Agenda item

(To receive a report which presents the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee with the Inclusive Lincolnshire Strategy and updates on the progress made in relation to the reduction of school exclusions)

A report by Mary Meredith (Service Manager – Inclusion) was considered, which presented the Inclusive Lincolnshire Strategy and updated the Committee on progress in relation to reducing school exclusions.

Members were advised that children in Lincolnshire were more likely to be excluded than in many other Local Authority areas.  A chart on page 66 of the report showed that for those Local Authorities that had published data, Lincolnshire was ranked 135^th out of 139 for permanent exclusions from all school types.

Members were also advised that whilst it was recognised that there was no single solution to reducing the number of exclusions, the Inclusive Lincolnshire Strategy had outlined synergistic change across schools, the Local Authority and providers in order to achieve better outcomes for Lincolnshire schools and pupils. 

The Headteacher and the Inclusive Vice-Principal of Skegness Academy addressed the Committee and provided examples of their progress on inclusion. In response to questions raised, the following points were noted: -

·         The Headteacher and the Inclusive Vice-Principal advised Members that as part of their work on inclusion, they had put in additional resources to work with perpetrators to understand and address the reasons behind this type of behaviour;

·         It was noted that victims of bullying usually expected the perpetrator to be excluded from the school and this was a difficult expectation to manage;

·         The Headteacher and the Inclusive Vice-Principal were encouraged to share their best practise examples with other schools.

Members were provided with an opportunity to ask questions, where the following points were noted: -

·         Members were assured that Lincolnshire schools had responded very positively to the Inclusive Lincolnshire Strategy.  It was noted that there was good evidence to show that schools were moving in a more inclusive direction, even before the Behaviour Outreach Support Service (BOSS) was brought to them;

·         Early data had shown a drop in permanent exclusions during term three, which should hopefully indicate an appetite for change.  Members were assured that officers would continue to monitor data to ensure lower rates were sustained.  It was anticipated that the BOSS would consolidate and accelerate progress;

·         The Lincolnshire Learning Partnership Board and the Lincolnshire Schools' Forum had been considering a range of strategies to support and challenge Lincolnshire schools and academies to reduce the number of permanent exclusions;

·         The Inclusive Lincolnshire Strategy had explored the potential impact and appetite for schools to pay a reintegration charge where headteachers could not demonstrate that they had met an agreed ladder of intervention expected of all schools.  Such a levy would be in the region of £25k.  However, Members were advised that in the spirit of shared vision and collaboration, officers would first want to assess the impact of the BOSS as it was hoped that it would drive a more inclusive approach and that headteachers would recognise the need for consistency and engagement with the ladder of intervention without the need for a levy;

·         It was suggested that officers engaged with school governing bodies as another way to address exclusion rates;

·         It was noted that academies with high exclusion rates could be referred to the Regional Schools Commissioner;

·         It was also noted that the behaviour outreach service was financed through the schools;

·         Members were advised that the figures for Lincolnshire had not shown a significant difference in exclusion rates between academies and maintained schools;

·         It was suggested that a working group was established to further explore Lincolnshire's high exclusion rate six months post implementation of the new pathway if no improvement was noted.

RESOLVED

(1)  That the report and comments made be noted.

(2)  That a working group be established to further explore Lincolnshire's high exclusion rate.