uk

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Here's what Cutteslowe Primary School student council shared about what they like about walking or wheeling to school:

He said: “As always, results day is one of mixed emotions, from triumphs over adversity to surprises and in some cases disappointments.

“I know that some students will have decided their next steps. For others, it will be a time of reflection, considering options or adjusting their plans.

“Luckily, there are so many choices available, from continuing in education to beginning work, or learning a career on an apprenticeship or other training programme. Excellent support is available through a number of services that offer help for young people.

“Again, congratulations, and also thank you to dedicated parents and the staff who have taught, coached and mentored our students during their time in Oxfordshire’s schools and colleges.”

Next steps

For anyone unsure of their next steps after exam results, further help can be found at oxme.info and through the National Careers Service, which has a helpline number: 0800 100 900. For anyone interested in apprenticeships visit oxfordshireapprenticeships.co.uk

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The county council has been running the interest free loan scheme since July 2023 to help maintained schools reduce their overall energy usage, which in turn could help cut operational costs.

The school applied to the council for £22,000, out of an £800,000 fund, to finance the  installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology, designed to convert sunlight into electrical energy.

Councillor John Howson, Oxfordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Young People’s Services, said: “We’ve already carried out 50 energy efficiency audits on our council maintained schools. The latest round of the loan scheme was launched earlier this year, with Whitchurch Primary School being one of the first to make use of the fund.”

The school hopes to install the photovoltaic (PV) technology during the summer break in readiness for the new term in September.

Fiona Broadbent, School Business Manager at Whitchurch Primary, said:

"We are committed to reducing our environmental impact and have already made the switch to LED lighting, so installing solar PV panels was the next step to take to both reduce our carbon footprint and make financial savings for the school."

Dawn Chesters, Headteacher, said: We are looking forward to using this installation as an educational tool; to help the children understand about their carbon footprint and practical steps they can take to create a positive impact. We believe that nurturing an understanding of sustainability from a young age is essential for shaping responsible global citizens."

Other schools are applying for energy efficiency loans and details of their plans will be released in coming months.

Action on Carbon and Energy in Schools (ACES), an energy efficiency support service, funded by Oxfordshire County Council and delivered by Oxford Brookes University and Low Carbon Hub, has been supporting schools with applying for the loan.

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The county council has been running the interest free loan scheme since July 2023 to help maintained schools reduce their overall energy usage, which in turn could help cut operational costs.

The school applied to the council for just under £12,000, out of an £800,000 fund, to finance the classroom installation of photovoltaic (PV) technology, which is designed to convert sunlight into electrical energy.

Councillor John Howson, Oxfordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Young People’s Services, said: “We’ve already carried out 50 energy efficiency audits on our council maintained schools. The latest round of the loan scheme was launched earlier this year, with Sonning Common Primary School being the second to make use of the fund, after Nettlebed Community School.”

The school hopes to install the photovoltaic (PV) technology during the summer break in readiness for the new term in September.

Chris Hirst, Headteacher at Sonning Common Primary School, said: “We are thrilled to be able to add to our existing solar PV array. This most recent addition will help us to reduce our carbon footprint even more and will help us on our journey to become net carbon zero. We are proud to be playing our part and hope that other schools will follow to install renewable technologies.”

Other schools are applying for energy efficiency loans and details of their plans will be released in coming months.

Action on Carbon and Energy in Schools (ACES), an energy efficiency support service, funded by Oxfordshire County Council and delivered by Oxford Brookes University and Low Carbon Hub, has been supporting schools with applying for the loan.

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A total of £2.23 million was approved by councillors at the 19 March meeting of cabinet to create 23 new places at Mabel Prichard Special School in Oxford. The school provides education and support for pupils with a range of severe learning difficulties and is managed by The Gallery Trust.

The school is co-located with Orchard Meadow Primary School. It is also an academy and is managed by United Learning.

It is proposed that Orchard Meadow Primary School will relocate its foundation stage accommodation into surplus space elsewhere on site, enabling the provision of the additional school places for children with SEND.

Councillor Kate Gregory, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Improvement, said: “The expansion of Mabel Prichard School in Oxford is just one part of our continued efforts to provide quality local facilities and support for SEND children.

“We’re fully committed to improving Oxfordshire’s SEND services for children, young people and their families. We’ve recently published a priority action plan and we are working together with families to make a difference to the way children and young people get the support they deserve to help them thrive.”

Kay Willett MBE, Chief Executive Officer of the Gallery Trust, said: “We are delighted that the expansion of Mabel Prichard School in Oxford has been approved.

“The Gallery Trust will always respond to local needs by enhancing or expanding our schools and services and is happy to support Oxfordshire's SEND strategy on this project.

“We are so pleased that this partnership will support the provision of the much needed additional special school places in Oxfordshire and we know that this will have a positive impact on many children and young people and their families."

The cabinet’s approval is part of wider plans to increase SEND provision in the county. Bloxham Grove Academy opened in January, and the Department for Education is due to submit a planning application soon for another school in Faringdon. Meanwhile £14.4m of funding was approved by cabinet in January for a new school SEND school in Didcot.

The proposal for the school in Didcot will be the first of two new special schools planned for the area, which will take the total number of Oxfordshire special schools to 17.

SEND partnership improvement information can be found on the council’s website and parents and carers can sign up for a SEND e-newsletter online and SEND coordinators can also fill in a simple form. In addition, online support for parents and carers of children with SEND has been improved, with more to come, to make it easier to find information, which can be accessed at oxfordshire.gov.uk/localoffer

Progress includes an investment into SEND services by Oxfordshire County Council; plans to expand the number of educational places for children with social, emotional and mental health difficulties (SEMH) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are taking shape; a review of children’s therapy services is underway by NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB); and a number of regular information sharing opportunities and engagement events are now in place.

The Oxfordshire SEND Strategic Improvement and Assurance Board (SIAB) made up of senior leaders from across the partnership, including Oxfordshire Parent Carer Forum (OxPCF), is also well established with a clear programme of improvement. The board has been set-up to drive the actions required to deliver better services for SEND children, young people and their families.

Councillor Kate Gregory, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for SEND Improvement, said: “We continue to make progress in our improvement journey but it will take time for real changes to be felt by all families. We are working together as a partnership to review, reset and rebuild services listening to what matters most to children, young people with SEND and their families.

“Our budget, approved at our full council meeting in February, includes an investment of £1.5 million in additional capacity in the SEND service to help ensure that children receive timely and good quality responses to their needs within education, health and care plans (EHCPs).

“And good news, all 568 children with EHCPs, who are transferring to primary or secondary school in September 2024, had an updated plan issued by 15 February 2024, meeting statutory deadlines.

“Our commitment to improvement is also reflected in the number of new SEND schools planned across the county in the coming years, including Didcot where funding was approved at our cabinet meeting on 23 January.”

There is significant council funding to increase early intervention work in early years and primary school settings to respond to SEND needs and proactively support the transition of children into mainstream education (£500,000 in 2024/25 and £380,000 ongoing funding from 2025/26).

Measures are being put in place to expand the number of places for children with SEMH and ASD, including:

• Utilising spare capacity in existing schools across the county.
• Three new special schools, with approximately 350 places, planned for Bloxham, Faringdon and Didcot by September 2027.
• Opening five resource bases (providing targeted support) in new schools, with up to 96 places, in Didcot, East Oxford and Wantage by September 2029.

Similar capacity increases are planned for children with needs other than SEMH and ASD, including:

• Building a special school, with approximately 120 places, in Didcot, by September 2029.
• Expanding two community schools by a combined total of 48 places in Oxford and Witney, by September 2027.
• Opening two resource bases in new schools, with up to 16 places, in Banbury and Faringdon, by September 2026.

The BOB ICB review of children’s therapy services is intended to ensure that support is in place for children and young people across various levels of need – universal, targeted and specialist. The review will consider both demand and capacity for occupational, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy services.

It will include a sensory occupational therapy pilot to help parents, carers and mainstream educational settings identify and support children and young people with sensory needs; a speech and language therapy screening and intervention tool, which will assess children with speech and language and communication difficulties and provide interventions to meet their needs earlier in mainstream schools; and speech and language therapy support in nurseries and early years settings.

The number of children and young people referred to neurodevelopmental pathways continue to increase and waiting times remain a challenge. However, progress is being made in terms of:

• More assessments are being offered, directly through NHS organisations, but also in partnership with independent providers to maximise capacity.
• Redesigning processes and maximising opportunities associated with assistive technology to reduce the time it takes to gather information and complete assessments.
• Mechanisms are now in place to identify and meet needs at the earliest possible opportunity, and to review and prioritise needs on a regular basis.

The partnership also continues to deliver on its commitment to listen to, and act on the views of children and young people, parents, carers and professionals. On top of existing meetings with OxPCF and other parent and carer support groups, a variety of termly information gathering and sharing sessions will be held, online and in person, including in educational settings, to gather feedback.

Two online public events are planned for Tuesday 19 March, bringing together parent carers of children and young people with SEND from across Oxfordshire and representatives from the partnership. Participants will be encouraged to ask questions and provide feedback. Parents and carers can find out more and book a place online. 

On Friday 22 March, an event for young people with a learning disability and or autism, and those who support them, will be held at The King’s Centre, Osney Mead, Oxford. The ‘Transition to Adulthood: Perspectives’ conference will host information stalls and speaker sessions and provide healthcare advice from local clinicians.

It will also showcase five short films co-produced by neurodivergent young people about the key challenges of moving from childhood into adulthood. The films aim to help health and care professionals, and the public, better understand how transitioning to adulthood for this group can be particularly difficult, yet similar to others their age. 

SEND e-newsletters have also been set-up to share helpful information and updates, one for professionals and one for parents and carers. Parents and carers can sign up for the e-newsletter online and SEND coordinators can also fill in a simple form. In addition, online support for parents and carers of children with SEND has been improved to make it easier to find information. Further improvements will continue. Information can be accessed at oxfordshire.gov.uk/localoffer

SEND partnership improvement information can be found online on a dedicated webpage hosted by the county council where people can also access the highlights of activity discussed and agreed at the Strategic Improvement and Assurance Board by reading the blogs from Steve Crocker, Independent Chair.

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The plan responds to Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission’s inspection report of SEND partnership services in July. A draft plan was submitted to the Department for Education (DfE) on 24 October and was approved by Ofsted on 12 December.

Councillor Kate Gregory, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for SEND Improvement, explained: “We recognise that we are only at the start of our improvement journey and that it will take time for real change to be felt by families. We are working hard as a partnership to ensure we have the right foundations in place to deliver real and lasting improved outcomes for children, young people and families.

“Progress has been made but much more is to come. I look forward to continuing to forge strong relationships with partners and with families with SEND children to ensure we do this together. We are all determined to make a real difference.”

The plan sets out what will be achieved across five priority action areas. 

1. Gathering and acting on the views of children and young with SEND and their families.
2. Developing effective communications systems across the partnership to ensure coordinated approaches.
3. Improved timeliness and quality assurance of education, health and care plans.
4. Commissioning of services to meet the needs of children and young people and their families.
5. Producing plans that are coproduced with children and young people and their families, which are rigorously monitored.

The local area partnership¹ includes Oxfordshire County Council, NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board and the parent carer forum (PCF), the official body for the voice of parent carers. The PCF will be directly involved in activities in the priority action plan that lead to improving services and outcomes for children and young people with SEND. 

Rachael Corser, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board’s Chief Nursing Officer, said: “As health and care partners, we’re fully committed to improving Oxfordshire’s SEND services for children, young people and their families.

“Without doubt there is still a way to go, but by working together with families we are starting to make a difference to the way children and young people get the support they deserve to help them thrive.”

The Oxfordshire SEND Strategic Improvement and Assurance Board is made up of senior leaders from across the partnership and members of the PCF and will drive the action required to deliver better services for SEND children, young people and their families. It meets again on 20 December.

The partnership will continue to work with Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission on prioritising actions to secure immediate improvement for children and young people with SEND and their families.

Parents and carers can sign up to hear the latest on SEND news online and SEND coordinators can also fill in a simple form. In addition, there is online support for parents and carers of children with SEND at oxfordshire.gov.uk/localoffer

Ends

For more information about this statement contact Oxfordshire County Council’s communications team on 01865 323870 or email press.office@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Notes to editors

• ¹The local area partnership members include Oxfordshire County Council, NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB), Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. They have worked together with the county’s parent carer forum (PCF), as the official body for the voice of parent carers, and professional subject matter leads, to develop the priority action plan detailing clear and measurable service improvements. 
• On 16 November, the DfE published an improvement notice, which was issued to the county council. This is an official document sent to councils following inspections that have similar outcomes, outlining the steps needed to evidence progress in the improvement of services.

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This follows Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission’s inspection of SEND partnership services in July. The partnership includes Oxfordshire County Council, NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board and the parent carer forum (PCF), the official body for the voice of parent carers.

Progress includes proposed investment into resourcing SEND services; an improvement in the timeliness of assessments for education, health and care plans (EHCPs); the establishment of a SEND improvement board to drive and quality assure the delivery of the partnership’s priority action plan, which has now been approved by Ofsted; and improvements in information provision and engagement opportunities.

Councillor Kate Gregory, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for SEND Improvement, explained: “We recognise that we are only at the start of our improvement journey and that it will take time for real change to be felt by families. But progress is being made.

“Our 2024/25 budget proposals include an investment of £1 million in additional capacity in the SEND service to help ensure that children receive timely and good quality responses to their needs within education and health care plans. This year, we have also redesigned roles within the service to better meet demand and have successfully filled 11 permanent posts within the last two months, which will significantly reduce our use of agency workers.

“This is building on work that has been underway for over twelve months to improve the timeliness of education, health and care needs assessments.”

As of November 2023, in Oxfordshire 52 per cent of education, health and care needs assessments were processed within the statutory timeframe of 20 weeks, which is just above the national average (currently 50 per cent²). The partnership will continue to work to improve this.

An Oxfordshire SEND Strategic Improvement and Assurance Board has also been formally established to drive the action required to deliver better services for SEND children, young people and their families. The board has met twice and is made up of senior leaders from across the partnership and members of the PCF. Steve Crocker³, is the board’s independent chair. 

On 24 October, the partnership submitted a draft priority action plan to the Department for Education (DfE), which was approved by Ofsted on 12 December. The plan sets out what will be achieved across five priority action areas. 

1. Gathering and acting on the views of children and young with SEND and their families.
2. Developing effective communications systems across the partnership to ensure coordinated approaches.
3. Improved timeliness and quality assurance of education, health and care plans.
4. Commissioning of services to meet the needs of children and young people and their families.
5. Producing plans that are coproduced with children and young people and their families, which are rigorously monitored.

