Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room One, County Offices, Newland, Lincoln LN1 1YL

Contact: Katrina Cope  Senior Democratic Services Officer

Items
No. Item

31.

Apologies for Absence / Replacement Members

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor M D Boles and Mr S C Rudman (Added Member – Church Representative).

32.

Declarations of Members' Interests

Minutes:

Councillor A P Maughan advised that in relation to Agenda Item 5 – he would not be taking part in discussion or voting thereon, as his employer Streets Accountants LLP were the appointed statutory auditors for Academies.

33.

Minutes of the meeting of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee held on 7 September 2018 pdf icon PDF 152 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

That the minutes of the meeting of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee held on 7 September 2018 be agreed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record, subject to the following typographical errors being amended on page 8 second sentence, second to last paragraph the letter 'd' being removed from the word and to leave 'an' and; on page 9 the letters 'ed' being added to the worded second to read 'seconded' before each of the resolutions.

34.

Announcements by the Chairman, Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services and the Executive Director of Children's Services

Minutes:

Councillor Mrs P A Bradwell, Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services advised that the interim feedback received following the recent Ofsted visit had been positive.

 

Councillor D Brailsford, Executive Support Councillor for Children's Services extended thanks to Councillor R L Foulkes for chairing the recent Corporate Parenting Sub-Group meeting.  The Committee was also advised that the Head of Democratic Services was currently looking into reviewing arrangements for the Corporate Parenting Sub-Group.

35.

Building Communities of Specialist Provision for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities pdf icon PDF 85 KB

(To receive a report from Eileen McMorrow, Senior Project Officer, SEND Review, which invites the Scrutiny Committee to consider a report on Building Communities of Specialist Provision Strategy for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities,  which is due to be considered by the Executive on 6 November 2018)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee gave consideration to a joint report from Eileen McMorrow, Senior Project Officer, SEND Review and Sheridan Dodsworth Children's Service Manager - SEND, which invited the Scrutiny Committee to consider a report on Building Communities of Specialist Provision Strategy, which was due to be considered by the Executive at its meeting on 6 November 2018. 

 

The Chairman welcomed to the meeting Sheridan Dodsworth, Children's Service Manager – SEND, Daran Bland, Executive Headteacher of the Priory School, the Garth School and the John Fielding School, Eileen McMorrow, Senior Project Officer, SEND Review and Coralie Cross, Lincolnshire Parent Carer Forum Chair.

 

In guiding the Committee through the report the Children's Service Manager – SEND advised that a copy of the full report to the Executive was attached at Appendix 1 to the report.  The Committee was advised that the following Appendices were attached to the Executive report.

 

·         Appendix A – A copy of the Building Communities of Specialist Provision Together in Lincolnshire Strategy;

·         Appendix B – A copy of the Public Consultation on the Building Communities of Specialist Provision Strategy (Consultation Phase 8 January 2018 to 14 March 2018);

·         Appendix C – Details of the Public Consultation Feedback with Responses; and

·         Appendix D – Equality Impact Assessment.

 

It was reported that the proposed changes to the Academies cited in the strategy had already been approved by the Regional Schools Commissioner, and that there was no additional decision-making processes required for the approval of the strategy beyond the one arising from the report.

 

The Committee was advised that the strategic vision for SEND was to build communities of place for children and young people with SEND, around their local schools.  It was highlighted that pupils attending their local special school would benefit from having less travelling time, have more social time with their families, and have more time with their school friends.  If approved, the strategy would have a positive impact around community cohesion, and enabling children and young people with SEND to add value to their local communities.

 

It was noted that implementing the capital programme of works would ensure that all special schools had the facilities and premises to meet all needs including a new school at Boston.  Details of the funding allocations were shown at the bottom of page 22.  It was highlighted that capital funding of £34,517 had been identified.

 

The report highlighted that the Council was committed to implementing the strategy to improve the lives of pupils with SEND and their families.  It was noted that the Community Inclusive Trust had already contributed over £2.5m through a successful CIF bid, and all other Academy Trusts had committed to ensuring all future CIF bids were consistent with the vision as outlined in the strategy.  It was noted further that the Government treasury were also expected to release further SEND capital opportunities over the coming year, either through direct allocation or through bidding rounds, which Lincolnshire would be exploring.

 

The Committee was also advised that the local authority would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

36.

Lincolnshire Learning Partnership (LLP) pdf icon PDF 157 KB

(To receive a report from Susan Williams, Children's Service Manager, Education Strategy, which provides the Committee with an update on the Lincolnshire Learning Partnership)

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report from Sue Williams, Children's Service Manager - Education Strategy, which invited the Committee to consider the update on the Lincolnshire Learning Partnership. 

 

The Children's Service Manager – Education advised the Committee that the Lincolnshire Learning Partnership (LLP) played a key role in the Lincolnshire Education system.  The Committee was advised that the board members of the LLP were elected from Lincolnshire schools; with co-opted positions from the County Council and other partners.

 

The Committee was advised that the LLP had commissioned a number of projects which were having a positive impact in Lincolnshire schools.  It was noted that the projects were wide ranging and that the largest one was 'Mobilise', which focussed on using research to address aspects of school improvement.  The report highlighted that in the first year 'Mobilise' had focussed on developing teaching assistants; and that in the second year schools had been given a wider choice of research.  It was noted that initial feedback had recognised the strength of working in partnership with other schools and the impact of some of the focussed work on pupils with special educational needs and pupils known to be eligible for pupil premium funding.  The Committee was advised that the work of 'Mobilise' and research-led practice had been recognised in a number of Ofsted inspections across the County, especially around the use of teaching assistants.

 

It was reported that the third stage of 'Mobilise' included projects in English and Mathematics; and the development of cognition, thinking and memory choice from the previous year where cognitive theory had been used to improve learning.

 

The LLP had also organised an annual conference; leadership briefings three times a year; governor briefings three times a year; and that work was also being carried out with a number of partners to deliver a governance support package.

 

In conclusion, the Committee was advised that the LLP was building a long term strategic plan whose aim was to identify how to best support schools in tackling trends and the analysis of pupil outcomes.

 

During a short discussion, the following comments were raised:-

 

·         The positive impact of the Caring2Learn project;

·         The positive impact 'Mobilise' had in the first year and the difference it had made to the teaching assistants;

·         Confirmation was given that home elective education did not have direct access to the LLP.  Officers advised that the LLP website was open to all;

·         Funding for the LLP – The Committee was advised that the funding for the LLP came from the dedicated schools grant, historic funding, and that the Lincolnshire Schools' Forum had agreed to put this money aside for the LLP.  Confirmation was given that access to the LLP was for all schools;

·         That the since the introduction of the LLP, all schools now worked together to achieve the best outcomes for the children of Lincolnshire.  The Committee was advised that the Strategic School Improvement Fund had brought funding of £1.2m  into Lincolnshire;

·         Engagement of schools – The Committee was advised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

37.

Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee Work Programme pdf icon PDF 241 KB

(To receive a report from Daniel Steel, Scrutiny Officer, which provides the Committee with an opportunity to consider and comment on its work programme for the coming months)

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report from Daniel Steel, Scrutiny Officer, which enabled the Committee to consider and comment on the content of its work programme for the coming months.

 

Page 185 of the report provided a copy of the Work Programme for the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee.

 

The Committee noted that a report on the Sector Led School Improvement Model would now be included on the agenda for the 30 November 2018.  It was also highlighted that Prevent and the Implications for Children and Young People would be considered at the 30 November 2018 meeting.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee Work Programme be approved, subject to the inclusion of any amendments made at the meeting.

 

 
 
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