Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor A P Maughan,  P J Barnett (Parent Governor Representative) and Reverend P A Johnson (Church Representative).

An apology for absence had also been received from Councillor Mrs P A Bradwell OBE, Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services.

Mr S C Rudman wished it to be noted that in relation to agenda item 8 – Performance – Quarter 3 2018/19 (pages 56/57) he had been involved in an adoption process. He advised that he would remain in the meeting for the debate on this item, but would not enter into any discussion thereon.

Councillor M A Whittington advised that he had an adopted son aged 22 and, although he was not receiving services available up to the age of 25, he was eligible to them.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 18 January 2019 be agreed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

The Chairman advised the Committee that agenda item 5 – Fostering Allowances had been withdrawn from the agenda, as further work was necessary on the content of the report.  The Committee was advised further that the report would now be considered by the Committee at its 26 April 2019 meeting.

The Chairman advised that since the last meeting he had visited the Ark Nursery School, Stamford, which he had found very informative.

The Committee also noted that the Big Conversation 18 had taken place on 19 February 2019 at the Gainsborough Academy Youth Centre, Gainsborough.  Councillors D Brailsford, R J Kendrick and Mrs W Bowkett had attended the event, which had focussed on 'Development of Participation Groups – V4C and Barnardo's'.  The Committee noted further that Big Conversation 19 was due to be held in May 2019 half term and would focus on 'How can our Care Pledge be improved'.

It was also highlighted that on Saturday 22 June 2019, 'FAB! 2019' was due to be held at the Isaac Newton Building at the University of Lincoln.  The Committee was advised that the theme for this year's awards was 'ECO FAB' and that further details would be sent out to members of the Committee.  The Chairman encouraged all members of the Committee to attend.  

The Chairman invited the Executive Support Councillor and Senior Officers to update the Committee.

Councillor D Brailsford, Executive Support Councillor for Children's Services advised that at the Music Teacher Awards of Excellence, Lincolnshire had won the Music Education Council Major Award 2018.  Congratulations were extended to staff and the young people for their success.  It was agreed that a letter should be sent to the Music Service on behalf of the Committee to congratulate them on their success.

(To receive a report from John Harris, Children's Service Manager – Regulated (North and Fostering), which invites the Committee to consider and comment on the proposed introduction of an annual retention payment for foster carers, which is due to be considered by the Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services on 29 March 2019)

The Chairman had in his earlier announcement advised the Committee that the Fostering Allowances item had been deferred to the 26 April 2019 meeting of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee.

(To receive a report from Martin Smith, Interim Assistant Director, Education, which invites the Committee to consider and comment on the Lincolnshire Local Authority School Performance for 2017/18)

Consideration was given to a report from Martin Smith, Interim Assistant Director of Education, which invited the Committee to consider and comment on Lincolnshire Local Authority School Performance for 2017/18.

Attached to the report for the Committee to consider were the following Appendices:-

·         Appendix A – Key Number Report for 2018;

·         Appendix B – Free School Meal Closing the Gap Report; and

·         Appendix C – Key Stage 2 LEAP and LAMP Disadvantaged FSM Eligible Outcomes for 2017/18.

In guiding the Committee through the report, the Interim Director of Education advised that the report presented provided an analysis of the current performance within the Lincolnshire schools system.  It was noted that the data shared used validated figures for Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 4.

It was highlighted that as of 31 August 2018, Lincolnshire had 85% of schools rated as good or better.  It was noted that Lincolnshire remained above the National average of 84.5%.

The Committee was advised that peer review continued to be utilised to support school improvement; and that over 50 schools had added their peer review outcomes to the database in addition to the entries from the academic year 2017/18.

Details of the strengths and areas for improvements within schools were shown at the top of page 18 of the report.

The report made reference to the following key stages:-

·         Early Years (Aged 5)

·         Phonics Screening Check (Aged 6)

·         Key Stage 1 (Aged 7)

·         Key Stage 2 (Aged 11)

·         Key Stage 4 (Aged 16)

In conclusion, the Committee was advised that the Local Authority, the Lincolnshire Learning Partnership and Lincolnshire Teaching Schools Together were aware of the outcomes and were taking the necessary action to support improvement in standards within the sector led model.  Details of the core offer to all settings in Lincolnshire; the Lincolnshire Learning Partnership Mobilise programme; and the Lincolnshire Teaching Schools Together supported delivery were shown on pages 20/21 of the report.  It was highlighted that there were approximately 220 schools engaging with Mobilise.

It was highlighted further that the priority was to address the gap between Lincolnshire and national attainment figures in reading, writing and mathematics, and that this was the continued focus of the sector led model.

During discussion, the Committee raised the following comments:-

·         The local position – The Committee was advised that the local authority in conjunction with it partners were taking action to support improvement in standards within the sector led model and that a strategic plan had been put in place.  It was highlighted that the strength of partnerships had benefitted Lincolnshire by providing all schools with the opportunity to engage in professional development and school improvement activity.  The evidence based approach to school improvement was a long term project, which was beginning to show reward.  It was highlighted further that Lincolnshire was quite unique; as not all areas were as fortunate to have such a collaborative approach to school improvement.  The Committee was advised that the biggest difference for those areas doing well was that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61.

(To receive a report from Michelle Andrews, Children's Service Manager – Early Years, which provides the Committee with an overview of the Government's commitment to 30 hours per week of funded education for working parents of 3 and 4 year olds, and to share Lincolnshire's current position regarding the implementation of this offer)

The Committee gave consideration to a report from Michelle Andrews, Children's Service Manager, Early Years, which provided an overview of the Government's commitment to 30 hours per week of funded education for working parents of 3 and 4 year olds; and advised of Lincolnshire's current position regarding the implementation of the offer.