The plan will be published by Oxfordshire County Council, on behalf of the partnership, on Monday 18 December. The partnership will continue to work with Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission on prioritising actions to secure immediate improvement for children and young people with SEND and their families.

The partnership is also enhancing existing arrangements to listen to, and act on the views of children and young people, parents, carers and professionals. On top of existing meetings with the PCF and other parent and carer support groups, a variety of termly information gathering and sharing sessions will be held, online and in-person, including in educational settings, to gather feedback. These will begin in December followed by regular engagement opportunities in the new year, including with parents, carers and families.

The PCF will be directly involved in activities in the priority action plan that lead to improving services and outcomes for children and young people with SEND. 

Cllr Gregory added: “We are working hard as a partnership to ensure we have the right foundations in place to deliver real and lasting improved outcomes for children, young people and families. Progress has been made but much more is to come. I look forward to continuing to forge strong relationships with partners and with families with SEND children to ensure we do this together. We are all determined to make a real difference on this improvement journey.”

SEND e-newsletters have also been set-up to share helpful information and updates, one for professionals and one for parents and carers. Parents and carers can sign up for the e-newsletter online and SEND coordinators can also fill in a simple form. In addition, online support for parents and carers of children with SEND has been improved to make it easier to find information. Further improvements are being made into the new year. Information can be accessed at oxfordshire.gov.uk/localoffer

Notes to editors

• ¹The local area partnership members include Oxfordshire County Council, NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB), Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. They have worked together with the county’s parent carer forum (PCF), as the official body for the voice of parent carers, and professional subject matter leads, to develop the priority action plan detailing clear and measurable service improvements. 
• ² This is the current national average as reported by the Department for Education in the annual SEN2 data return (June 2023). The SEN2 survey is a statutory data collection that takes place every January, which local authorities must complete.
• ³Steve Crocker has recently retired from his post as Director of Children’s Services at Hampshire County Council and was a former President of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services. He was awarded an OBE in 2018 in recognition for services to children in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Steve has played a leading role in the improvement of children’s services in other local authorities and is also a key influencer nationally. He has been called on regularly to contribute to the shaping of policy on areas such as adoption, social work reform and innovation.
• On 16 November, the DfE published an improvement notice, which was issued to the county council. This is an official document sent to councils following inspections that have similar outcomes, outlining the steps needed to evidence progress in the improvement of services.

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This follows Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission’s local area partnership inspection of SEND services in July.

The local area partnership members include Oxfordshire County Council, NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB), Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. They have been working together with the county’s parent carer forum (PCF), as the official body for the voice of parent carers, and professional subject matter leads, to develop the priority action plan detailing clear and measurable service improvements.

Ofsted will provide feedback on the draft plan within 70 days of the report submission date. After this point, the report will be finalised. However, action to deliver and implement improvements has already begun.

Today (16 November), the DfE has published an improvement notice that has been issued to the county council. This is an official document sent to councils following inspections that have similar outcomes, outlining the steps needed to evidence progress in the improvement of services. 

The partnership has committed to continual dialogue with families, children and young people and professionals, and will hold a variety of mid-term information gathering and sharing sessions (online and in-person), including in educational settings, to gather feedback. This will be supported by existing meetings with the parent carer forum and other parent and carer support groups.

Progress is already being made in improving the timeliness of education, health and care (EHC) plans for those who need them. As of September 2023, in Oxfordshire 48 per cent of assessments were being processed within statutory timeframes compared to four per cent in January 2023¹.

The local area partnership members² – including Oxfordshire County Council, NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB), Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – have been working, together with the county’s parent carer forum (PCF) and professional subject matter leads, to develop a priority action plan detailing clear and measurable service improvements. This will be submitted to the Department for Education by Tuesday 24 October.

An Oxfordshire SEND Strategic Improvement and Assurance Board (SIAB) has been formally established made up of senior leaders from across the partnership and members of the PCF. The SIAB will drive the action required to deliver better services for SEND children, young people and their families. The board will have an independent chair and will be supported by the new cabinet member at the county council focused on SEND improvement.

Councillor Kate Gregory, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Improvement, said: “My new role is to ensure a constant focus in rapid action to deliver significant improvements. Our priorities must be on rebuilding trust with parents and children. The voices of parents, carers and children and their lived experiences are central to our improvement work. Only by listening, engaging and understanding will we achieve our joint aim of ensuring better outcomes consistently for the most vulnerable children and young people in the county.”

To ensure there is continual dialogue with families, children and young people and professionals, the partnership will hold a variety of mid-term information gathering and sharing sessions (online and in-person), including in educational settings, to gather feedback. These will be supported by existing meetings with the parent carer forum and other parent and carer support groups.

The local area partnership recognises the importance of meeting the needs of children and young people at the earliest opportunity. For those where an EHC plan is required, the county council is continuing to build extra capacity in the SEND team to keep improving the timeliness of EHC plans. It is in the process of recruiting a SEND improvement officer, with responsibility for delivering the priority action plan, and a parent liaison officer who will be a single point of contact for parents to communicate with. 

Cllr Gregory added: “Since the Ofsted and Care Quality Commission inspection, the partnership is building the right relationships together that will be needed to drive significant improvement to services. We are determined to make the changes needed to provide children, young people and their families with the services they need and deserve.”

Notes to editors

¹As of September 2023, in Oxfordshire 48 per cent of assessments were being processed within statutory timeframes. The current national average as reported by the Department for Education (DfE) in June 2023 and based on the January 2023 SEN2 data return is 50.7 per cent.

Monthly progress on processing assessments for EHC plans within statutory timeframes:

In January 2023, there were approximately 23,000 children and young people with SEND in Oxfordshire (SEN2 Jan 23 census and Jan 2023 school census data published by the DfE). This included 5,427 with an education, health and care (EHC) plan in the age bracket 0 - 25. The total number of EHC plans that Oxfordshire maintains is increasing month on month, in line with regional and national trends and now exceeds 6,200.

²Oxfordshire County Council and NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB) are jointly responsible for the planning and commissioning of services (across education, health and social care) for children and young people with SEND in Oxfordshire.

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Councillor Kate Gregory will take on this role while Cllr John Howson is the new cabinet member for children, education and young people’s services.

Other new cabinet members are Cllr Neil Fawcett who will oversee community and corporate services, Cllr Nathan Ley who will look after public health, inequalities and community safety and Cllr Judy Roberts who will manage infrastructure and development strategy. Cllr Calum Miller has decided to step down from the role of cabinet member for finance and will be replaced by Cllr Dan Levy.

Last week, it was announced that Cllr Pete Sudbury had taken on the role of deputy leader of the county council. He will also retain his current role as the cabinet member for climate change delivery and environment.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “We have quickly filled vacant cabinet positions and we are now rapidly focusing on the issues that matter to Oxfordshire people. 

“At the top of our list of priorities is the subject of special educational needs and disabilities following the recent Ofsted and CQC local area partnership SEND inspection judgement. Cllr Kate Gregory will be focused solely on the urgent action needed to tackle the matters raised by inspectors.

“The creation of a new cabinet role dedicated to SEND will ensure that the whole council has a constant and permanent focus on turning the situation around at pace.

“Our priorities will be on rebuilding trust with parents and children, communicating better with them, listening to them and delivering better outcomes for the most vulnerable children in the county.

“Meanwhile the other new cabinet members will each bring fresh ideas and energy to their roles as we look to the future in terms of our overarching aim of creating a greener, healthier and fairer Oxfordshire.”

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The council’s cabinet has today (19 September) endorsed the recommendations of an independent Education Commission, which was set up by the county council in late 2022 to look at how the council, alongside all state-funded schools, education settings and partners, can improve outcomes and equality for all children in Oxfordshire.

The commission found that young people in Oxfordshire tend to achieve good outcomes compared to the national average but has made a total of 17 proposals to help improve things further – including tackling the inequalities faced by some children and young people.

The county council and its partners are now set to develop an action plan with clear timescales, impact measures and an investment plan to deliver on the proposals made.

Gail Tolley, Chair of the Oxfordshire Education Commission, said: “It has been a privilege for me to have the opportunity to lead the commission.

“In our report, we have made some strong recommendations for Oxfordshire to improve educational outcomes for children from certain demographic groups.

“I am pleased with the response to the commission’s recommendations, which the council have now endorsed, and I look forward to seeing the impact they will have on the children and young people of Oxfordshire.”

Councillor Liz Brighouse, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Youth Services, said: “We welcome the recommendations of the Oxfordshire Education Commission. Ninety-two per cent of Oxfordshire pupils attend schools that are rated good or outstanding by Ofsted. Nationally the figure is eight-seven per cent.

“However, we know that there is still a gap in educational attainment for our most disadvantaged children and those with special educational needs and disabilities. That’s why we’re committed to acting upon these recommendations to tackle inequalities, and create a fairer education system, which ensures everyone can achieve a good outcome.”

As part of its work, the commission spoke to people across the education system in Oxfordshire, including young people and their families, educators, businesses and wider stakeholders, to understand what is working well and what needs to change to create a world class education system.

The full report and recommendations of the commission are available to read by visiting Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

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The inspection formed part of a new national framework of inspections for children and young people with SEND introduced in 2023. Inspectors identified that there are widespread systemic failings across the local area partnership leading to significant concerns about the experiences and outcomes of children and young people with SEND, which must be urgently addressed.

The LAP is made up of Oxfordshire County Council and NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West (BOB) Integrated Care Board (ICB) who are jointly responsible for the planning and commissioning of services (across education, health and social care) for children and young people with SEND in Oxfordshire. The partnership also includes Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Areas identified for improvement include:

• Agencies within the local area partnership need to work cohesively to ensure that children and young people get the right help at the right time.
• Too many children and young people are unable to access the education provision they need; and while many schools prioritise transition work, when there are delays to decision making and naming suitable placements, this work is undone.
• The inspection recognised that the timeliness of education, health and care plans has recently improved, but frequently they do not describe the child or young person accurately enough to ensure that their needs are met effectively.

Since Ofsted’s inspection, the partnership has identified it is building the right relationships together that will be needed to drive significant improvement to services. The LAP will revisit its strategic vision and ensure it has a clear plan with deliverable priorities. It will do this by engaging with parents, carers, their children and young people with SEND and supporting organisations. It will also work together on the development of an action plan to address the specific concerns raised as part of the inspection.

The LAP recognises the importance of meeting the needs of children and young people at the earliest opportunity. For those where an education, health and care (EHC) plan is required, the county council will continue to build extra capacity in the SEND team to keep improving the timeliness of EHC plans¹.

In addition, to ensure there is continual dialogue with families, children and young people and professionals, the partnership will hold a variety of mid-term information gathering and sharing sessions (online and in-person), including in educational settings, to gather feedback. This will be supported by existing meetings with the parent carer forum and other parent and carer support groups.

Inspectors acknowledged a number of strengths in the provision of services and support including:

• All agencies involved with looked after children with SEND have a sharp focus on working together to help them to achieve ambitious outcomes and many young people aged 18 - 25 who are known to adult social care, receive effective assessment and intervention to meet their needs.
• Where there is strong practitioner knowledge and expertise, children and young people benefit from cohesive, proactive planning for their needs. For example, from the early help service and the learning disabilities child and adolescent mental health services team. Where children and young people receive support within specialist statutory teams, for example the children’s disability team, they receive timely assessment and appropriate advice to meet their needs. Here, practitioners effectively assess, review and support children and young people to achieve positive outcomes and experiences. For these children and young people, their transitions are well organised.
• Early years practitioners get useful training and advice from the early years SEN inclusion team. They use the early years SEND toolkit to produce ‘support and outcomes plans’ that outline children’s needs and personalised outcomes clearly.

Inspectors also referenced that recently appointed area leaders recognise the significant weaknesses of the current system and acknowledge the wide-ranging concerns found during the inspection.

At Oxfordshire County Council, recent changes to leadership posts include Martin Reeves, Chief Executive and Stephen Chandler, Interim Executive Director, People, Transformation and Performance. Recruitment for a permanent director of children services is underway. Anne Coyle is currently in post as the Interim Director of Children’s Services. The ICB has also appointed Nick Broughton as its Interim Chief Executive. All area leads take joint responsibility for the delivery of improvements across the partnership.

Stephen Chandler, Oxfordshire County Council’s Interim Executive Director, People, Transformation and Performance, said: “I am so sorry we have let families down. We fully and unequivocally accept the findings of this report. We must and will do better together as a partnership.

“We are urgently focusing our efforts to address the concerns raised. To do this, we want to develop a joint action plan together with parents and carers of young people with SEND as well as with other support and advocacy organisations.

“We also want to build on the strengths identified in the inspection, which we cannot do without our teams of dedicated professionals who continue to be committed to improving the experiences of children and young people with SEND. 

“We care deeply about improving the lives of children and young people and supporting them, along with their families, to thrive. We are determined to make significant changes so we can provide families with a better quality of service at the time they need it most.”

Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, added: “I am so very sorry and disappointed we have not been delivering SEND services across the partnership to the standard children and young people need and deserve.

“We are listening and we will act urgently to deliver significant improvements. I am confident that recent and ongoing appointments in senior roles will give us the necessary drive and focus to do this.”

Rachael Corser, NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICB’s Chief Nursing Officer, said: “We’re sorry that our Oxfordshire SEND services have not met the high standards which our young people need and deserve. And we understand the frustration of parents, carers and families in Oxfordshire over the delays and confusion they face when trying to get help for their children.

“As health and care partners, we’re committed to building on the good work already being done in Oxfordshire, which the report acknowledges, and to make rapid progress in improving everything that must be done much better.

“We pledge to work closely with our young people and their families to make sure they get the support they need to thrive.”

Grant Macdonald, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust’s Interim Chief Executive, said: “We are sorry that services for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities have not met the standards they and their parents and carers deserve. We will ensure that we play a full role in the partnership’s response, alongside parents and carers of young people with SEND, to ensure the quality of service meets the required high standard.”

Dr Anny Sykes, Oxfordshire University Hospitals’ Interim Chief Medical Officer, said: “As a provider of acute hospital services for children living in Oxfordshire, we are committed to working closely with colleagues at Oxfordshire County Council, BOB ICB and Oxford Health to tackle the areas for priority action related to health, identified by the inspection in July, so that all children and young people with SEND have high quality care in our hospitals. We will all work closely with these children and young people, and their families so that we hear their voices clearly and reflect their views in the plans for improvement.”

Jules Francis-Sinclair and Stephanie Harrison, Oxfordshire Parent Carers Forum (OxPCF) Co-Chairs, said: “OxPCF recognises the systemic failings identified in the inspection of local statutory services and has worked hard to share the views of local parents and carers about SEND services across the county. We share the frustration of local families about the consistent and repeated lack of action, duty and care in many areas. 

