The Council will revise the Education Health and Care Plan process to build in a trigger question for the caseworkers, so they share the transport policy during the assessment process.The Council will confirm when the revised post-19 Transport Policy will be finalised and approved by committee. This should be in place for the 2023/24 academic year.The Council failed to carry out agreed actions following an earlier investigation about its failure to provide appropriate free transport to college for an adult learner with an Education, Health and Care Plan. The Council will consider this decision at an appropriate committee or cabinet meeting to ensure its leaders are aware of the faults identified, the potential impact on adult learners, and can consider what actions are needed to prevent a future recurrence of its failure to act on our recommendations.

The Council agreed to ensure that an existing programme to improve data collection around Education, Health and Care Plans would include being able to identify cases where it has failed to meet the statutory four-week target to confirm the action it is taking following an annual review. Also, that it would have a policy to explain what action the Council will take when the target is not met; i.e. how it will escalate such cases for further action and by whom and so on.The Council agreed to introduce a policy (or amend any existing policy) to record where it has failed to meet its time target for responding to complaints about its special education needs service. This will cover how the Council will keep in touch with complainants where it misses the target and how it will escalate such cases to managers to ensure it sends a reply.

The Council will issue written reminders to relevant staff to ensure they are aware they must respond to complaints within the timescales set out in the complaints procedure. They should keep complainants updated if there are going to be delays.The Council will issue written reminders to relevant staff to ensure they are aware they should arrange alternativeprovision for children who cannot attend school without unnecessary delay.The Council will issue written reminders to relevant staff to ensure they comply with the statutory timescales after an EHC needs assessment is requested.

the Council will remind the home education team that, where it is considered home schooling is unsatisfactory, it should consider whether enforcement action should be taken to ensure the pupil's attendance at school, or consider whether it is necessary to provide alternative education under s19.the Council will ensure that minutes of Fair Access Panels are taken which properly record the rationale for its decisions.

The Counci will remind the clerk of the importance of detailed and accurate record keeping of the appeal panel's consideration of any case.

Tell us how it will/has updated its procedures for EHC Plan reviews arranged by the Council to ensure that the correct processes are followed including distribution of assessments and reports before the review meeting and writing to parents with the outcome and decision as to whether to amend or not amend the Plan according to the required deadlines for this.Tell us what steps it has taken to improve its record-keeping.

• Review its post-16 travel statement policy to ensure its appeal process is in line with statutory guidance and allows parents to make verbal representations to the appeal panel.• Review the format of its appeal decision letters to ensure it includes the information set out in (16).• Review how it records the stage two panel meetings to ensure there is a record of the panel consideration and decision making.• Review how it decides the amount of PTB to award where the parent/carer arranges a taxi service

The Council has agreed to review its post-16 transport policy to ensure it clearly sets out the difference in its duties between sixth form and adult learners, including the Council’s responsibility to provide free of charge transport where it is considered necessary for relevant young adults with an Education, Health and Care Plan.The Council has agreed to review its procedure for determining applications and appeals from adult learners for transport to ensure the Council decides whether transport is ‘necessary’ and if not whether the Council has decided to provide transport or other transport support under its discretionary powers.The Council has agreed, when naming a post-19 setting in an Education and Health Care Plan, to ensure it properly considers whether the placement is appropriate and suitable and ensures the individual and/or their family are made aware of the Council’s transport policy and the likelihood of the provision of transport. This should allow them to make informed decisionsThe Council has agreed to ensure the Transport Team appropriately signposts applicants to Adult Social Care to consider whether support for disabled adults to attend post -19 education should be provided under the Council’s Care Act duties.