In guiding the Committee through the report the Lead Consultant, Early Years Entitlement made reference to the background to the government's commitment to doubling the amount of free childcare from 15 hours to 30 hours from September 2017.

Details relating to the eligibility criteria were shown on pages 33 and 34 of the report.

Appendix A to the report provided an overview of helping to pay for childcare.

It was reported that in Lincolnshire 582 private and independent providers, 22 Academies and 49 schools were now registered to deliver the extended 30 hours.  It was highlighted that this represented 90% of the funded childcare sector.

The Committee noted that the quality of provision had continued to improve, with 96% of early providers in Lincolnshire being rated as Good or Outstanding at an inspection completed on 31 August 2018.

It was reported that 95% of all 3 and 4 year olds were accessing Early Education places.  It was reported further that the take-up levels by the summer term 2018 had reached 5,322 children; which was above the Department for Education estimate of 5,010 eligible families in Lincolnshire.

The Committee noted that providers had been fully committed to delivering the extended entitlement.

The report advised that Childcare Works continued to deliver the DfE's national support contract for the 30 hours free childcare programme; and that Lincolnshire was actively engaging in the national and regional process, which had helped the local authority to implement the agenda successfully.

The Committee was advised that the local authority had been successful in securing DfE funding to provide a digital solution for childcare providers; and that this had now been fully implemented; and had supported the Early Years Providers to move to a monthly payment process.

It was highlighted that additional funding had been available via the DfE to support localised pressure on places for 30 hours.  It was noted that the local authority had secured £1,594,138 of capital funding from the DfE to develop six capital projects, and to create 259 new 30 hour places in Lincolnshire.

The Committee was advised that following the implementation of the 30 hours free childcare, a parental consultation had been undertaken to establish if the market place in Lincolnshire was meeting the needs of working parents.  Feedback from the survey had indicated that those parents using childcare were happy with the quality and 93% had reported they were satisfied with the quality of childcare used; and 95% reporting that they were satisfied with the childcare arrangements they had in place. 

It was also highlighted that some parents had found the government gateway a frustrating system to use, when confirming eligibility every three months.  It was reported that feedback  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62.

(To receive a report from Sally Savage, Chief Commissioning Officer – Children's Services, which provides key performance information for Quarter 3 2018/19 relevant to the work of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee)

(NOTE: Appendix D to this report contains exempt information under Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, and discussion of this information could result in the exclusion of the press and public)

Consideration was given to a report by Sally Savage (Chief Commissioning Officer), which provided key performance information for Quarter 3, 2018/19 that was relevant to the work of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee.

The following Appendices were attached to the report:-

·    Appendix A – Council Business Plan Measures;

·    Appendix B – Complaint and Compliments Report;

·    Appendix C – Ofsted School Status Report; and

·    Appendix D – Performance Monitoring of Contracts – Exempt Paper.

The Committee was reminded that Appendix D to the report contained exempt information and if the Committee wished to discuss details pertaining to Appendix D, a vote would need to be taken to move into exempt session.

The Committee was invited to ask questions relating to the content of the report.  During discussion, the Committee raised the following issues:--

·         One member extended thanks to officers that the Looked After Children (LAC) indicators had achieve their target; and to the fact that the waiting time for young children waiting for adoption had been reduced.  The Committee was advised that LAC were a priority for the Council and for Children's Services; and that there was still progress to be made;

·         Page 47 – Juvenile First Time Offenders – This indicator for the first time indicated better performance, as a result of the new diversionary project in Lincolnshire.  The Committee was advised that the Committee would be able to explore this indicator further as an item on Restorative Practice - Lincolnshire Joint Diversionary Panels would be considered at the 26 April 2019 meeting;

·         Page 49 – Juvenile Re-offending – The Committee was advised that there was a time-lag with the data provided; and that this indicator would be explained further at the 26 April 2019 meeting;

·         Complaints – Officers advised that the complaints report required further work; and that the complaints procedure would be coming back in-house to be administered.  The Committee was advised further that a report setting out an annual review of complaints would be presented to the June meeting, so that a better in-depth picture would be provided.  A request was also made for better information relating to Ombudsman complaints;

·         Appendix C – Table 2a/2b - Some concern was expressed to the 50% attributed to the PRU/AP and whether the measure was inadequate.  Some reference was made to increased knife crime and the problems associated with knife crime.  Confirmation was given that one of the PRU facilities had been good and one had been inadequate.  Reassurance was given that the PRU facilities had now improved due to them being academised by a national provider, who had an outstanding PRU and teaching school.  It was noted that there had been applications for 4 new free schools and that 3 of them would be open in 2019/20.  The Committee was advised that the issue of knife crime was a matter for Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Board to consider and better understand the Lincolnshire profile.  It was agreed that a letter would be sent on behalf of the Committee  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63.

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

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

Appendix A to the report on page 71 provided a copy of the work programme for the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee to consider.

Appendix B provided a copy of the Forward Plan which advised the Committee of decisions relating to Children's Services from 1 March 2019.

The Senior Scrutiny Officer presented the report and advised that from the meeting, two items had been suggested to be considered at a future meeting.  These were:-

·         A more comprehensive annual review of the Complaints report for consideration at the 7 June 2019 meeting; and

·         The Early Years Strategy to be considered at the 6 September 2019 meeting.

The Committee expressed its thanks to Children's Services officers for their continued support; and for their seamless transition into their interim roles.

RESOLVED

That the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee Work Programme be agreed subject to the inclusion of the above mentioned items.