“We are pleased that some areas of good practice have been identified by the inspectors and look forward to working with the new leadership team to build on these to address the issues raised.  

“We reiterate our commitment to providing a channel for the voice of local families and hope that the findings of this inspection will lead to much needed improvements in SEND services and outcomes for children and young people across Oxfordshire.”

The full report is available on Ofsted’s website.

Notes

¹ As of July 2023, in Oxfordshire 43 per cent of assessments were being processed within statutory timeframes. The current national average as reported by the DfE in the January 2023 SEN2 data return is 50.7 per cent.

• In January 2023, there were approximately 23,000 children and young people with SEND in Oxfordshire (SEN2 Jan 23 census and Jan 2023 school census data published by the Department for Education). This included 5,427 with an education, health and care (EHC) plan in the age bracket 0 - 25. The total number of EHC plans that Oxfordshire maintains is increasing month on month, in line with regional and national trends and now exceeds 6,000.

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As part of a regular review  - known as local Area Partnership SEND Inspection -  Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) are visiting Oxfordshire County Council and its partners this month, carrying out an inspection of local services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

The services within the Oxfordshire local area partnership include education, health, social care and families. The inspection is designed to make sure the services offered by the council and its partners are effective.

Further information about area SEND inspections is available on Ofsted’s website.

The feedback from parents and other interested groups will give inspectors as broader picture as possible about the current local area SEND provision, which includes health, social care and education.

The survey is available on Ofsted’s website where the relevant section can be completed online.

It will close at 9am on Tuesday 11 July 2023.

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The budget has been set in the face of significant pressures on services that stem from escalations in inflation and growing demands – especially in social care for adults and children.

However extra funds will be targeted to promote access to public transport, improve roads, help the lowest income households with cost of living pressures, help for people with special educational needs and disabilities and for community hubs to support families and young people.

The annual budget setting meeting of all 63 county councillors debated  the budget at their meeting today (14 February).

Councillor Liz Leffman, the leader of the county council, said in her statement to the council: “This is a positive budget for Oxfordshire that supports the priorities of the council and reflects the feedback we have heard from our residents.

“We know that households across Oxfordshire face particular financial challenges this year. For many this makes the services we provide even more important

“In the face of political and economic uncertainty we have had to make some difficult choices. We are committing funds to protect frontline services and ensure that the most vulnerable members of our communities continue to receive essential support.”

She added that the budget would “put our finances on a strong and stable footing in the face of future challenges”.

Cllr Leffman said that the inflation that has presented so many difficulties to households in the UK had also presented real challenges to the council in setting a budget – but she said that the council’s cabinet remains committed to its vision for a greener, fairer and healthier county.

She said: “Our priorities are to tackle inequality and support the most vulnerable residents in Oxfordshire by investing in frontline services to take action to address climate change and to put our finances on a stable footing for the challenges ahead.

“We have listened carefully to the feedback from our extensive public engagement and consultation on the budget and the views of Oxfordshire residents are reflected in our proposals.”

Council Tax

The council has agreed a 4.99 per cent Council Tax rise. In the Autumn the government announced that it would allow councils to raise Council Tax by this amount and recommended that they do so – with two per cent ringfenced for adult social care spending.

Cllr Leffman said: “We have thought very hard about the Council Tax increase for 2023/4. In our consultation on the budget, opinion was split on a 4.99 per cent increase to protect adult social care and other services.

“At the same time respondents were very clear that they did not want to see reduced spending on frontline services. We appreciate that any increase at this tough time for households will be hard. At the same time, we know that not funding vital services would have a huge negative impact on some of our most vulnerable residents.

“We therefore proposed to accept the government’s recommendation while investing to make sure we protect the lowest income households from the impact of this increase. We have set aside £2.3m to provide council tax relief and officers are working closely with districts and the city to design this approach.”

Key investments in the areas residents care about

Investments approved in the budget reflect the extensive programme of consultation and engagement that took place in 2022.

• There will be a £13.1m investment for children’s social care including a specific investment of £500,000 to tackle waiting times for Education, Health and Care Plan (ECHP) assessments for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and an additional one-off investment of £500,000 to kick-start the development of community hubs.
• There will be a £14m investment for adult’s social care including £4.4m to deal with increases in demand and complexity and the consequences of paused national reforms.
• Concerns about the availability of public transport options and the maintenance of highways has led to the council investing £2.2m into supporting community public transport and £500,000 to continue the popular combined ticket offer for park and ride that means it costs only £5 for a family of five to park and get a return bus ticket to the city centre.
• There is a further £1m investment in pavements, cycleways and highways.
• An investment of £500,000 is being made to support the expansion of the school streets scheme which has proved very popular in its four trial sites and made it safer and easier for children and parents to walk and cycle to school.
• A further £300,000 is to be invested to help parents and pupils with safe, sustainable, independent travel options for children and young people, encouraging them to walk and cycle to school.

In the council’s capital programme, there is £5.2m to support new children’s homes, £700,000 for statutory health and safety work at Redbridge Waste Recycling Centre and £8m for the expansion of special school capacity.

A further £3m is to be allocated to tackle climate change with a focus on a tree-planting strategy working with city, district and parish councils, with tree cover providing future resilience in the face of rising temperatures.

Meanwhile a £600,000 investment will be made to address severe flooding issues, improving drainage and building community resilience to flooding. There is £1.5m for Thames Towpath bank repairs and reconstruction in Oxford and £5m towards the ‘Vision Zero’ road safety and accessibility programme.

Kim said: “I am deeply moved and humbled to be recognised in this way.

“I am but a small part of a fantastic team of people who are all focused on improving outcomes for the pupils across Oxfordshire.

“I accept this honour on behalf of everyone who works in education; teaching assistants, school office staff, teachers, seniors leaders, heads and school governors.”

Kim has spent the majority of her 36 years teaching and senior leadership career in Oxfordshire secondary schools including St Birinus Boys School in Didcot, Gillotts in Henley and Fitzharrys School in Abingdon.

In 2008 she joined Hampshire County Council as an inspector and adviser, working across primary, secondary and special schools. In 2013 Kim was part of a team of Hampshire leaders seconded to the Isle of Wight to help raise attainment in schools. In 2016 Kim was promoted to lead school improvement on the Island.

Kim returned to Oxfordshire County Council in 2018 where she leads school improvement and governor services, early years and the virtual school. Throughout the pandemic Kim led the county council’s education Covid-19 response team, supporting schools, colleges and early years leaders.   

Kim has high aspirations for all children in Oxfordshire. She is also currently leading work in the local authority regarding pupils whose parents are members of the armed services. She chairs the Oxfordshire and Central Service Pupil Hub, is a member of the Civilian Military Partnership in Oxfordshire and a member of the MOD Local Authority Partnership for Service Pupils.

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The commission will speak to all interested and concerned parties about what a world class education system might look like for Oxfordshire and what needs to change to make it happen.

Oxfordshire’s Education Commission will be independent and will listen to the voices of young people and their families, educators, businesses and wider stakeholders. It will take evidence from a wide a range of sources, gathering views and experiences.

The commission will be independently chaired by Gail Tolley.

Gail is an experienced former director of children’s services who, until recently, chaired the Association of Directors of Children’s Services Educational Achievement Policy Committee.

She is a member of the advisory board of the Rees Centre (Department of Education) at the University of Oxford. She is also a trustee of Ormiston Families and a governor of the Museum of London.

Gail said: “I am looking forward to working with commission members and stakeholders to support further improvements in educational outcomes for all of Oxfordshire’s children and young people. This is an exciting and timely opportunity to review and enhance local arrangements for collaboration and sustained success. The ambition of local young residents will be matched by that of the commission.”

Councillor Liz Brighouse, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Youth Services, said: “Currently 92 per cent of Oxfordshire pupils attend schools that are rated good or outstanding by Ofsted. Nationally the figure is 87 per cent.

“But we are determined to do even better. There is a gap in educational attainment for some of our most disadvantaged children and those children with special educational needs and disabilities. The Education Commission will allow Oxfordshire to reflect, further develop what’s working well, and learn from good practice both locally and across the country.”

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Today, the county council updated residents on how these plans are being rolled out. They are part of a package widely consulted on with partners. And with children, young people and their families.

Councillor Liz Brighouse, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Youth Services, said: “We know that parents are really worried about support and education of their children, and that families are being affected because of government policies. We understand and share these concerns. We are doing everything in our power to deal with them.

“I am appealing to the new Secretary of State for Education, Gillian Keegan, to urgently address the national funding issues facing all local authorities providing SEND services for children and young people.

“Like all local authorities in England, we struggle to keep up with demand. This is because the government’s high needs grants don’t match our children’s needs.

“Moreover, the range of children and young people receiving SEND support was extended in 2014, but no extra money was made available to extend our own special provisions.

“Gillian Keegan must find the money to fund the total accumulated deficit in the budget for SEND children arising from unfunded changes the government itself introduced nearly ten years ago. At the end of March 2022, in Oxfordshire the deficit stood at £29.8m and is forecast to increase to £47.3m by March 2023.

“Despite these extremely difficult financial challenges, we recently developed, with our partners, the local area SEND strategy. We’re now working on implementation of plans with schools, health partners, voluntary organisations, parents and carers to provide more support for children with SEND.”

Principal changes, already implemented or in development include:

• More special school places. In addition to looking to expand existing special schools, new schools at Bloxham Grove and Faringdon are in development and the county council has submitted to the Department of Education bids for two further special free schools.
• A project to support the wellbeing and mental health of pupils and staff in schools, being piloted with 10 schools in the north of the county until summer term 2023.
• A SEND support helpdesk is being launched for schools. It will initially be for schools in north Oxfordshire, aimed at both experienced SEND coordinators and those new to role. The initial pilot will be evaluated and, if successful, offered county wide.
• A review of arrangements involving local schools, to ensure a smoother transition when children with special educational needs move schools, an experience they often find difficult. New practical guidance will focus initially on those moving from primary to secondary school. Similar steps will then be introduced to assist those in early years provision into primary school, and secondary school children into further education.

Councillor Brighouse added: “We want children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities to receive the very best support at the right time for them.

“All local authorities are experiencing a serious shortfall in government funding for the provision of their SEND services. It’s a national problem, not something that is specific to Oxfordshire.

“But we are determined, despite the challenges, to ensure that children and young people with SEND are able to access suitable education and to achieve their potential by being well prepared for a fulfilling, healthy adult life.”

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A scheme to make streets around schools safer is set to continue in four primary schools in Oxford and Abingdon.

A School Street is a timed road closure near school gates that restricts access for motor vehicles during school drop-off and pick-up times. The timed road closures create a safer environment for children, parents and teachers to walk or cycle to school.

School Streets was trialled at a group of primary schools last school year. Four schools are continuing the programme in the 2022/23 school year. These are Larkrise, St Ebbe’s and Windmill schools in Oxford, and St Nicolas school in Abingdon.  

Schools that opted to join the trial were supported by Sustrans. Temporary gates to restrict motor vehicles were used during the trial while volunteers from Sustrans and participating schools monitored changes in travel patterns throughout the trial. Going forward automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras will be used to enforce the scheme.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Cabinet Member for Highways Management, said: “I am really delighted that we will be continuing to build on the successes seen during the School Streets trial. We are committed to make walking and cycling the first natural choice for people. School Streets make it easier for parents, children and teachers to choose healthier ways to travel.

“School communities, along with volunteers from Sustrans have worked extremely hard to help shape the plans and staff the temporary gates, helping to make the areas around school gates safer at start and finish times and reduce traffic impacts associated with school travel.

“We are now working closely with the schools to progress the next steps to bring the programme into being with a more sustainable model. We are keen to extend the programme more widely and welcome interest from more schools in trialling a School Street.”

ANPR cameras will be installed at entry points in autumn. School Streets will continue to be operated by volunteers till then. Details for applying for exemptions will be published in October 2022.

Ends

For more information about this release contact the Oxfordshire County Council communications team on 01865 323870 or email press.office@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Notes to editors

• Click here to see the full report to cabinet.
• Click here to see the Local Transport and Connectivity Plan.
• Click here to see the  Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure plan.
• Click here to read more about School Streets.

These grants are overspent nationally. The government had promised to review this deficit, caused by the increased costs arising from our better understanding of how to meet these children’s extra needs, but is now asking local authorities to carry the can and reduce it.

This is an enormous task. The main reason our SEND budget is overspent is because of greater demand and government restrictions on spending. Demand comes in various forms for children with SEND from classroom learning, where teachers are trained to understand and meet the needs of individual pupils, to more complex cases, such as when a child requires respiratory intervention. The spending restrictions have meant that local authorities haven’t been able to provide the right school places and support needed for children with SEND.

Moreover, the range of children and young people receiving SEND support was extended in 2014, but no extra money was made available to extend our own special provisions and a whole range of commercial providers have also seen the chance to profit and become involved in the system.

These commercial providers offer expensive specialist places in ‘for profit’ schools. Many of these schools make upwards of 38 per cent profit from the SEND budget. The budget is therefore under a lot of stress because of issues that are difficult for a local authority to change.

Oxfordshire County Council has just agreed a SEND strategy to wrestle with these national problems. We consulted widely on the strategy – including with parents, children and young people – and we are now working on an implementation plan with teachers, health partners, voluntary organisations, parents and carers.

Our approach is to keep as many children as possible in our mainstream schools with support and training provided for teachers and other staff – to provide resource bases within some of them – while using our special schools with their expert specialist knowledge to support them. However, this provision is hard to deliver currently because of the lack of appropriate government funding.

Where necessary, we shall build new special state schools to stop the movement into the expensive commercial ‘for profit’ sector. We will also work more closely with health to ensure that we have the necessary data to meet the needs of all these children and ensure they have timely interventions.

Supporting children early is key to ensuring children and families don’t experience the unnecessarily long-term trauma induced through the absence of appropriate early help.

The number of children and young people with special educational needs, particularly those with mental health and wellbeing needs, has risen sharply and we are seeing many more distressed children in our schools.

These children need additional support and help particularly to enable them to thrive in a mainstream school environment. Children in England, however, are 1,500 times more likely to be permanently excluded from schools than children growing up in Scotland. (In 2018: 7,853 children were permanently excluded from schools in England and just five in Scotland).

We would like Oxfordshire County Council, with our highly professional teachers and support staff, to lead the way nationally in reversing this ‘exclusionary’ trend and for Oxfordshire to be seen as a beacon of what’s possible by unlocking the minds and hearts of all our pupils.

Of course, there are many reasons for the difference between the English and Scottish figures. But we believe we have the quality of staff in Oxfordshire schools to lead the way in changing these deplorable national statistics. These are our most vulnerable children – a large number of them have education, health and care plans or are on the SEND register.

