Venue: Council Chamber
Contact: Georgina Moore
No. | Item |
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Declarations of Interest Minutes: There were
no declarations of interest received at this point in the meeting. |
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Minutes - Children and Young People's Learning Scrutiny Panel - 28 June 2021 PDF 423 KB Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of the Children and Young People’s Learning Scrutiny Panel, held on 28 June 2021, were submitted and approved as a correct record. |
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Addressing Poverty Issues and the Impact on Learning - An Update PDF 385 KB In respect of the Scrutiny Panel's 2020 review of Addressing Poverty Issues and the Impact on Learning, the Head of Achievement, Education, Prevention and Partnerships will provide an update on the progress made with the implementation of the agreed recommendations/actions. Additional documents: Minutes: In respect of the scrutiny panel's 2020 review
of Addressing Poverty Issues and the Impact on Learning, the Head of
Achievement, Education, Prevention and Partnerships was in attendance to provide
an update on the progress made with the implementation of the agreed
recommendations/actions. It was advised that, as a result of the
scrutiny panel’s investigation, there had been a review of current practices
and new initiatives had been developed. The following points were made: ·
The mapping exercise
concluded that partnerships were already established. It had been found that
collaborative practice was already in place, which was led by Middlesbrough
Council’s Financial Inclusion Group (FIG). In addition to the FIG, the
Employment Network Group (ENG) and Northern Skills Group led by Middlesbrough
College brought together the expertise and experience to focus on routes to
employment. ·
The Local Authority’s
Community Learning Team was working hard to establish links to employment, such
as 50 Futures. It had been recognised that families had been accessing support
from the Community Learning Team, throughout the pandemic, to develop I.T. literacy. ·
Carmel Research School
(a network of schools that supported the use of evidence to improve teaching
practice) was developing a program to support disadvantaged pupils. The program
was tasked to break the link between family income and educational outcomes,
improving success and life chances for disadvantaged pupils in particular. Work
was scheduled to be started in September 2021 and numerous Middlesbrough
schools had been selected to engage with the program. ·
The mapping process had
provided reassurance that multi-agency working was already in place and
relevant stakeholders were working together to collectively mitigate the impact
of poverty on learning. ·
To mitigate the impact
of poverty on pupils, each school had been encouraged to produce a bespoke poverty
proofing policy. ·
Monitoring
tools were used to measure poverty rates and trends. Education monitored Pupil
Premium outcomes and the percentage of pupils eligible for Free School Meals
(FSM) from Early Years to Key Stage 4. Pupil
Premium data was regularly monitored and analysed to assess the attainment gap
between disadvantaged pupils and their peers. ·
The Local
Authority’s Learning & Education Strategy prioritised achievement gaps for
disadvantaged pupils looking at their progress and attainment over time, from
pre-school through to work readiness. ·
The
welfare reform report (produced by the FIG) monitored access to financial
advice, including housing support. ·
The
Revenue and Benefits Team had implemented systems, which ensured that those
families who were entitled to benefits received them and that the correct
amount of benefit was received. ·
Education
tracked every pupil cohort, including the most vulnerable children, and data
was readily available. The data enabled the Local Authority to identify and prioritise
schools and deliver targeted support. · The Local Authority had recently brought the Unclaimed Benefits Campaign and Hub Advice Service under one project. That collaboration had been developed by the FIG and was led by the Welfare Rights Unit. Partner organisations were Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), Age UK, Cleveland Housing and Advice Centre (CHAC) and Achieving Change Through Enterprising Solutions (ACTES). ... view the full minutes text for item 21/9 |
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Draft Final Report - Behaviour, Discipline and Bullying in Schools PDF 617 KB The
Scrutiny Panel will be asked to consider and approve the content of the draft final
report and determine recommendations for submission to the Executive. Minutes: A discussion ensued and Members commented on various aspects
of the report including the responsibilities and knowledge of governing bodies,
the importance of schools dealing with incidences of bullying in accordance
with DfE and Ofsted guidance and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on
exclusions. In respect of paragraph 9, bullet point 5, a Member
requested that the responsibility of the governing body to publicise the school
behaviour policy also be referenced. Draft recommendations had been tabled at the meeting for the
scrutiny panel’s consideration. A Member expressed concern in respect of Middlesbrough’s
exclusion rates and highlighted the need for the scrutiny panel to monitor and
examine rates on a six monthly basis. Recommendation b) was amended accordingly
to accommodate that proposal. A Member commented that it would be beneficial for the
scrutiny panel to have sight of the outcomes associated with recommendations d)
and e). The Democratic Services Officer advised that an update on the
implementation of proposed recommendations/actions would be submitted to a
future meeting of the scrutiny panel and the outcomes of those particular
recommendations would form part of that update. Following discussion, the following recommendations were
agreed for inclusion in the final report: a) In respect of the new Inclusion,
Assessment and Review Service and the ‘Team Around the School’ approach, that:
i.
