Agenda item

(To receive a report from Mary Meredith, Children's Services Manager Inclusion, which updates the Committee on the progress of the Inclusive Lincolnshire Strategy, including plans for the Lincolnshire Teaching and Learning Centre (LTLC) and the mobilisation of the Behaviour Outreach Support Service)

Consideration was given to a report which updated the Committee on the progress of the Inclusive Lincolnshire Strategy, including plans for the Lincolnshire Teaching and Learning Centre (LTLC) and the mobilisation of the Behaviour Outreach Support Service provided by Family Action.

Nicci Marzec, Assistant Director Services and Innovation – Family Action was in attendance at the meeting to inform the Committee about the work of the Behaviour Outreach Support Service (BOSS).  She reported that the BOSS was provided by Family Action and the service had commenced at the beginning of September 2016 to work directly with teachers, pupils and families, where appropriate.  The service operated in a fully integrated way within the Ladder and also alongside the Lincolnshire Teaching and Learning Centre (LTLC) to support the effective transition of pupils in and out of centres.

Members were advised that staff within the BOSS service had been recruited from a broad range of professional backgrounds to ensure a mix of skills within the teams across the county.  In addition to the main service, Family Action had also contracted Restorative Solutions CIC to deliver a restorative practice (RP) pilot across 23 identified schools to determine whether the use of RP reduced exclusions.  'Restorative champions' within each of the identified schools would attend a full three day training programme during September and October  after which it was intended that the schools, supported by Restorative Solutions CIC would implement a whole school approach to the to the use of restorative approached.  It was reported that this would be evaluated at the end of the year with a view to rolling out across the county.

It was reported that the figures in the report were the latest exclusion data, but it was always one year behind.  It was noted that there was not an issue in Lincolnshire with fixed term exclusions. 

Members were advised that following the implementation of the Inclusive Lincolnshire Strategy, the number of exclusions from primary schools had reduced from 16 last year in term 1, to just one this year.  It was reported that there was now a ladder of intervention, and there was an understanding that head teachers had to follow every step on the ladder before making the decision to permanently exclude a child.  It was commented that there was now more focus on prevention, and it was a different way of looking at behavioural issues.

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 queried what sort of behaviour would lead to a pupil being excluded.  Members were advised that the most common reason for exclusion was constant misconduct.   Since the introduction of the ladder, it was noted that any exclusions this term would be due to major misconduct e.g. assault.   All exclusions due to possession of banned items had stopped.

·         It was noted that bad behaviour often started in reception classes if pupils did not have the emotional and social skills required.  These children were often not ready for school.

·         It was queried whether the number of exclusions was directly linked to the school population, for example if the intake went up, did the number of exclusions also increase.  Officers advised that there did not seem to be a link between the increase in intake and an increase in the number of exclusions.  There were often more exclusions in areas with high deprivation.

·         Members commented that they were pleased that inclusion was now being used more than exclusion.  It was positive that these pupils would be included in the education offer, and the aim was to get them back in mainstream education.  It was queried whether there was any link between the pupil and the original school.

·         At the moment, the only way to get a pupil into a full time alternative curriculum was to permanently exclude them.  It was queried whether the ladder allowed for a full time alternative curriculum without the need to permanently exclude.  It was confirmed that this could now be accessed without the need for permanent exclusions.

·         It was queried whether there was any evidence that LAC were more likely to be excluded, and were schools encouraged to look at LAC in different ways when considering exclusions.  Members were advised that LAC were treated in a different way, and it was unusual for a looked after child to be excluded as there were other processes to be followed.

·         In terms of the restorative solutions which were being trialled in 23 schools, it was queried how these schools were selected and what the time frame for roll out to other schools was.

·         It was queried to what extent were some of Lincolnshire's schools not suited to some pupils, and was this an opportunity to do things differently, with some of the children that would benefit from a smaller environment.

·         It was queried whether a pilot could be started in Lincolnshire, and build more alternative schools that were not focused on the academic side of education.  Members were advised that the curriculum was not something that the authority had control of.

·         In terms of alternative provision, officers did not want to see further segregation of pupils, the schools needed to change, rather than the child being segregated.

·         It was queried whether there were any plans to expand the LTLC service, as it was an incredible service which worked with families as well as children.  It was reported that the Trust which would be running the LTLC had put in an application for 4 new free schools, which would bring national investment to Lincolnshire.

RESOLVED

            That the content of the report be noted.