A civilised society doesn’t turn its back on such children. We must build an inclusive education system where all are valued and safeguarded, irrespective of their differing needs and abilities. This is our vision, which we are determined to deliver. 

Notes;

Councillor Brighouse's feature was published in Local Government Chronicle.

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Residents have already contributed to plans for this local area SEND strategy through public consultation, which took place between January and March 2022. There were 866 responses with over 90 per cent agreeing with the five strategic objectives. These are:

• Improving outcomes for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
• Developing a continuum of local provision to meet the requirements of these children and young people.
• Good physical and mental health and wellbeing.
• Improving post-16 education, learning, employment and training opportunities.
• Facilitating a positive move into adulthood for young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

Councillor Liz Brighouse, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Youth Services, said: “In Oxfordshire, organisations that work with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities have a shared ambition that our county will be a place where every young person has the opportunity to become everything they want to be.

“We want children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities to receive the very best support at the right time for them. We want them to be able to access suitable education and to achieve their potential by being well prepared for a fulfilling, healthy adult life.”

Detailed plans will now be developed by Oxfordshire County Council and its partners, including Oxfordshire’s NHS Clinical Commissioning Group. Schools, parents, and carers will also be involved in the next steps. The intention is to publish the new strategy in June 2022.

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 Oxfordshire County Council’s proposals include making more high quality SEND education available closer to home, reducing reliance on out of county provision, and improving educational outcomes for children through closer partnerships between the council and schools.

 The council and its partners are also seeking views on a draft Local Area SEND Strategy to develop high quality services across education, health, and social care to support children and young people and their families.

 The two consultations are interlinked and will run together between Monday 10 January and Thursday 10 March 2022. Residents can respond to both at letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/SEND-2022 or by scanning the QR code (scroll down).

Councillor Liz Brighouse, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Youth Services, said: “In Oxfordshire, organisations that work with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities have a shared ambition that our county will be a place where every young person has the opportunity to become everything they want to be.”

 The council and its partners are seeking views on:

• Improving outcomes for children with SEND.
• Developing a ‘continuum’ (a broad range) of provision to meet the requirements of children and young people with SEND.
• Ensuring good physical and mental health and wellbeing.
• Improving post-16 education, learning, employment and training to prepare young people for adulthood.
• Supporting an education system where parents and carers have confidence that their children's needs will be understood and met in their local school.
• Offering a range of specialist learning provisions for some young people who have a high level of need.
• Making every effort to use effectively and efficiently all the resources available to young people.

 Councillor Liz Brighouse added: “We want children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities to receive the very best support at the right time for them. We want them to be able to access suitable education and to achieve their potential by being well prepared for a fulfilling, healthy adult life. That is why I’m encouraging as many residents as possible to participate in these consultations to help us make the right decisions and choices.”

 Residents can have their say on the proposals by:

•  Visiting letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/SEND-2022.
• Attending an online roadshow. There will be five events during February, outlining the Local Area SEND Strategy and the council's plans to develop a more inclusive approach to supporting children and young people with SEND. Visit letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/SEND-2022 for dates and times, and to book a place.

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Oxfordshire County Council has worked closely with The Gallery Trust in delivering the new buildings, which were handed over to Orion Academy this week. The academy forms part of the council’s commitment to provide more school places for children with special educational needs.

The specialist academy will teach students aged 11 to 18 years, who have a range of additional needs, including autistic spectrum condition, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, speech and language difficulties, and specific and moderate cognition and learning needs.

It will become the sixth SEND school in Oxfordshire operated by The Gallery Trust, a special multi-academy trust based in Oxfordshire. The development, built by Morgan Sindall Construction, is on the site of the former Northfield School on Knights Road.

Councillor Liz Brighouse, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Youth Services, said: “This is a very significant moment, demonstrating our commitment to every child and young person in the county. I’m confident Orion School pupils will receive the very best education, shaped for their individual needs, and in a first-class teaching environment.”

Councillor Calum Miller, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “Congratulations to everyone involved in this exciting project. It's been a huge effort to deliver it on time despite the pandemic. There has been great teamwork behind the shared goal of building this specialist learning environment to ensure every pupil gets the very best start in life.”

The new school consists of a main single-storey 2,700 square metre building, housing 14 classrooms. In addition to specialist rooms for science, art, music and design, there is a dedicated space for life skills; where pupils can practice cooking and other domestic tasks to give them independent living skills.

A space in the middle of the school, called The Bridge, will act as a therapeutic base and social area. There is also a large dining area and separate games hall, with an attached gym.

Following completion of the new building, the old structure will be demolished. In its place will be built an all-weather Sport England compliant five-a-side pitch, MUGA (multi-use games area) tarmac court, and a grass pitch with running track. This second phase will be completed in 2022.

Kay Willett, Chief Executive Officer of The Gallery Trust, said: “I am delighted the children are going to benefit from this exceptional environment and access resources they deserve. It is a wonderful building, and it will also benefit the local community.

“We are very grateful to everyone who has supported this build and in particular the attention given to the development of the estates strategy in Oxfordshire for children with special needs.”

Lynne Smith, Head Teacher of Orion Academy, said: “This is a very important moment in time for the students and staff at Orion Academy. We are delighted to welcome our school community into a purpose built, state of the art building where we believe our students will flourish and access a broad range of exciting and innovative learning opportunities. We are also proud to open our school to the local community in the future, so they are able to enjoy our sporting facilities.”

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“A levels are due to be published on Tuesday 10 August and GCSEs on Thursday 12 August. I would like to thank all parents and carers for the support they have given to their children during this exam period. Thank you too to all the school staff who have taught, coached and mentored the class of 2021.

“As always there will be some remarkable achievements, some disappointments, and lots of triumphs over adversity. For those students who have not received the results they were hoping for, there is excellent support available both through the schools, and a number of services that offer help for young people. Once again, I would like to wish all our students success in the next chapter of their lives, whatever that may be.”

Next steps

For anyone unsure of their next steps after exam results, further help can be found at www.oxme.info and through the National Careers Service which has a helpline number: 0800 100 900. For anyone interested in apprenticeships: www.oxfordshireapprenticeships.co.uk

Throughout the results period and beyond, county council staff will be available via the webchat service on the Oxme website to talk to young people and parents about the wide range of learning and employment opportunities available in Oxfordshire for 16 – 19 year olds. Details of drop in sessions and other local support can be found at www.oxme.info/resultsday

Click Sign up to hear from us and receive the latest news and updates in our fortnightly newsletter, Your Oxfordshire.

Changes this week to lockdown measures include schools and colleges opening to all students and residents in some care homes being allowed a nominated visitor.

Reported new cases of COVID-19 in Oxfordshire are now below a rate of 50 per 100,000 population – putting the county in a great position to support children returning to school this week.

Ansaf Azhar, Oxfordshire County Council’s Director of Public Health, said: “We are seeing cases now falling across all age groups in the county, which is really reassuring to see. This puts us in an excellent position as the government begins to implement its roadmap out of lockdown.

“Seeing young people finally able to return to school is an incredibly reassuring first step. It’s been clear that the pandemic has had a tremendous impact on young people, with both their mental wellbeing and their learning impacted by not being at school.

“Although there are now additional steps in place to protect teachers, other school staff, young people and their families, such as testing, I must remind residents that it is inevitable that, with schools going back, it is likely that we will see a small spike in cases once more. It’s crucial that we continue the great progress we have made by following government rules for each roadmap stage. We are still in lockdown.

“This includes not mixing with households – apart from meeting with one other person outside for socially distanced exercise, staying at home apart unless absolutely necessary, including to continue to work from home where possible, and adhering to all the guidance around washing our hands, keeping our distance from others and wearing a mask. Even if you have had your vaccination, you must remember that you need two doses to receive the maximum protection against the virus, and you may still be able to pass the virus onto loved ones and those around you who may not have had it.

“Testing remains crucial in our fight against COVID-19. You should continue to make use of any symptom-free testing programme you are eligible for – through your school, workplace, our symptom-free testing facilities, or the government’s home testing scheme to protect yourself and those around you.

“If we let our guard down now, it could be all too easy for cases to rise sharply once more, as we saw back in the autumn. A third wave is still possible if we let our guard down too soon. With vaccinations continuing at such speed, we are so close now, and we can all do our bit to get us over that line.”

To support the return to school, the government is encouraging all households with primary and secondary school and college-aged children and young people, including childcare and support bubbles, to start regular twice-weekly rapid lateral flow testing.

Adults in these households who are workers or volunteers in a public facing role can get tested at one of the county council’s symptom-free sites, which are Spiceball Leisure Centre (Banbury), The Beacon (Wantage), The King’s Centre (Oxford). If they are not eligible for this programme, they can order tests online for home delivery.

They can also collect up to two packs of home test kits (each contains seven tests) from a COVID symptomatic site 1pm - 7pm. Testing will not be taking place at these sites during these times to avoid contact with anyone with COVID-19 symptoms. The sites are open seven days a week and residents do not need to book an appointment to collect home test kits.

There are four local and regional symptomatic testing facilities in Oxfordshire that are offering the collection of home test kits for parents and carers:

Regional testing site (drive-through)

• Oxford Parkway, Water Eaton Park & Ride, Oxford Road, Oxford, OX2 8HA

Local testing sites (walk-through)

• Woodgreen Leisure Centre, Woodgreen Avenue, Banbury, OX16 0HS
• Osney Lane, Oxford, OX1 1NY
• Woodford Way car park, Witney, OX28 6JS

Home tests kits cannot currently be collected from the county council’s symptom-free testing sites. Residents should not go to one of these sites as the kits they have are not suitable for home use.

Anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19, should book a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test at one of the symptomatic testing sites as soon as possible.

There are five local and regional testing facilities in Oxfordshire (as above with the addition of Oxford Brookes University in Headington). Booking is required.

In addition, mobile testing units are deployed in various locations across the county for a few days at a time, including Abingdon, Bicester, Bodicote, Chinnor, Carterton, Didcot and Wheatley.

Alternatively, residents can request the home delivery of a test when booking a test.

More information on this is available on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

More information

This week’s COVID-19 statistics in Oxfordshire by district are:

• Cherwell 37.2 per 100,000 of the population compared to 71.8 the previous week
• Oxford 30.2 per 100,000 of the population compared to 82 the previous week
• South Oxfordshire 28.9 per 100,000 of the population compared to 45.8 the previous week
• Vale of White Horse 35.3 per 100,000 of the population compared to 58.1 the previous week
• West Oxfordshire 25.3 per 100,000 of the population compared to 26.2 the previous week.

Lateral flow testing

Rapid COVID-19 tests (also known as lateral flow tests) are available for households with school-aged children and through some workplaces via the government’s home testing scheme, and to anyone in a public facing role who does not have access to workplace testing at one of the county’s three test centres. They are only recommended for those not showing symptoms.

The test kit is a hand-held device with an absorbent pad at one end and a reading window at the other. Inside the device is a strip of test paper that changes colour in the presence of COVID-19 proteins (antigens).

Taking a lateral flow test usually involves taking a sample from the back of the throat near the tonsils and from the nose, using a swab. The swab is dipped into an extraction solution. This is then dripped on to the device's paper pad, producing the reaction that gives the result.

The result will be visible on the device in 30 minutes after the sample is applied. Unlike a PCR test, there is no need to send the sample to a lab.

Once a home test is completed, the kit should be placed into the bag provided and disposed of with general household waste.

Find out more about how the lateral flow test is being used in schools on the gov.uk website.

PCR

Anybody displaying any COVID-19 symptoms should get a PCR test through one of four symptom testing sites throughout the county. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests are used to confirm a suspected case of coronavirus, where the person is already self-isolating and is showing symptoms.

Like the lateral flow test, the test usually involves taking a sample from the tonsils (or where they would’ve been) and from the nose, using a swab.

This test checks for the genetic material (RNA) of the virus in the sample and is sent to a lab for processing. Anybody showing symptoms should self-isolate immediately (along with their household) and book a PCR test as soon as possible.

Oxford Brookes University and Oxford University are working alongside Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council and the NHS to make sure arrangements are in place for a safe start to the new academic year – and that students are encouraged to protect themselves and others as Oxfordshire continues to seek to #stopthespread.

The measures include boosting testing capacity– Oxford University is providing its own service, and Oxford Brookes has been working with Oxfordshire County Council to establish an on-site Coronavirus testing facility which is now available via appointment for the local community, as well as Oxford Brookes students and staff.

There will also be additional local contact tracing systems at both universities to track attendance in key areas across campuses. Local outbreak control plans are in place, which have been tested through joint exercises, and all students are being provided with advice and guidance about how to protect themselves and others. Both universities have also published new documents setting out their clear expectations for student behaviour during the ongoing pandemic, , both on and off campus.

Large-scale lectures will not be delivered face-to-face, with the universities instead delivering online learning. Only small scale and individual teaching will take place on campuses. Extensive risk assessments have been carried out in line with Health and Safety Executive guidance.

These initiatives are designed to help keep the virus under control as Oxford looks towards the new university year.

An online event is being organised by Oxford City Council for residents to hear from both universities, the City and County Councils and Thames Valley Police about arrangements for the safe return of students. The event is planned for later this month and will also be an opportunity for residents to put questions to these organisations. More details will be published nearer the time.

Ansaf Azhar, Director of Public Health at Oxfordshire County Council, said:

“It’s important to remember that the virus is as active as ever, so we’ve implemented a range of measures designed to protect incoming students and Oxford residents.

“While it’s easy for students to get carried away amid all the excitement of a new university year, it’s vitally important they remember that the virus still presents a risk and take preventative action and get tested promptly if they show symptoms.

“We’re encouraging students and residents alike to follow those simple measures that help keep us all safe – keep your distance, wash your hands, wear a face covering. If we all do these things, we will avoid having to introduce measures that we’ve seen elsewhere in England.”

Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council, said:

“Students are a vital part of our city’s life and our economy, and I would like to warmly welcome them back to Oxford. Our two universities have put in place measures to minimise the risk from the virus to students, university staff and the wider Oxford population. We all, students and permanent residents, need to abide by the health guidelines to keep Oxford’s communities safe.

“Oxford is a beautiful city and we are proud that each year we get to welcome students from around the world who will call Oxford their new home. I would encourage students arriving in our city to help protect their new community and themselves, by following the guidance around stopping the spread of COVID-19.”

Professor Alistair Fitt, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University said:

“The safety of the community is paramount in our preparations for the new academic year. Over the summer we have been working tirelessly to put in place a large number of precautions, in line with government and public health advice, to ensure the safe return of our staff and students. This includes a University test and trace system, enhanced cleaning, social distancing measures and a Covid testing facility at our Headington Campus.

