12.11.2014

SomersetAssociation of Headteachers of Specialist Provision

Constitution

1. Title

1.1 The title of the Association shall be the Somerset Association of Headteachers of Specialist Provision

1.2 The abbreviated form shall be SAHSP

2. Membership

2.1 Membership comprises the Executive Officer and the Headteachers of all state-funded special schools in Somerset that are either maintained by the local authority or have academy status, including those schools with discrete provision for young people with Statements of Special Education Needs or Education, Health and Care Plans. The nine memberschools are: AvalonSchool, BrooksideCommunityPrimary School, CritchillSchool, ElmwoodSchool, FairmeadSchool, FivewaysSchool, PenroseSchool, SelworthySchool and SkyCollege.

Note: The Associationmay ask representatives from the local authority and other organisations to attend their meetings from time to time;these may include representatives from PRUs (Pupil Referral Units), SASH (Somerset Association of Secondary Heads), SAPHTO (Somerset Association of Primary Headteachers and Officers) and other guests as determined by the Association.

3. Vision

3.1The SAHSP Vision is a continuum of provision with the expertise to meet the needs of all Somersetchildren and young people. Our vision supports the right of every student to have access to a suitable school place in his/her local community that will enable him/her to feel safe, secure and happy, achieve success and to makeprogress which develops independence andimproveshis/her life chances.

4. Aims

4.1 To continually improve outcomes for learners through research, development and partnership

4.2To be nationally recognised as a leader in the field of special education

4.3To be a unified voice to influence local and national policy and practice.

5. Values

5.1 Honesty and openness

5.2 Equality

5.3 Courage

5.4 Aspiration

5.5 Respect

5.6 Innovation.

6. Objectives

6.1 Develop hubs of Special Educational Needs (SEN) expertise for the benefit of all schools

6.2 Support all schools in providing best practice in teaching and learning

6.3 Ensure achievement and attainment are measured and celebrated, and represents the whole child or young person

6.4 Support and develop leadership within SEN

6.5 Be accountable to each other, ensuring we provide the highest quality of education for all

6.6 Be innovative through research and development

6.7 Secure best value in delivering holistic provision

6.8 Create an effective communication platform to share excellence in SEN

6.9 Champion diversity.

7.Officers

7.1 The Association shall have a Chairperson who will serve for a period of two academic years and chair all full SAHSP meetings and conferences

7.2The Association shall have a Vice-Chairperson who will serve for a period of two academic years and shall be elected during the Chair’s second year in office and will succeed the Chair at the end of his/her two-year term

7.3The Association shall have an Executive Officer whose line manager will be the Chairperson

7.4The Association shall have a Finance Officer.

7.5 The Association shall have an Administration Officer who will support the Executive Officer and other members as required

7.6In his/her absence,the Chairperson shall delegate the Vice-Chairperson to chair a meeting of the Association.Should the Vice-Chairperson be unavailable, the Chairperson shall delegate a member of the Association to fulfil this role

7.7A Senior Leader from the Chairperson’s school shall be the Chairperson of the SAHSP Deputy Heads Group that shall have a meeting in each half-term, ie. six terms a year

7.8The Chairperson, Vice-Chairpersonand the Executive Officer shall represent SAHSP at all meetings of the Compact Executive

7.9The Executive Officer and a Headteacher shall represent the Association at meetings of the Schools Forum

7.10SAHSP members shall represent the Association at meetings of a number of key groups (in addition to those listed above) and these representatives shall be identified at the Association’s AGM

7.11The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson shall meet with the Executive Officer in the Summer term to review his/her performance over the past year and to set performance targets for the following academic year. These targets shall be shared with the headteachers of the SAHSP schools.

8. Structure of Meetings

8.1There shall be one full meeting of the Association in each half-term, in line with the current arrangements of the school year (six per year),and shall include a residential conference in half-term five. The dates of the meetings for each academic year shall be approved at the preceding year’s AGM

8.2 All full meetings of the Association shall be chaired and points for action noted

8.3The Association’s AGM shall be held at the residential conference in half-term 5

8.4The Association’s Constitution shall have an annual review in the Summer term and the agenda for the AGM will include formal approval of the Constitution for implementation in the next academic year.

9. Finance and Accounts

9.1 The Associationmay choose to set an annual subscription to be paid by all its members which will cover the cost of purchasing resources to fulfil the aims of the Association and meet any costs associated with its meetings. The decision whether an annual subscription is required andif so the amount, shall be made at the AGM

9.2 The Finance Officershall maintain a cost centre in the name of the Association at his/her school. Withdrawals will be approved by the Chairperson and then made on the signature of the Finance Officerand the Headteacher of his/her school

9.3 Any extraordinary expenditure shall be approved by the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson

9.4The Executive Officer or Chairperson shall present a summary of the Association’s income and expenditure account to the Association at its half-termly meetings

9.5 Verified accounts will be produced at the Association’s Annual General Meeting which shall be held during the annual residential conference in half-term five, and will be subject to external audit in line with current financial standards for schools.

Alison Murkin

Chairperson, SAHSP

November 2014

- 1 -

12 November 2014