Democracy

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Virtual Meeting

Contact: Georgina Moore 

Items
No. Item

20/32

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest received at this point in the meeting.

20/33

Minutes - Children and Young People's Learning Scrutiny Panel - 18 January 2021 pdf icon PDF 156 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting of the Children and Young People’s Learning Scrutiny Panel held on 18 January 2021 were submitted and approved as a correct record.

 

20/34

Behaviour, Discipline and Bullying in Schools - Written Evidence from Schools (Part 1) pdf icon PDF 87 KB

Outwood Academy Acklam and Kings Academy have submitted written evidence to highlight:

·       the challenges faced by schools in dealing with poor behaviour;

·       the causes of pupil behaviour problems e.g. unmet educational or other needs; and

·       the strategies adopted to promote positive behaviour, manage poor behaviour and prevent and tackle bullying.

 

Briefing Paper from Outwood Academy Acklam - Page 9

Briefing Paper from The King’s Academy - Page 11

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair explained that the purpose of the meeting was to enable the scrutiny panel to receive further evidence in respect of its topic of Behaviour, Discipline and Bullying in Schools.

 

The scrutiny panel was asked to consider written evidence from schools that had encountered higher rates of fixed-term and permanent exclusions. Written submissions had been received from Outwood Academy Acklam and The Kings Academy. The evidence received highlighted:

·         the challenges faced by schools in dealing with poor behaviour;

·         the causes of pupil behaviour problems e.g. unmet educational or other needs; and

·         the strategies adopted to promote positive behaviour, manage poor behaviour and prevent and tackle bullying.

 

Written evidence had also been received from schools that demonstrated best practice. Written submissions had been received from Acklam Grange School, Park End Primary School and Unity City Academy. The evidence received highlighted:

·         the types of sanctions used by schools that could impact on a pupil's educational outcomes and life chances; and

·         the successful and proactive strategies and solutions used to promote positive behaviour, manage poor behaviour and prevent and tackle bullying.

 

The Head of Access to Education and Alternative Provision and the Head of Achievement, Education, Prevention and Partnerships were in attendance to provide an overview of the evidence submitted for consideration.

 

Following a proposal from the Head of Access to Education and Alternative Provision, it was agreed that a summary of the key points raised would be provided, cutting across evidence received for both agenda items (Part 1 and Part 2).

 

In terms of secondary schools, the common themes identified when considering the challenges faced in dealing with poor behaviour and bullying included:

·         deprivation;

·         diverse communities (religion, race, culture);

·         SEND;

·         looked after children; and

·         ‘hard to reach’ parents.

 

It was advised that the challenges identified did not provide justification for poor behaviour, however, they could be perceived to be contributory factors. It was explained that the more variable factors that a school had in its community and cohorts, the greater the need for the school to focus on strong management and delivery of engaging and effective teaching and learning.

 

With regard to managing variables, the Head of Achievement, Education, Prevention and Partnerships advised that with Ofsted’s new inspection framework, there was more leniency around the types of learning styles and activities that schools could adopt to meet the needs of their cohorts.

 

For Park End Primary School, whilst levels of deprivation were high, the school positively engaged with parents.  The school’s engagement with parents had been referenced in its most recent Ofsted inspection report, which stated that an overwhelming majority of parents had commented positively about the care that the school gave to their children. Parents were positive about the information they received about their child’s learning and appreciated how welcome they felt when visiting the school and talking about any concerns they may have had. Parents also commented that the school’s emphasis on good behaviour was having a positive effect on their child outside school. It was commented that Park  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20/34

20/35

Behaviour, Discipline and Bullying in Schools - Written Evidence from Schools (Part 2) pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Acklam Grange School, Park End Primary School and Unity City Academy have submitted written evidence to highlight:

·        the types of sanctions used by schools that can impact on a pupil's educational outcomes and life chances; and

·        the successful and proactive strategies and solutions used to promote positive behaviour, manage poor behaviour and prevent and tackle bullying.

 

Briefing Paper from Acklam Grange School - Page 13

Briefing Paper from Park End Primary School - Page 21

Briefing Paper from Unity City Academy - Page 27

Additional documents:

Minutes:

See previous item. Part 1 and 2 were considered collectively.

20/36

Education and Covid-19 Recovery

The Executive Director of Children’s Services will provide a verbal update.

Minutes:

The Executive Director of Children’s Services advised that:

·         All pupils had returned to school on Monday 8 March 2021.

·         The funding received for laptops had been distributed to schools.

·         The number of vulnerable children who had returned to school was high.

·         There were currently some members of school staff and pupils self-isolating.

·         In order to track Middlesbrough’s vulnerable children more effectively, the Local Authority had recently secured funding for Welfare Call. Welfare Call was a platform that provided daily attendance and attainment monitoring of vulnerable cohorts.

·         Covid-19 testing of school pupils was going well.

·         In conjunction with Public Health, Children Services had been arranging delivery of enrichment activities during the school holidays by utilising funding provided by the Holiday Activities Fund (HAF).

·         Good relationships continued between the Local Authority and schools.

 

NOTED

 

20/37

Overview and Scrutiny Board - An Update

The Chair will present a verbal update on the matters that were considered at the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Board held on 27 January, 29 January, 11 February and 11 March 2021.

Minutes:

With regards to recent meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Board, the Chair advised that:

·        On 27 January, the Board had received information on the budget consultation.

·        On 29 January, the Board had considered the Call-in in respect of the disposal of Nunthorpe Grange Farm.

·        On 11 February, the Board had considered the Executive Forward Work Programme, Middlesbrough Council's Response to COVID-19, an update from the Executive Member for Regeneration, the Final Report from the Culture and Communities Scrutiny Panel on Social Cohesion and Integration and updates from the Scrutiny Panel Chairs.

·        On 11 March, the Board had considered the Executive Forward Work Programme; an update from the Mayor; Middlesbrough Council's Response to COVID-19; the Final Report from Economic Development, Environment and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel on Pest Control Services; the Final Report from the Health Scrutiny Panel on Opioid Dependency: What Happens Next?; the Overview and Scrutiny Board Call-in Outcome on the disposal of Nunthorpe Grange Farm and updates from the Scrutiny Panel Chairs.

 

NOTED