“We know that safety measures on campus will only be effective if they are accompanied by responsible behaviour from our students within the wider community. We have been in regular contact with our new and returning students over the summer and will continue to share videos and other information on acceptable behaviour which complies with the latest government guidance.

“We are immensely proud of our strong community links and will continue to work closely with local councils to ensure the safety of all, whilst providing a rich educational experience for our students.”

Jan Royall, joint head of Oxford University's Michaelmas Coordination Group together with Karen O'Brien, said:

"Oxford University and its colleges look forward to welcoming all new and continuing students for Michaelmas term. The health and safety of all who study and work here, and the wider community in Oxford, is our highest priority, and we have been making adjustments to the way we live and work. All students whether they live in colleges or private accommodation, will be required to sign a Student Responsibility Agreement which commits them to following University and local public health guidelines in order to protect our fellow citizens in the City as well as the University and colleges. In order to reinforce messages to our community a health campaign was launched this week.

"The University is putting in place additional safety measures ahead of Michaelmas Term, including a testing service, face coverings, social distancing, careful planning of building access, hand and surface sanitation, ventilation, use of Perspex screens and other measures. Additionally, the University's COVID-19: Early Alert Service (EAS) is also working in conjunction with local public health experts to ensure an effective internal strategy to contain outbreaks."

More information

Both universities have set up coronavirus web pages that include information for residents as well as students and staff

Oxford University: https://www.ox.ac.uk/coronavirus

Oxford Brookes University: https://www.brookes.ac.uk/alerts/coronavirus/

In September, Oxfordshire County Council’s Libraries will be commemorating the anniversary with a series of activities on social media and a nostalgic look at our memories of schooldays. School – Best Days of Your Life? will run from 2-16th September on Oxfordshire Libraries Facebook page.

Among the activities will be a scheduled video demo of reminiscence session using a Childhood Reminiscence Box, examples of quirky and nostalgic school photos from the past and the regular online book club (Bloomin’ Good Books) will take a nostalgic look at book covers of titles like Just William, Mallory Towers and Harry Potter.

We take the right to education for granted today but in the 1870s, some children continued to be employed on farms and in factories. Others had family care duties, all of which interrupted their education. In Oxford in 1871, records show that nearly one in five children received no education at all.

Forster’s Education Act – or to give it its true name, the Elementary Education Act of 1870, changed the course of history for our education system, setting a framework for the education of all children aged between five and 12. Local authorities were required to submit a return on the number of children in their area, compared with the number of places available.

The History and Museum Services will, in due course, be preparing an online collection of photographs, historical objects and records to support research from local communities interested in starting a community project about a local school.

Councillor Lorraine Lindsay Gale, with joint responsibilities for Education and Cultural Services said:

“This educational landmark presents a fantastic opportunity to spend a moment reflecting on our own experiences of school and the books we enjoyed as well as new books which continue to be inspired by schooldays. I look forward to the upcoming collection of historical records, photographs and objects which will inspire students and communities shape a research project about local schools.”

For more details on School – Best Days of Your Life? 2-16 September plus other great library activities, please visit:

https://www.facebook.com/Oxfordshirelibraries/

Many children from the reception year, Year 1 and Year 6 returned on June 1 - and with the prospect of further children potentially returning later nationally and locally in the Summer, the council is working to create as safe an environment as possible.

Guided by an over-riding focus on the health and safety of pupils, parents and staff, the county council has already taken vital steps to protect pupils, teachers and parents. These include:

• A risk assessment of the roadside stops to collect and drop school children to ensure enough space is available for pupils to maintain social distancing guidelines
• Moving pick up points entirely to a location with a larger available waiting area where required
• New vehicle loading guidelines: updated information on how many people school transport providers can now carry has been communicated

Preparations continue for the proposed return of Year 10 and 12 pupils with further risk assessments planned.

A recent survey of all 63 Oxfordshire County Councillors found that the introduction of school streets; a traffic control measure to restrict motor vehicles around schools at certain times of day, was a standout priority in terms of how Oxfordshire’s share of the government’s £250m Emergency Active Travel grant fund should be spent.

Although the majority of Oxfordshire’s school pupils have not attended since the lockdown started in March, 94% of Oxfordshire schools have remained open for children of essential workers and vulnerable children throughout the pandemic.

County Councillor Liam Walker, Cabinet Member for Highways Delivery & Operations said:

“The health and safety of pupils, teachers and support staff is our number one priority and how pupils travel to and from schools is an important part of how we plan to achieve this as we recover.

“We will continue to support them by ensuring the return to schools is as safe as it can be, with the necessary social distancing and transport adaptations in place, as increasing numbers of pupils come out of lockdown and return to the classroom.”

County Councillor Lorraine Lindsay-Gale, Cabinet Member for Education & Cultural Services said:

“Children will be taught in classrooms where safety, hygiene and social distancing are absolute priorities and the council has provided hundreds of thousands of items of personal protective equipment (PPE) to assist schools.

“However, we’ve also wanted to focus on conditions as children arrive at and leave school and the measures introduced – with more under consideration – will certainly assist with allaying anxieties parents, pupils and teachers may have.”

The council is also working on a wider series of temporary changes to roads and transport networks to help residents travel safely and abide by social distancing. Ideas have been canvassed from county councillors all over Oxfordshire in the survey with particularly clear support outlined for measures including more 20 mph speed zones where supported by residents and an improved cycling infrastructure, such as more cycle-only lanes in every town. Further details will be outlined on these steps shortly.

Central government guidance on COVID-19 (educational settings) is available from the website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19

This week, the council delivered hundreds of thousands of personal protective equipment (PPE) items to Oxfordshire schools:

IIR Masks: 151,000 (these are surgical, close contact, water resistant masks),

Aprons: 181,000,

Gloves: 121,000,

Visors: 900,

Sanitiser: 7,500 litres.

This PPE equipment will help all local schools manage an immediate response in the unlikely event of a pupil becoming unwell.

In addition, support is being provided to over 900 early years providers regarding supplies of PPE.

Since the lockdown began in March, 94% of Oxfordshire schools have remained open for children of key workers.

In preparation for receiving more pupils back to the classroom, schools are now being asked to complete a risk assessment in conjunction with staff and union representatives.

The risks and challenges will vary, so what works in one school may not work in another. This means that some schools will be able to welcome more children, or more year groups than others. Each school will act in the best interests of each child and family.

Local testing arrangements are in place; and everyone over the age of five can access them if they have COVID-19 symptoms.

The council is committed to supporting disadvantaged pupils; existing free school meals arrangements will continue.

Ansaf Azhar, Director of Public Health, Oxfordshire County Council, said:

“Oxfordshire County Council and the Public Health team are working with schools and other partners to coordinate the ongoing response to COVID-19, helping local residents in staying safe.

“Whilst current scientific evidence shows little COVID transmission among children, we will never be complacent. The health of children, teachers, support staff, and parents will always come first in Oxfordshire.

“That is why all schools are now carrying out risk assessments to decide what provisions they need to put in place, and how many pupils they can teach whilst ensuring safety and social distancing.

“Safety, hygiene and social distancing are absolute priorities. And where community testing indicates clusters of COVID-19 – schools will close.”

County Councillor Lorraine Lindsay-Gale, Cabinet Member for Education and Cultural Services, said:

“The health and safety of pupils, teachers and support staff is our number one priority.

“The teaching teams are incredibly dedicated. They have tirelessly provided education and assistance to pupils throughout the county, often through online learning, over these past few months.

“We will continue to support them by ensuring schools are safe, with the necessary social distancing and sanitation provisions in place, as increasing numbers of pupils come out of lockdown and return to the classroom.”

Central government guidance on COVID-19 (educational settings) is available from their website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19

The school felt it needed to take precautions in the context of a recent visit to Italy by a pupil who subsequently presented as unwell.

We stand ready to support the school and its community in any way necessary, working with partner agencies here in Oxfordshire and with Public Health England in the context of national policies.

“The council recommends that for up to date reliable information on Covid 19 the public should visit the government website on www.gov.uk/coronavirus.”

Like no other decade, 1980s Britain was dominated by a single political figure. As the first woman to serve as a British prime minister, Margaret Thatcher vowed “to move this country in a new direction.” In doing so, she divided the nation into devoted supporters and fierce opponents. The 1980s were bold, brash and contradictory times. An age of upward mobility, boom and bust, of lavish spending and charitable-giving, when hair was big and shoulder pads bigger. The decade of the New Romantics swaggering in frills and flounces, while keep-fit fanatics lunged in Lycra and legwarmers. The action-packed decade of new technology and momentous historic world events that shaped our modern world.

There are also lots of fun-packed activities for our younger visitors during the February school holidays with art and craft sessions. Discover how forensic archaeologists use almost invisible detail to piece together the past and have a go yourself. Dress up and explore being a Roman and enjoy coding and fun with robots with Woodstock Library’s Digital Making Session.

For more information:

https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/leisure-and-culture/museums/oxfordshire-museum/whats-oxfordshire-museum/childrens-activities

Tel: 01993 814106

The deadline for receipt of on time online applications is midnight on Thursday 31 October.

On request, paper application forms will also be available from Oxfordshire schools and County Hall in Oxford. However, parents are strongly advised to apply online for efficiency and security.

Stating four preferences

Parents are encouraged to state four preferences when applying. This does not affect families’ chances of securing a place at their first-preference school.

Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Cultural Services, Councillor Lorraine Lindsay-Gale, said:

“The council has a strong record of being able to offer the vast majority of families a place at their first-preference secondary school – with 85.8 per cent receiving the news they wanted to hear last year.

“ It is very important to apply on time, as this ensures your application is considered alongside all others submitted before the deadline – increasing the chances we will be able to offer you a place at a school listed among your preferences.”

She added: “Many parents understandably have a very clear view about which school they would like their child to attend, but our strong advice is to state four preferences on your application form.

“All the information about how to apply can be found on our website.”

School transport

Parents should consider how their children will travel to and from school.

Free home to school transport is normally only provided to a Year Seven child if that child attends the nearest available school, and that school is over three-miles from the home address. The nearest school will not necessarily be the catchment school.

Transport is normally only provided to a school that is less than three-miles from the child’s home if it is the nearest available school and the route is considered by the council to be unsafe for a child to walk, even if accompanied by a responsible adult.

Parents who want to see the home-to-school transport policy should visit: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/schooltransport

Case study:

Oxfordshire Dad sees school applications as a parent and an officer

Dad of one, Matt Noy (pictured above), knows about the process of applying for a school place both from the perspective of being a parent of a child going through the primary and secondary school application processes, and as a result of being one of the county council officers who processes those applications. Matt has worked in Oxfordshire County Council’s school admissions team for seven years.

And with a key deadline looming on 31 October for Oxfordshire parents applying for secondary school places for their children – Matt is very aware of how parents engage with the process and what’s on their mind at a very stressful time.

Matt said: “The image of school applications is that parents are often anxious and stressed about the process. In Oxfordshire the reality is that despite ever increasing numbers of applications, the number of parents who get their first preference school has consistently been at around the 90 per cent mark for many years, ahead of national averages. So, the large majority of parents are happy.

“My job involves processing individual applications, offering advice to parents and visiting the schools in the part of the county that is my responsibility – Oxford City and Wheatley.

“The toughest part of the job is when we have a new family move to the area and they have three children and want to get them all in to the same school. That is a very hard thing to achieve for them and would be in any part of the country.

“The job has changed a great deal over the years – mainly because of the increase in in-year transfer requests and there are now a large number of academies, many of which have their own admissions rules. Previously when all schools were linked to the County Council as local education authority the process was very matter of fact and easier to oversee. Now there is a lot more discussion required with individual schools regarding individual applications.

“There are also lots more applications overall, due to the rising birth-rate and housebuilding, yet despite this we still consistently achieve around 90 per cent of parents getting their first preference at both primary and secondary level.

“We are a small but very busy team. There are key deadlines each year for applications; but there are always secondary and primary processes, in-year transfers and forward planning throughout the year.”

Simple advice

Asked what simple advice he would give to fellow parents when applying for places, Matt says:

“Submit your application before the deadline. The most secure, efficient way to apply is online. We offer four preferences. You should list them in the order that you truly want them, with your first preference listed first.

“Don’t try to over-think it. I would advise parents to include their catchment school as one of their preferences, not necessarily the first preference. Most addresses in the county and the country have a catchment school, sometimes more than one.

“Consider how your child will travel to school, as the council will only offer free assistance where a child attends their nearest available secondary school where that school is over three-miles away from home. The council will not provide free transport if your child attends a school a long way from home when there are school places available closer to home.

“Most schools have parents’ evenings in September and October. I would advise you visit local schools to help you decide which schools to list as preferences.

“I am often asked for my advice by friends and relatives and find myself busting myths. I have a friend who in a previous year did not get their first preference school for their child. My advice was to join the continued interest list, so if someone turns down their place we can see who is next in line. There is also an appeals process, which is a free service where you can appeal against the decision to refuse your child admission.

“Some of the myths we hear are:

• listing the same school multiple times adds weight to the application;
• listing schools that I have no chance of getting into means the council is forced to offer my child a place at an oversubscribed local school;
• if I apply late, that is fine because you always keep spare places for late applicants.

“None of this is true and it does not help an application. We always advise to apply on time, apply online where possible, list four preferences in the order you want them in, list your catchment school (where your address has one) and think about how your child will travel to school.”

County Council Cabinet Member for Education and Cultural Services, Councillor Lorraine Lindsay-Gale, said: “It is our great privilege as a county council to acknowledge the hard work and commitment that our young people routinely show in coming through these important exams. We also celebrate the dedication and professionalism of all staff and governors who do their best to enable children to fulfil their potential.”

While the vast majority of pupils will choose to stay on at school or further education colleges, there are also a wide range of workplace training schemes and apprenticeships available within Oxfordshire.

Councillor Lorraine Lindsay-Gale, said: “If your GCSE results mean you need to change your plans our simple message to young people is not to panic - there are plenty of opportunities out there and the professional help you need to figure out what to do next. You should speak to your school, local college or get in touch with the council for help and advice.”

For anyone unsure of their next steps after receiving their GCSE exam results, further help can be found at www.oxme.info and through the National Careers Service which has a helpline number: 0800 100 900.

Or for anyone interested in apprenticeships: www.oxfordshireapprenticeships.co.uk

Throughout the results period and beyond, county council staff will be available via the web chat service on the Oxme website to talk to young people and parents about the wide range of learning and employment opportunities available in Oxfordshire for 16-19-year-olds.

