Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies had been received from Councillors Fairless-Aitken, Thorne and Waddell.

The minutes of the Family and Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Meeting held on Thursday 2 November 2023, as circulated, to be agreed as a true record and be signed by the Chair.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Family and Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on Thursday 2 November 2023, as circulated, be agreed and signed by the Chair as a true record.

The Annual Report 2022-23 highlights actions and progress against the key priorities for Education, SEND and Skills 22-24.

A comprehensive introduction to the Annual Report 2022-23 which highlighted actions and progress against the six key priorities for Education, SEND and Skills 22-24 was provided by D Street, Director of Education, SEND and Skills. Councillor Renner-Thompson, Cabinet Member for Inspiring Young People advised that it he was proud of the report, and it had been a privilege to present it at Cabinet and to work with the Officers involved in its production.  The report linked to the Corporate Plan helping to address inequalities and driving economic growth by getting more people into well paid employment by improving education and skills. 

Members welcomed the excellent report and the following information was provided in response to questions:-

·       There was a shared desire and need to support the welfare of all staff within schools with guidance produced on this following thoughts and suggested solutions being shared by the staff themselves.  Headteachers were encouraged to set good examples of work/life balance.  Paperwork had been changed, but this had been done in order to reduce the workload for staff and Members were asked to report to Officers any instances where they thought that this had not been the case. 

·       Early Years education had always had successful and strong relationships between the Local Authority, schools and private, voluntary and independent (PVI) settings.   The amount of funding for each pupil in an age group was the same no matter what the setting with recommendations being made to Cabinet by the Schools’ Forum on this.  Whilst independent childminders did not have the back up support of nationally based PVIs, they did an excellent job and received direct support from the Early Years Team in relation to their quality, business and financial management.  Childminders generally had strong relationships with schools, as often children attended different settings i.e. school am and childminder pm. 

·       In relation to SEN provision in the private sector, the use of private provision had been reduced in terms of those leaving the area to go to an out-of-county placement, with additional places being developed in Special Schools in the County to reduce travel time for pupils.  However there were examples of excellent private provision and these would continue to be used if appropriate.

·       The Skills and Employability Service had strong successes in providing employability skills and there had been hundreds of residents of all ages who had returned to full and long term employment.  Details of these figures would be shared to Members.

·       Government in an attempt to make childcare more sustainable and affordable had increased the ratio of two year olds from four to one to five to one, but the general feedback from Northumberland provision had been that the majority of providers had not increased their ratios. It was noted that the rates for children for the forthcoming years would increase.

·       Campaigns were being launched to seek more staff and in relation to the education sector and it was clarified that an element of this was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

(a)  Forward Plan

To note the latest Forward Plan of key decisions. Any further changes to the Forward Plan will be reported at the meeting.

(b) Family and Children's Services OSC Work Programme

To consider the work programme/monitoring report for the Family and Children's Services OSC for 2023/24.

The Forward Plan of Cabinet decisions that had already been taken and future items was circulated for information along with the work programme for this Committee.   Members were advised that there was to be a joint meeting with Health and Wellbeing OSC on Tuesday 9^th January 2024 to consider the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the Adults and Children’s Safeguarding Board Annual Report.  Following this the next meeting was scheduled for 7 March 2024.