Agenda item

(To receive a report which provides key performance information for Quarter 4 2015/16 that is relevant to the work of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee)

Consideration was given to a report which provided key performance information for Quarter 4 (2015/16) that was relevant to the work of the Committee.  The Council's Performance and Equalities Manager provided an online demonstration to the Committee of how members would be able to view the new style of reporting in a secure area on the Lincolnshire Research Observatory (LRO) website.  Members were advised that following approval from the Executive, this information would be made available to the public.

It was reported that this Committee received information on additional indicators to those which were included in the Council's Business Plan.

Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions to the officers present in relation to the information contained within the report and some of the points raised during discussion included the following:

·         It was commented that the new system was very helpful, and it was queried whether in the future, the Committee could move to just receiving a link to the information instead of a paper report.  Members were advised that the new system was part of an aim to go paperless in the future.  However, if this would be a barrier to scrutiny, it would need to be looked into further.

·         It was suggested whether members should just be given a date when the paper versions of the information would no longer be provided, and those members who currently struggled with the new system could be supported through the process.

·         Children making expected progress in Maths between Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 – it was felt that as this was below target, there was a need for councillors, as corporate parents, to challenge this robustly.  Members were advised that officers were working on developing maths hubs, as there were experts within schools.  It was a strategic priority in teaching schools and CPD programmes were being designed around this.

·         SATS would be challenging for all schools, but would not be used to make standalone judgements.

·         National research had been carried out in relation to progress of Looked After Children (LAC), and it been found that LAC in the right conditions made better progress than their peers.  It was recognised that harm could have been done to their progress before they went into care.  It was reported that it was more important to understand whether a LAC was making better than expected progress whilst in care.  The research had identified 18 different recommendations and a working group with the DfE had been set up to look at how they could be implemented.  Work was taking place regarding developing a universal way of measuring progress across the country to allow benchmarking to take place.

·         It was reported that 4.5% of young people between 16 – 18 were classed as NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training), and it was queried how many young people this actually was and what action could be taken to address it.  Members were advised that there was a particular issue with young people who were in employment but not receiving training.  There was a small number of these young people who would be in prison, and a small cohort would be disengaged.  However, the majority would be in employment with no training.  It was noted that the training to do the job itself could not be included as there was a need for the employer to be involved with an educational provider.  The Committee was advised that the figure of 4.5% converted to 330 young people.

·         Lincolnshire's vacancy rate for social workers was very low when compared with other local authorities.

·         Members were advised that significant action had been taken in relation to primary exclusions, but many of the measures would not be implemented until September 2016.

·         Care Leavers in suitable employment, education or training – work was ongoing with Barnardo's to improve outcomes for these young people.

·         It was commented that there was still a gap in attainment between those children receiving free school meals, and those that did not.  However, it was noted that this was an issue in relation to how schools were using their pupil premium, and this was something for individual schools to decide.  Members were advised that there were a lot of strategies being implemented, the authority's role was to influence and it could be prescriptive about how schools used it.

·         It was commented that the authority's work with 'narrowing the gap' at primary level was outstanding, but it was queried how officers would ensure this filtered through to secondary schools.  Members were advised that secondary schools were already engaged with this work and it was the role of the local authority to share best practice.

It was proposed, seconded and

RESOLVED

          That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the consideration of Appendix E of the report on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12 of the Act.

Officers responded to a number of questions and concerns from the Committee regarding the information provided in Appendix of the report.

The Chairman proposed to close the exempt session and readmit the public and press to the meeting.

RESOLVED

          That the exempt session be closed and the meeting move back in to a public forum.

Members considered the recommendations set out in the report and it was

RESOLVED

That the comments made in relation to the performance information presented be noted.