Details of drop in sessions and other local support can be found at www.oxme.info/resultsday

Chris Hilliard, Oxfordshire County Council’s Deputy Director for Education, said: “Oxfordshire County Council is seeking to raise its profile in education to work closely with all of our schools in partnership; and provide the best outcomes for our children and young people.

"We are extremely proud of the hard work and dedication of our schools and academies as they strive to achieve the best outcome for children and young people. This is achieved through commitment of head teachers, staff, governors, pupils, and of course parents and carers."

A cross-party group of councillors reviewed the service for students with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) aged 16 or older to find savings needed by the council in response to reduced government funding.

After consulting with schools and parents, a new approach to providing home to school transport has been agreed without needing any changes to the council’s policy for entitlement to free home to school transport. The council believes it will be able to make further savings in the future. Savings will be made by:

• Route rationalisation – routes into 12 schools have been streamlined to use vehicle capacity more effectively
• Bardwell School in Bicester has agreed to use their own school minibus to support home to school transport and other schools will be encouraged to do the same in future
• Encouraging other modes of travel, including parents to take up direct payments for travel to support their own arrangements.

Councillor Lorraine Lindsay-Gale, Cabinet Member for Education who chaired the cross-party group, said:

“Giving every child access to education will always be our number one priority. We listened to the concerns of parents and schools and I am delighted to say that we have found a way to preserve that free school transport for those young people who need it while still managing to save money.”

Watch Councillor Lorraine Lindsay-Gale’s interview on That’s Oxfordshire TV here.

The council has worked with 14 SEND schools to identify the necessary £300,000 of savings for post-16 home to school transport; removing any current need to change existing SEND free transport arrangements. A separate fund has also been created to provide transport for children to go to after-school activities.

The Whitelands Academy is being built within the Kingsmere Village Community. The 5210 sqm school will have 26-classrooms, special educational needs provision including a garden, a four-court sports hall with changing facilities, external social spaces including allotments, quiet areas with a variety of trees to provide shaded areas in the summer and sports pitches for rugby, hockey and football and a multi-use games area.

Since 2011 more than 6,000 new places have been created in Oxfordshire secondary schools. Further planned changes in the 2020s – including Whitelands and a new all-through school in Grove Airfield – will see the overall number of school places created since 2011 rise to around 8,000.

Entirely new schools have been created at the Space Studio, Banbury, Bicester Technology Studio, Heyford Park Free School, Aureus School, Didcot, UTC Oxfordshire, Harwell near Didcot and the Europa School, Culham. The Swan School in Oxford will open in September 2019 with temporary buildings and permanently in 2020.

Other features at the school include a main hall linked to a drama studio, a dining area with access to a covered seating area, kitchens offices and staff spaces, provision for basketball and netball and parking for cars and cycles

The academy sponsor is The White Horse Federation.

Around 88 per cent of children and their parents received their first choice of school in Oxfordshire in 2019 despite continued rising demand for places. The county is consistently ahead of national averages for first places being awarded.

Planning ahead carefully

Councillor Lorraine Lindsay-Gale, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Cultural Services, said: “Our school admissions team and school organisation team do an excellent job in assessing population forecast trends and making sure we have the right school provision in place.

“Bicester is a growing town and there has been careful planning to ensure that Whitelands Academy begins its life as a new Oxfordshire school to meet new demand. I am delighted that work has now begun and I am looking forward to the school opening its doors in 2020.

“There have been a large number of school expansions and entirely new schools created in Oxfordshire in recent years and that’s down to the fact we plan ahead so carefully. We are proud of the fact that we do better than the rest of the country in terms of getting parents and their children their first choice of school.”

First class learning

Jason Brown, Director for Kier’s Oxford Office, commented: “We are extremely delighted to be working with Oxfordshire Country Council to deliver Whitelands Academy at Bicester. This new 600 pupil secondary school will open in September 2020 and provide first class learning and sports facilities for pupils in the surrounding Kingsmere community. This award further reinforces Kier’s position as the UK’s leading builder of educational establishments, delivering over 1000 spaces per week.”

Important milestone

Andrew Carrington, Director of Countryside Properties (Bicester) Limited, the developer at Kingsmere, said: ““We are delighted that construction has started on site to build Whitelands Academy. It marks a very important milestone in Kingsmere’s development. The new academy will enhance the education offering we already have at Kingsmere, firmly positioning the development as a top choice for families looking to be within walking distance of good schools. At Countryside, we pride ourselves in developing places where communities can thrive, and education is at the very heart of this.”

Centre of academic excellence

Dr Nicholas Capstick OBE, Chief Executive Officer of The White Horse Federation, said: “As the White Horse Federation, we are proud and deeply excited to be the sponsor of The Whitelands Academy.

"We have great ambitions for the school and relish the opportunity to ensure it becomes a true centre of academic excellence. This school represents our third academy in Bicester and, as with our other schools, we intend to closely involve and consult with both parents and the wider community in the lead up to September 2020 when it will open. Together, we will collaboratively develop an educational offering that meets the present and future needs of Oxfordshire and its wide-ranging communities from all walks of life.“The Whitelands Academy will feature exceptional facilities that support a broad, balanced curriculum and provide the ideal setting for an outstanding education. The learning and social spaces have been specifically designed to engage and enthral the interests and appetites of every learner, ensuring an even richer experience is on tap to the young people of Bicester.”

‘School Streets’ has already been successfully trialled in other parts of the country and now primary schools in Oxfordshire will be asked if they are interested in taking part.

The project aims to reclaim roads outside schools from traffic at the start and end of each day, reducing air pollution outside the school gates and making it easier for children to walk, cycle or scoot to school.

It’s all part of the county council’s commitment to thriving communities – we help people live safe, healthy lives and play an active part in their community.

‘School Streets’ will be discussed at the Oxfordshire Schools Clean Air Network seminar taking place at County Hall on Clean Air Day (June 20) at 4.30pm - book here https://schools-clean-air-seminar.eventbrite.co.uk.

More than 10 schools have already signed up to the seminar which has been organised by Oxford Friends of the Earth.

Delivering a cleaner and healthier future

Schools will need to engage with staff, governors, parents and the local community before registering their interest in ‘School Streets’.

As part of the county council’s commitment to improving air quality, officers from its Public Health and Communities teams have been investigating the possibility of introducing traffic restrictions outside the school gates.

Restrictions won’t be enforced on main roads and a full consultation will take place before any pilot scheme is implemented. Two to three schools will be invited to take part and the pilots will run for 18 months.

Oxfordshire County Council leader Ian Hudspeth said: “It’s about us working together to explore all options that can reduce children’s exposure to air pollution.

“We all saw from the recent Climate Change strikes how passionate our schoolchildren are about improving the world around them and we, as a county council, are determined to deliver a cleaner and healthier future.”

In 2017 the east London borough of Hackney developed a blueprint for restricting traffic outside schools at opening and closing times.

Seven schools are participating and since the launch of ‘School Streets’, the proportion of children cycling to school has increased by more than 50 per cent, with traffic outside the school gates reducing by around two-thirds.

‘School Streets’ projects have also been a success in Solihull and Edinburgh, with traffic flows reduced and plans in place to expand the schemes.

WOW helping to create healthy habits for a lifetime

Oxfordshire County Council is already working in partnership with schools, communities, business and district council partners to make villages, towns and Oxford city healthier places to live.

WOW, the year-round walk to school programme commissioned by Public Health, encourages children to collect badges each month as a reward for making journeys actively.

Since its launch in 2017, active travel rates in participating schools – including walking, cycling, scooting or ‘park and stride’ – have risen from 65 per cent to 88 per cent.

Based on a typical return ‘school run’ of two miles for the entire journey between home and school, travelling at 30mph on urban roads, the WOW programme reduced emissions as follows:

• NOx: 727.5g per day across Oxfordshire or 40.4g per participating school
• PM2.5: 41.2g per day across Oxfordshire or 2.29g per participating school
• CO2: 276.8Kg per day across Oxfordshire or 15.4Kg per participating school

Mr Hudspeth said: “WOW has already been a huge success in helping to reduce congestion, improving wellbeing and creating healthy habits for a lifetime. Anything that helps to further improve safety and reduce air pollution should be supported.

“The first task is to find out which schools are interested and then we will need to work closely with local communities to ensure the pilot projects are effectively enforced.

“We will continue to explore other options to improve the wellbeing of schoolchildren by the school gates and are already in the process of advertising for more lollipop people to make school routes as safe as possible.”

Schools Tackling Oxford’s Air Pollution (STOP)

Schools Tackling Oxford's Air Pollution (STOP) is an Oxford City Council project which aims to raise awareness of the main sources and health effects of air pollution emissions among the school community.

Schools are able to download an air quality toolkit which has been created by the city council. The toolkit, which has been written to fit within schools’ existing science curriculums, provides science teachers in Oxford with a range of interactive activities, based both in the classroom and outdoors.

STOP has also provided air quality monitoring equipment to six schools across Oxford, alongside technical support, to enable students and pupils to measure pollution levels.

Cllr Louise Upton, city council Cabinet member for Healthy Oxford, and the city’s Cycling Champion, said: “School Streets, STOP and WOW are about two important things. One is air quality – the air filling our children’s lungs is harming them. We must change that by keeping traffic away from schools.

“By giving children the tools to track pollution levels around them, they become the strongest advocates for changing the behaviour of their parents.

“Secondly, it is about getting your daily dose of exercise which is so important for physical and mental health. By closing the streets around schools we can make a walk or cycle to school the obvious and, crucially, safe choice for parents and children.

“I am delighted that across the county we are taking steps to improve the health of our next generation and the planet.”

‘We can’t just sit back and say it’s nothing to do with us’

One of those schools signed up to WOW and STOP is Windmill Primary in East Oxford. Each class has its own eco representatives and pupils will be in Bonn Square on Clean Air Day promoting the clean air message using posters and leaflets.

So far this academic year it is estimated WOW has led to a 17% fall in car trips to the school – a reduction of 999 car journeys or six cars per day. Assuming a four-mile round trip, emissions were reduced by:

• NOx 13.6g per day
• PM2.5 0.77g per day
• CO2 5.2Kg per day

Headteacher Lynn Knapp said pupils and parents were already committed to making a difference outside the school gates.

She said: “We have to make a stand and as headteacher I feel a responsibility to ensure we’re making the right choices to protect the planet for future generations.

“We can’t just sit back and say it’s nothing to do with us and our new curriculum places a lot of emphasis on global and environmental change.”

Year 3 pupil Jenny Baxter, seven, said: “We tested different places around the school and found there was more pollution outside the front where there’s traffic. That’s really bad for anyone with asthma and other people might get lung disease.”

Year 4 pupil Olivia McDermott, eight, said: “I would make everyone walk, cycle or scoot to school to help the environment. We have to do something.”

Year 4 pupil Greta Callaghan, nine, said: “It’s our future and we need people to listen because otherwise we won’t have any world to live in. We need to be active now and stop using cars that produce CO2 gases.”

Year 4 pupil Nikhil Basuray, nine, said: “We need the environment to survive for us to survive. It’s not good to have your engine on when you’re not moving because it’s a waste of energy and causes more pollution.”

District councils urge drivers to ‘Turn it off’

Cllr David Rouane, South Oxfordshire District Councillor cabinet member for housing and environment, said: “We have launched a joint campaign with Vale of White Horse District Council to help improve air quality across southern Oxfordshire called ‘Turn it off’ which is aimed at drivers who leave their engines idling.”

Cllr Jenny Hannaby, Vale of White Horse District Council cabinet member for environmental and technical services, said: “Idling produces so much unnecessary pollution, so both councils are trying to encourage people to take the simple step of turning off the engine when it’s not being driven. This can make such a difference to our air and our health.”

The campaign, endorsed by Public Health England, is aimed at drivers who leave their engines ‘idling’ - still running even when the vehicle is not moving.

The councils will be promoting the campaign on Clean Air Day at a stall at Henley Market (10am-midday) and at Old Station Yard, next to Stert St in Abingdon (2.30pm-4.30pm). Read more here www.southandvale.gov.uk/turnitoff

It’s an accident waiting to happen’

Willowcroft Community School in Didcot also supports the WOW scheme and is keen to further reduce traffic flow outside the school gates.

Assistant headteacher Jodie Brown said Mereland Road was often flooded with cars and an accident waiting to happen at the start and end of the school day.

“We’ve even had to close the school car park because it was getting so unsafe. A member of our Senior Leadership Team and the caretaker are out there every day keeping an eye on the traffic,” she said.

“Our pupils are very supportive of WOW and know all about the need to reduce air pollution. More children are now walking to school and they love the badges. We would just like more parents on board.”

This academic year it is estimated WOW has led to a 22% fall in car trips to the school – a reduction of 8,968 car journeys or 56 cars per day. Assuming a four-mile round trip, emissions were reduced by:

• NOx 126.8g avoided per day
• PM2.5 7.21g avoided per day
• CO2 48.3Kg avoided per day

Year 5 pupil Esther Hedley, nine, said: “It’s really important to lead the way to save the planet. Somebody needs to start it off so others follow.”

Year 6 pupil Ares Papadopoulos, 11, said: “It’s bad that there’s a lot of cars because the plastic from the tyres makes small particles and you end up breathing them. Then that gets in your blood stream and you get heart disease and lung cancer.”

Year 5 pupil George Higginson, 10, said: “I’ve got eight badges for walking to school at least once a week. I like to do it because it stops air pollution from happening.”

Year 6 pupil Lilly-Ella Bedwell, 11, said: “It’s good to walk to school because you can get fresh air and it stops polluting air. It would be good if more people walked because then it would feel safer.”

The Oxfordshire Schools Clean Air Network seminar will feature speakers including Chris Church, from Oxford Friends of the Earth; Jake Bakus, from OxAir; Pedro Abreu from Oxford City Council’s STOP project; and Richard Kuziara, from the county council’s Public Health team.

Schools seeking more information on how to sign up to WOW should contact Sarah Ellis at Living Streets. Email her at sarah.ellis@livingstreets.org.uk

Thousands of pupils will be getting active from May 20-24 as part of an innovative scheme commissioned by Oxfordshire County Council’s Public Health team working in partnership with Active Oxfordshire.

Walk to School Week is an extension of the WOW project supported by Public Health over the past two years. Run by Living Streets, the year-round walk-to-school challenge encourages children to collect badges each month as a reward for making journeys actively.

The council’s Public Health team seeks to promote, improve and protect the health of local people. It’s all part of the council’s commitment to thriving communities – we help people live safe, healthy lives and play an active part in their community.

Tracking travel habits

Since the launch of WOW across Oxfordshire in September 2017, active travel rates in participating schools – including walking, cycling, scooting or ‘park and stride’ – have risen from 65 per cent to 88 per cent.

The scheme provides schools with a ‘Travel Tracker’ which they use to record the different modes of travel, providing valuable insights into travel habits.

