Agenda item

(To receive a report from Martin Smith, Interim Assistant Director – Education, which advises the Committee about the impact of the international pandemic on schools and education in Lincolnshire)

The Chairman advised that this item was to advise the Committee about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on schools and education in Lincolnshire.  The Chairman invited Martin Smith, Interim Assistant Director – Education to introduce the report.  The Committee noted that Charlotte Gray, Acting Head of Service – Children's Strategic Commissioning was also in attendance to explain about the impact on school transport.

The Committee was advised that to assist schools with planning for phased re-opening, the local authority had provided schools with 'School Recovery Guidance in response to Covid-19'.  A copy of the guidance was attached at Appendix A to the report for the Committee to consider.  Page 52 of the report provided a table which detailed communication made to meet the needs of the sector.

The Committee was advised that at the start of the autumn term, the vast majority of schools had reopened in September; and that attendance in Lincolnshire schools was above the East Midlands and national comparisons, with 91.5 % of pupils in school on average.  Of the 33 schools with positive Covid-19 cases, 24 schools no longer had any pupils self-isolating.

Appendix B to the report provided guidance for supporting quality school and remote education; and Appendix C highlighted managing behaviour and challenges in response to Covid -19 – Primary Setting Guidance.

The Committee was advised that contact was made on a daily basis with the Department for Education (DfE) and Ofsted, which was very positive.

The Committee noted that Ofsted inspections would be resuming in January 2021.

In conclusion, the Committee noted that feedback and appreciation from the system had been very positive and that relationships were strong to sustain the recovery in the forthcoming year.  It was noted further that there needed to be an awareness of the consequences of the implications of the return to school, as it was likely there would be an increased demand on local authority services and statutory functions, as well as transport demands.

The Acting Head of Service – Children's Strategic Commissioning advised that the Education Transport Team had been working closely with the Transport Services Group (TSG) to ensure that entitled pupils had their school transport in place ahead of the new term.  The Team had processed many thousands of new applications in an unprecedented short space of time.

The Committee was advised that TSG operators had been well briefed on government guidance and had been awarded small grants to ensure school transport was regularly cleaned and was as safe as possible for children and young people to travel on.  It was noted that bespoke arrangements had also been put in place for a very small number of the most clinically vulnerable children to allow them to return to school with their peers.

It was reported that the Council had received £712k of short term government funding up to October half-term to increase dedicated school transport capacity.  It was noted that this funding had been used to ensure that as many children as possible had not had to travel on the public transport network.  It was noted further that so far nearly 30 additional vehicles had been commissioned just for use by school children and almost 100 public transport services had been converted to dedicated schools transport services. 

During discussion, the Committee raised the following points:

·       How many children the 91.5% represented.  The Committee was advised that in the current cohort there was 110,000 children in Lincolnshire of statutory age for education; and that represented between 96/97,000 children in Lincolnshire being back to school.  In comparison to normal attendance figures, the Committee noted that there was attendance data, but this was not comparable data, on an annual average there would be between 93/94,000 children in attendance.  It was highlighted that it was up to schools to encourage their pupils to attend school, and that the local authority only administered the process once referred for a fine;

·       Whether there would be any cost pressures for the £712,000 extra funding from the base budgets.  The Committee was advised the additional transport provision would not impact on the normal transport budget; and that capacity would be managed within the amount;

·       Wearing of face masks outside of schools in public places.  The Committee was advised that the message of communication of such issues was discussed at leadership briefings; the issue for schools was enforcement when pupils were out of school.  It was noted that where operators had instances with children travelling with them had removed their face masks, these concerns would be raised with the school and the school would then raise the matter with the parents and the child, reminding them to wear their face masks.  It was noted that schools were working together with the authority to make sure this happened;

·       Whether home schooling was on the increase – The Committee noted that elective home schooling had increased.  The Committee noted that this item was due to be discussed further at the next meeting;

·       Social distancing on buses.  The Committee was advised that social distance guidelines did not apply in the same way, as on public transport, but where ever possible it was adhered to.  Children were encouraged to sit in bubbles or in same school groups i.e. a double decker bus separating two schools by having one school on the lower deck and the other on the higher deck.  Confirmation was given that operators did maintain a supply of face masks should a child forget their mask;

·       A couple of members extended their thanks to the team for their promptness in getting extra transport sorted within their areas, once issues had been highlighted; and

·       One member enquired whether the extra funding would be continuing after October.  The Committee was advised that the Council was waiting to hear from the DfE about an extension of the grant funding until December 2020.

The Executive Director of Children's Services extended her thanks to all teams that had worked hard through unprecedented times to make sure that children and young were able to return to school.  This sentiment was echoed by all members of the Committee.

RESOLVED

1.    That the update on the re-opening of schools in September 2020 be received.  

2.    That the Committee extends its thanks to all teams within the Council, who had worked hard through unprecedented times to ensure that children and young people in Lincolnshire were able to return to school.