St Mary’s CE Primary School in Banbury is one of 20 schools across the county signed up to WOW and its pupils are shining stars when it comes to getting active and helping to reduce air pollution.

All 145 children in Years 1 to 6 are tracked and complete their own registration each school day on the Living Streets website.

When St Mary’s adopted the scheme in October 2017, 57 per cent were making active journeys to school. Now 76 per cent are moving actively.

Teri Smith, PE co-ordinator at St Mary’s, said WOW was now an accepted part of its daily routine. She said: “We want all children to be as active as possible and also want to make sure we’re doing what we can for the environment.

“There’s lots of excitement over the way children get to school and making sure they achieve their badges. We’re really proud of the way everyone has engaged with the scheme.”

Headteacher Victoria Woods added: “We as a school are in a really built-up area and the last thing Banbury needs is for us to be contributing to the congestion.

“We teach children about road safety and behaving properly on their walk to school. The children really like the badges and doing their own registration. They don’t have to walk every day which I think for working families makes it that little bit more accessible.”

What pupils at St Mary’s say

Year 6 pupil Rio Ali, 11, walks to school three times a week. “It takes about 15-20 minutes and is really good for my health and fitness. I actually prefer walking to being dropped off in the car – it’s about socialising and being with my friends.”

Year 4 pupil Line Al-awad, nine, walks the 15-minute journey to school every day. “If you walk every day it gives you more energy, you get fresh air and it helps to develop your muscles.”

Year 5 pupil Mati Perez, 10, walks 20 minutes to school every day with her mum. “I like walking because it gets your brain ready for the day and it’s good exercise. It’s also good because it’s not polluting the area.”

Year 4 pupil Finley Adu-Frimpong, eight, takes about 25 to 30 minutes to walk to school every day. “I like it because sometimes you can see your friends and chat to them. Walking also makes you fitter and stronger. I love the WOW scheme because you get badges every month – it makes you want to walk even more.”

How WOW is making a difference

Pupils are rewarded with badges once a month if they walk to school at least once a week. There is the incentive to claim up to 11 badges in the school year.

Since the first 20 schools in Oxfordshire started the programme in September 2017:

• Active travel rates (walking, cycling, scooting, park and stride and getting off the bus early) have increased from 65% to 88%)
• Walking rates have increased from 45% to 61%
• Park and stride – which encourages parents to park away from the school gates and walk the last part of the journey – has risen from 9% to 16%
• WOW costs less than £450 per school per annum and can be funded using PE Pupil Premium.

Creating healthy habits for a lifetime

Val Messenger, Oxfordshire County Council’s interim director for Public Health, said: “It has been wonderful to see such enthusiasm from schools and pupils in support of this scheme.

“It’s a great initiative which reduces congestion outside the school gates, improves wellbeing and creates healthy habits for a lifetime.

“Increasing day-to-day physical activity is a priority in Oxfordshire, where 79 per cent of children aged five to 16 do not meet the Chief Medical Officer’s physical activity guidelines. (See guidelines here)

“The children clearly enjoy taking part and are learning some great messages about the importance of being active by walking to school and helping to look after the environment by reducing air pollution.”

Working alongside the county council to promote active travel

Tom Gubbins, Cherwell District Council’s recreation and sport activities officer, said: “Cherwell District Council is passionate about helping children establish healthy habits early in life.

“We’ve got a targeted affordable activity programme for families in key Banbury areas which St Mary’s pupils are really making the most of. Working alongside the county council to promote active travel complements our wider aims for healthy lifestyles really well.”

‘Improving air quality for everyone’

Jenni Wiggle, of Living Streets, said: “More children walking to school means fewer vehicles on the road, helping to reduce congestion, road danger and improve air quality for everyone. We would like to see more local authorities following in Oxfordshire’s footsteps and prioritising the walk to school to help clean up our air.

“Walking to school not only improves our air quality but is a great way for children to build more exercise into their daily lives, helping them to arrive at school healthier, happier and ready to learn.”

Get your school signed up

Schools seeking more information on how to sign up should contact Sarah Ellis at Living Streets. Email her at sarah.ellis@livingstreets.org.uk

A total of 93.39 per cent of the 7,125 applicants have received their first choice – above all recent national averages across the UK.

The consistent high number of first choices achieved in Oxfordshire is due to the county council’s careful forward planning to make sure the right numbers of school places exist – since 2010 the council has created more than 10,000 new primary school places.

That means that since 2010 the number of primary school places in Oxfordshire has risen by 22 per cent. About a fifth of that has been achieved via the building and opening of new schools and the rest through expansions of existing schools – new buildings, making better use of existing accommodation, or marginal increases in admission numbers.

This year’s figure of 93.39 per cent for first preference offers compares with the 2018 figure of 92.77 per cent. Although the national average for 2019 will not be published for some time, Oxfordshire remains ahead of the averages for 2018 (91 per cent) and 2017 (90 per cent).

Oxfordshire County Council’s Director for Children’s Services Lucy Butler said: “Once again we’re delighted to be able to offer the overwhelming majority of families their first preference school, and wish all the children the very best for the coming school years. We constantly monitor demand for places and work closely with all schools to ensure there is sufficient capacity both across the county as a whole and within local areas.

“Oxfordshire compares very favourably with other parts of the country on school places and our strong track record on first-preference offers is down to that effective forward planning. We aim to give every Oxfordshire child a good start in life and this is part of that work”

Appeals

An appeal process is available to families wishing to challenge the outcome of their application, and details of how to do this have been sent to parents. Children's names can also be placed on ‘continued interest’ lists in case places become available at schools at a later date.

Late applications

Anyone who has yet to apply for a primary school place for their child for September 2019, should print out and complete an application form from the council’s website and submit it to the council’s admissions team as soon as possible and no later than May 3.

Oxfordshire County Council and the school sponsor the River Learning Trust had been waiting news from central government about the final signing of the funding agreement – the last formal approval required for the school to be able to open.

That agreement has now been signed and the school will be able to open for the 2019/20 academic year.

All systems go

Lucy Butler, Director for Children’s Services, said: “The county council, the River Learning Trust and parents across Oxford have been awaiting this news so that everyone has certainty as Summer approaches. We are delighted that the agreement has now been signed and it is all systems go for the Swan to open its doors in September.”

More than 86 per cent of children in Oxfordshire got their first choice of secondary school for 2019/20, which as in all previous years is above national averages. The certainty that the Swan School will open on time means that this figure is expected to rise further.

Almost 86 per cent of applications have been awarded their first choice – a figure that has the potential to rise further if the Swan School is able to open its doors in September. A total of 94 per cent have been awarded one of the three choices they listed on their application.

Approximately 400 more applications have been received for secondary schools this year compared to last year – making the total of applications 7,300.

Councillor Lorraine Lindsay-Gale, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Cultural Services, said: “Our school admissions team have done an excellent job in ensuring that so many parents and children have been offered their first choice despite this being an exceptionally difficult year. I am grateful to them for the hard work they’ve done."

Exceptional year for school applications

A number of schools have expanded where necessary in anticipation but this was always likely to be a year of exceptionally high demand for Year 7 places – the delays in the opening of the Swan School in Oxford have compounded this.

If it can open in September, the proposed Swan School would offer 120 Year 7 places required to meet basic need for places in Oxford this year. It will not be confirmed whether Central Government has cleared the school to open until late March/early April at the earliest.

New schools and expansions in recent years

Since 2011 more than 6,000 new places have been created in Oxfordshire secondary schools – excluding extra capacity that will be created at the Swan School.

Further planned changes in the 2020s – including the new Whitelands Academy in Bicester and a new all-through school at Grove Airfield – will see the overall number of school places created since 2011 rise to around 8,000.

Entirely new schools have been created at:

• Space Studio, Banbury
• Bicester Technology Studio
• Heyford Park Free School
• Aureus School, Didcot
• UTC Oxfordshire, Harwell near Didcot
• Europa School, Culham

School expansions or additional classes have been added/taken place at:

• The Warriner School
• The Bicester School
• Burford School
• Matthew Arnold School
• Bartholomew School
• Faringdon Community College
• The Cherwell School
• Cheney School Academy Trust
• Oxford Spires Academy Trust
• Lord Williams School
• Wallingford School
• King Alfred’s
• Icknield Community College
• Wood Green School

More on the Swan School

Places must be allocated to applicants for places at this school pending confirmation it will open in September. This is governed by the Schools Admissions Code and the council has to comply with this statutory requirement. So there are two admissions processes.

The Swan School has employed the council to oversee this process for them so the officers do have visibility of all applications for places. A continued interest list will be opened for unsuccessful applicants.

All Swan School applicants have been advised to apply for a place in an existing school and to accept the place offered in both processes to ensure they have a guaranteed Year 7 place in September. Swan School applicants receive two letters if they have done this

A total of 243 places will initially be held in existing schools pending confirmation of whether Swan School will open this year. Revised offers if applicable will be issued on second offer day on May 8.

Oxfordshire parents get their first choice more than parents elsewhere

Oxfordshire’s 86 per cent compares with national averages for first choice offers in recent years are as follows:

Councillor Lorraine Lindsay-Gale, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Cultural Services, said: “Although the 2019/20 national average will not be published for a few months we are very likely to be ahead of that yet once more in Oxfordshire – as we have been in all previous years. Our aim as a council is to give every child a good start in life and our school admissions team play their part in that year in, year out.

“We are grateful to those secondary schools who have agreed to increase their admission number this year as an exceptional measure to make sure all Oxfordshire children have been allocated places in schools this September even if Swan School were not to open.”

The total of first choice applications for 2018/19 was just under 89 per cent.

Councillor Lindsay-Gale added: “To have had such a small drop in first choice offers in the circumstances is remarkable. We have planned ahead meticulously for the extra numbers this year with school expansions. The delays in central government being able to confirm the Swan School’s opening did present us with a problem we could have done without. However we are working around that and hope for good news from central Government later in the Spring, now that the necessary planning permissions are in place.”

Under My Skin, commissioned by Oxfordshire County Council and produced by Pegasus Theatre, has reached more than 15,000 young people since its launch in 2016.

It will be shown to Year 8 and 9 pupils and continues a Public Health initiative to tackle self-harm and related stigma – which in 2016/17 accounted for more than 619 hospital admissions of people aged 10-24 in Oxfordshire.

The county council’s Public Health team seeks to improve the health of local people and protect them from preventable health issues, including commissioning the School Health Nursing service, who are a key partner in this project.

It’s all part of the council’s commitment to thriving communities – we strive to give every child a good start in life and protect everyone from abuse and neglect.

The 2019 tour starts at Lord Williams’ School in Thame on Monday, March 4, and takes in 32 schools before its conclusion in Oxfordshire on Wednesday, March 27.

Turning focus on adolescent mental health

Scripted by playwright Ali Taylor and directed by Leigh Toney, Under My Skin is based on conversations with young people who have self-harmed and is described as fast-paced, funny and hard-hitting.

The play follows the story of two school pupils ­– Sean (played by Isham Launay) and Bella (Kate Benfield) – with a narrative that challenges perceptions and assumptions about people who self-harm.

Leigh said: “With a much-needed focus turning on adolescent mental health and wellbeing over the past few years, Ali Taylor’s play is a fun and vital piece that doesn’t presume to tell young people how to have the ‘perfect conversations’ about your own mental health or that of your friends but does highlight the importance of just starting the dialogue.

“It is a lot of fun to have the opportunity to explore the characters of Bella and Sean, showing that we all have a relationship with our mental health and wellbeing.”

Increasing awareness

Under My Skin is designed to encourage pupils to be more open about discussing self-harm with their peers and teachers.

According to the 15,000 young people in Oxfordshire who the play has reached since 2016:

• 95% reported the play had increased awareness of self-harm
• 90% now know where to get support having seen the play
• 87% felt using theatre was a good way of learning about difficult topics

Of 100 professionals who provided feedback, 57% felt their understanding of self-harm increased following the play and 73% felt more confident in supporting a young person approaching them with concerns about self-harm.

The production has been developed with the guidance of expert advisors including teachers, Oxfordshire County Council’s Public Health and Children’s Social Care teams, and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, which is responsible for School Health Nurses and runs Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

Following its first run in 2016, Under My Skin was a finalist in the Public Mental Health and Wellbeing category for the Royal Society for Public Health Awards.

Empowering young people

Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health, Lawrie Stratford, said: “Self-harm can be difficult to talk about. We hope Under My Skin continues to act as a catalyst for people to seek support and also helps others around them to have a better idea of what to do.

“We hope to empower young people to discuss the issue openly and honestly, ensuring they know how and where to access support if they need it.”

The council, which was also highly placed in last year’s Index, is a member of Stonewall’s Education Champions Programme and has developed nationally recognised strategies to address anti-LGBT bullying, providing both resources and guidance to school staff.

Sarah Rose, Senior Account Manager at Stonewall, said: “Oxfordshire County Council is undertaking inspiring work to support LGBT young people in their local communities and leading the way on tackling anti-LGBT bullying.

“We know that young people continue to face challenges in Britain’s schools, but with so many local authorities demonstrating such a strong commitment to celebrating difference and supporting LGBT young people we are one step closer to creating a world where all young people are welcomed and accepted without exception.”

Providing support

Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education Cllr Lorraine Lindsay Gale, said: “We’re delighted to be ranked the country’s very best local authorities for tackling this issue. Any young person can experience homophobic, bi-phobic or transphobic bullying, and like all forms of bullying it should never be allowed to go unchallenged.”

Lucy Butler Director for Children’s Services at the county council added: “We are very proud of the partnership work we are doing with schools and other agencies including Thames Valley Police, Health, and youth groups both to prevent bullying and to provide support for LGBT children and young people.”

Find out more

Now almost a decade old, the Stonewall Equality Index remains a vital tool for local authorities to benchmark their success in making local schools inclusive of LGBT issues and young people, measuring practice and policy at all the participating local authorities.

For more information, help and advice about all forms of bullying, visit the council’s anti-bullying web pages

Kelly has worked in Oxfordshire County Council’s school applications team for the last eleven years and during that time she’s had to apply for primary school places for both her son, aged 7 and her daughter, aged 5.

With a key deadline looming on January 15 for Oxfordshire parents applying for primary school places for their children – Kelly, is all too aware of how parents engage with the process and what’s on their mind at an often stressful time.

“The image of school applications is that parents are often unhappy or stressed about the process. In Oxfordshire the reality is that despite ever increasing numbers of applications the number of parents who get their preferred school has consistently been at around the 90 per cent mark for many years, ahead of national averages. So the large majority of parents are happy,” says Kelly.

“Dealing with parents via the primary school application process differs to secondary applications in one key way – there are more parents who are going through the process for the very first time and who therefore have more questions and need more guidance. Our aim as a council is to give every child a good start in life and working with parents through this process is all part of that.

“My job involves processing individual applications, offering advice to parents and visiting the 13 primary schools in the part of the county that is my responsibility – Didcot.

“The toughest part of the job is when we have a new family move to the area and they have three children and want to get them all in to the same school. That’s a very hard thing to achieve for them and would be in any part of the country.

“The job has changed a great deal in my eleven years – mainly because there are now so many academies. Previously when all schools were linked to the county council as local education authority the process was easier to oversee. Now there’s a lot more discussion required with individual schools.

“There are also lots more applications overall due to the rising birth-rate and housebuilding, yet despite this we still consistently achieve around 90 per cent of parents getting their preferred school at both primary and secondary level.

“In my area of Didcot, we’ve had lots of new housebuilding. People will be well aware of the new development at Great Western Park. So the scene has changed a great deal.

“We’re a very small but very busy team. There are key deadlines each year for applications but there’s always secondary and primary processes, in-year transfers and forward planning throughout the year.”

Simple advice

Asked what simple advice she’d give to fellow parents when applying for places she says: “Always be aware of the deadline and make sure you submit your application before that deadline. We offer three preferences and I would advise listing three preferred schools. You should list them in the order that you truly want them, with your highest preference listed first.

“Don’t try to over-think it. I would advise parents to include their catchment school as one of their preferences, not necessarily the first preference. Every address in the county and the country as a whole has a catchment school within it, sometimes more than one.

“There’s a very useful ‘Parents Guide’ available on our website that I’d advise parents to consult and it is always of great benefit if parents pay a visit to the schools they have in mind. You can also contact us via the website using our help and advice link - https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/schools/starting-school/infant-and-primary-school

“I’m often asked for my advice by friends and relatives and often find myself busting myths. I have a close friend who in a previous year didn’t get her preferred school and my advice to her was to wait and join the school’s continued interest list. Every school has a continued interest list that will run for the whole academic year. Places often become available and being on the lists can often be fruitful. There’s a high turnover, families move home to different areas of the county and country so situations are always fluid and places can and do come up regularly.”

Primary school applications

For more information on secondary school applications and to make an application visit https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/schools/starting-school/infant-and-primary-school

Current projections show an increase in secondary school pupils of 19.3 per cent in coming years and a 5.7 per cent rise in the number of primary school pupils.

The county council has a strong and consistent track record of forward planning that has seen the number of parents receiving their first choice of primary or secondary school at around 90 per cent for many years – consistently above the national average.

Barbara Chillman, Service Manager in Pupil Place Planning at Oxfordshire County Council, said: “The birth rate peaked in 2015 and is now declining once more – but it remains higher than the levels experienced in the 1990s and 2000s. However there are other factors to take in to consideration when planning ahead for school numbers – these include migration, rapid growth in house-building and troop movements in a county that has high levels of military employment.

“Each of these factors and others are monitored very carefully – not just at the level of the county as a whole but also in each town and village. It is this method of working that has meant so many parents have been able to receive their first choice of school despite all of the recent changes.

“Our forecasts are updated annually and are based on school census data, population forecasts – which include planned housing development – and recent patterns of parental choice. One of the county council’s over-arching aims as an organisation is to work to ensure every child gets a good start in life and school place planning is a key part of that.”

Changes in recent years to keep up with demand

Forward planning in previous years has seen a number of changes in Oxfordshire that have ensured sufficient pupil numbers are in place at Oxfordshire schools – giving parents their best chance of receiving their first choice.

Since 2013 Oxfordshire has seen the opening of a new SEN school in Oxford, two studio schools and a University Technical College, two all-age schools, a secondary school and five primary schools. These mark the start of a prolonged programme of new schools planned for Oxfordshire.

Future demand and plans to deal with it

Current pupil projections show a 5.7 per cent increase in primary school pupil numbers and for secondary pupil numbers a 19.3 per cent rise is predicted between 2017/18 and 2022/23. Longer term there is expected to be further growth due to the high levels of house building planned.

Schools planned to deal with this are as follows:

• Swan School Oxford (Secondary) – opening 2019
• Whitelands Academy, South West Bicester (Secondary) – opening 2020
• Banbury, Southam Road (Primary) – opening 2020
• Bloxham Grove (Special) School North Oxfordshire (7-19 age) – opening 2020
• Barton, Oxford – (Primary) - opening 2020
• West Witney – (Primary) - opening 2020
• North East Wantage (Primary) – opening 2020
• Graven Hill, Bicester (Primary) – opening 2021
• Grove Airfield (2-16 age) – opening 2022
• South West Bicester – (Primary) – expected opening 2022
• Didcot Valley Park (SEN school) – expected opening 2022
• Didcot Valley Park (Two 2 form entry primary schools) – opening date dependent on housebuilding
• East Carterton (Primary) – opening date dependent on housebuilding
• Salt Way, Banbury (Primary) – opening dependent on housebuilding
• North Abingdon (Primary) opening dependent on housebuilding)
• Didcot North East (Two 2 form entry primary schools) – opening dependent on housebuilding
• South East Bicester (Primary) – opening dependent on housebuilding
• North West Bicester (Two or three more primary schools) – opening dependent on housebuilding
• Grove Airfield – (Primary) – opening dependent on housebuilding
• Didcot North West Valley Park – (Primary) – opening dependent on housebuilding
• Banbury – (Secondary) – opening dependent on housebuilding
• Witney north/east – (Primary) - opening dependent on houebuilding
• Chipping Norton (Primary) – opening dependent on housebuilding
• Eynsham (Two or three primary schools) – opening dependent on housebuilding
• Witney (Secondary) - opening dependent on housebuilding

Further new schools are expected to be needed as a result of the high levels of growth now proposed in Local Plans. Proposals so far consulted on would require further additional new schools in areas such as Woodstock, Abingdon, Harwell, Kingston Bagpuize/Southmoor, Culham, Berinsfield, Chalgrove and Abingdon.

Where schools are required as a result of housing development, the government expects developers to fund their construction, and the county council has a strong track record of securing developer funding.

Academies

As of September 2018, 95 per cent of Oxfordshire secondary schools, 42 per cent of primary schools and 44 per cent of special schools are academies. Academies are not accountable to the county council and receive their budget directly from central government.

School places are no longer therefore solely provided by the county council and the council must work with other providers to ensure that the need for school places is met.

School Place Plan

The county council has a legal duty to ensure that the correct number of school places are available. It has not been legally obliged to produce a School Organisation Plan since 2004 – however it continues to do so in an open and transparent way.

Key statistics from the report

• The number of primary pupils on roll at Oxfordshire’s mainstream schools rose by 237 or 0.5 per cent between 2016/17 and 2017/18 continuing the slow-down experienced in recent years. Reception numbers fell by 3.6 per cent
• Year 7 numbers grew by 2.6 per cent continuing the increase in demand for secondary school places as the increased birth rate feeds through.
• Total secondary school pupil numbers are now also growing strongly – by 2.1 per cent between the academic years 2016/17 and 2017/18
• Current pupil projections show a 5.7 per cent increase in primary pupil numbers and for secondary pupils a 19.3 per cent rise is expected between 2017/18 and 2022/23.

Very detailed planning

Barbara Chillman added: “This level of planning is needed to make sure the number of school places is delivered in the right places and in the right numbers. Difficulties do arise and we try our best to respond. We have a dedicated team at the county council to oversee this work and they play a crucial role in looking ahead to future years and updating planning.”

The aftermath of the collapse of Carillion meant that Oxfordshire County Council had to quickly put in place contingency plans to ensure that young people in schools were not left without a lunch.

Nine months on and the new school meals service – which saw staff and facilities managed by Carillion taken in-house by Oxfordshire County Council – is thriving.

News of Carillion’s demise meant big changes in many different spheres across the entire country and school meals was just one aspect of the response Oxfordshire County Council had to make.

Making sure young children have a nourishing middle of the day meal is not something that can be postponed or delayed however – so the response had to be immediate and effective.

Reassuring

Oxfordshire County Council’s Property Delivery Manager Gail Witchell was at the centre of the operation in the days following Carillion’s demise.

She said: “Looking back to last Winter it was very hard work at first. There was so much to do. We transferred the service Carillion provided back to the county council, which is where it had been previously – and the reassuring part about that was that lots of the 150 staff who worked locally for Carillion on school meals had therefore previously worked for the county council. From day one they gave us great support.

“We had to get it right. One of the county council’s over-arching aims is to provide a good start in life for every child so things going awry with the provision of school meals was not an option for us.

“From very early on things went smoothly and there were no hiccups. In a sense we can say that it was business as usual from day one. All of the staff turned up for work even though their employer was all over the news bulletins due to its collapse. As a contingency, we had firefighters ready to deliver packed lunches but this was never needed. By May and June the service was stable, both front and back of house.

“We’ve currently serve 60 schools – the vast majority of which are primary schools. So we provide a catering service to 25 per cent of Oxfordshire’s primary schools. Carillion had served 80 schools – some decided to go to private sector school lunch providers when the change happened. We now serve four academies – so it isn’t just the local education authority schools that we cater for.

“We’re effectively now therefore, in a marketplace with other school meals providers. It’s been great to see small numbers of schools opt to return to our service over the weeks and months since last Winter and we’re obviously ambitious that this should continue.”

Revamping

Gail, who has worked for the county council on school meals provision for the last ten years, added: “We’re getting good feedback from schools and it has been a busy but exciting time. Our staff are really motivated and happy to be back with the council.

“For them it feels like they are back home. We’ve invested in a programme of revamping servery areas within schools to make a clean, new and vibrant identity to dining areas.

“All in all we are pleased to have stabilised the service and whilst we understand that the future will bring many further challenges we continue to strive to provide the best possible school meal service for the children of Oxfordshire.”

Kelly has worked in Oxfordshire County Council’s school applications team for the last ten years and during that time she’s had to apply for primary school places for both her son, aged 7 and her daughter, aged 5.

And with a key deadline looming on October 31 for Oxfordshire parents applying for secondary school places for their children – Kelly, 37, is all too aware of how parents engage with the process and what’s on their mind at a very stressful time.

“The image of school applications is that parents are often unhappy or stressed about the process. In Oxfordshire the reality is that despite ever increasing numbers of applications the number of parents who get their first choice of school has consistently been at around the 90 per cent mark for many years, ahead of national averages. So the large majority of parents are happy,” says Kelly.

“My job involves processing individual applications, offering advice to parents and visiting the schools in the part of the county that is my responsibility – Didcot.

“The toughest part of the job is when we have a new family move to the area and they have three children and want to get them all in to the same school. That’s a very hard thing to achieve for them and would be in any part of the country.

“The job has changed a great deal in my ten years – mainly because there are now so many academies. Previously when all schools were linked to the county council as local education authority the process was easier to oversee. Now there’s a lot more discussion required with individual schools. In the last couple of years we also have the option for pupils to transfer at the start of Year 10 to a different type of academy now with the UTC Oxfordshire in my area.

“There are also lots more applications overall due to the rising birth-rate and housebuilding, yet despite this we still consistently achieve around 90 per cent of parents getting their first choice at both primary and secondary level.

“In my area of Didcot, we’ve had lots of new housebuilding. People will be well aware of the new development at Great Western Park. So the scene has changed a great deal.

“We’re a very small but very busy team. There are key deadlines each year for applications but there’s always secondary and primary processes, in-year transfers and forward planning throughout the year.”

Simple advice

Asked what simple advice she’d give to fellow parents when applying for places she says: “Always be aware of the deadline and make sure you submit your application before that deadline. We offer three preferences. You should list them in the order that you truly want them, with your first preference listed first.

“Don’t try to over-think it. I would advise parents to include their catchment school as one of their preferences, not necessarily the first preference. Every address in the county and the country as a whole has a catchment school within it, sometimes more than one.

“I’m often asked for my advice by friends and relatives and often find myself busting myths. I have a close friend who in a previous year didn’t get her first choice of school for her child. My best advice to her was to wait. There’s always a waiting list and being on that can often be fruitful. There’s a high turnover, we deal with more applications overall but families move home to a different area of the county and country so situations are always fluid and places can and do come up regularly.”

Secondary school applications

For more information on secondary school applications and to make an application visit https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/schools/starting-school/secondary-school

Currently studying for the diploma at the City of Oxford College that will allow her to practice as a Paediatric Nurse – she says it is no co-incidence that she wants to enter a profession that involves care for children.

Having benefited from being in the care of Oxfordshire County Council and the Oxford based children’s charity Parasol, she started to volunteer for the same charity and is now a member of staff.

“I want to be a nurse because care has been a huge part of my upbringing and I enjoy watching young people who benefit from the work of the charity progress and improve,” said the former Wheatley Park and Gosford Hill pupil.

“We provide trips out that they would not ordinarily be able to get on. I used to benefit from the charity, now I help it with its activities. I get to see the young children develop and they can see me as a role model because I used to be in their position.

Children in Care Council

Sarah is also a Deputy Chair of Oxfordshire County Council’s Children in Care Council and has been working with the national Department for Education on various projects. “I love getting other young people involved with the Children in Care Council. It’s an amazing way of providing inspiration and support to children in care. It’s very rewarding work.”

The Children in Care Council (CiCC) is a group of children and young people with experience of being in care. They help improve how children are cared for in Oxfordshire. 

The CiCC helps make sure Oxfordshire County Council lives up to the promises it made to look after children and young people in care, as best as they can. This is called ‘Corporate Parenting’, and there is a Corporate Parenting Panel which works with the Children in Care Council to make sure adults hear what children and young people are saying and do something about it.

Follow your dreams

Sarah recently celebrated her 18^th birthday by going out for a meal with her foster parents in Kidlington and is now looking forward to progressing her career in to her adult life.

Her message to children in care is simple: “No matter what your situation or where you come from there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. It may not be in sight - but I promise you that it is there. My advice is to keep pushing, aiming and following your dreams. You’ll receive support from the council who are legally your parents while you are in care.

“There really is no limit on what you can do if you’ve been in care. Ignore the negative things that some people might say. Don’t listen to the stereotypes – if you’ve been a child in care you can do anything you want.”

A good start in life

Lucy Butler, Director for Children’s Services at Oxfordshire County Council said: “We are very proud of Sarah. Our aim is to give all children a good start in life and that very much applies to children who have been in care. When a child comes in to care the council effectively becomes that child’s parent. It’s a responsibility that all of us – including our county councillors – take seriously. Sarah is a true example of what children who have been in care can achieve. She’s no longer a child in care – she’s now a care leaver with her whole life ahead of her and ambitions to fulfil. We will monitor her progress with great interest.