a full and
comprehensive evaluation is undertaken, which takes into account the impact of
COVID-19 and the risk management controls currently in place within schools;
and
ii.
the key findings, outcomes and outputs of the evaluation are
reported to the Children and Young People’s Learning Scrutiny Panel, including
feedback received from children and young people. b)
That the
Local Authority holds schools to account more transparently for their exclusion
rates by:
i.
monitoring,
analysing and recording exclusion data at a school-level;
ii.
undertaking
regular focussed visits to those schools with high rates to assist with putting
measures in place to reduce fixed-term and permanent exclusions; and
iii.
reporting exclusion data to the Children and Young People’s
Learning Scrutiny Panel on a 6 monthly basis. c)
That,
where exclusion rates are high, the Local Authority:
i.
provides
an enhanced bespoke package of support to assist schools in identifying and
meeting the needs of children with SEND and additional vulnerabilities; and
ii.
delivers training to demonstrate the detrimental impact of
exclusion on a pupil's life and life chances. d)
That the
Local Authority shares good practice with schools by facilitating peer reviews
and providing case study illustrations of good behaviour management practices. e)
That a
guidance document is developed and circulated to schools on the importance of
language and its influence on changing perceptions and attitudes. f)
That
schools are encouraged to undertake an anonymous survey of staff and students
about their views on behaviour, discipline and bullying and that feedback is
utilised to improve behaviour management practices. AGREED That, subject to the inclusion of the agreed recommendations, the final report on Behaviour, Discipline and Bullying in Schools be approved and submitted to the Overview ... view the full minutes text for item 21/10 |
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Education and Covid-19 Recovery The Executive
Director of Children’s Services will provide a verbal update. Minutes: The Executive Director for Children’s Services provided the
scrutiny panel with an update on education and COVID-19 recovery. Members were
advised that: ·
The Local Authority’s
relationships with schools had improved considerably throughout the COVID-19 pandemic
and it was crucial that those positive working relationships continued. ·
In terms of children not
attending school, due to COVID-19: ·
in September 2020, 163
were absent; ·
in October 2020, 498
were absent; ·
in November 2020, 617
were absent; ·
from December 2020 to
May 2021, figures reduced to 46; and ·
throughout June and
July, figures rose once again to 677. ·
During the academic
year, 63% of the pupil population had one or more episodes of virtual learning. ·
In terms of children
looked after, daily attendance was monitored and reviews and risk assessments
were undertaken. ·
A service had been
commissioned, the Vulnerable Children’s Attendance Program, which enabled the
Local Authority to collect and analyse data and information on vulnerable
children that were not attending school, including those who were subject to
child protection plans and children in need plans. In response to a Member’s query regarding updates on
vaccinations for pupils, it was advised that the Local Authority met regularly
with headteachers and daily updates were circulated on guidance and bulletins
published by the Department of Education (DfE). NOTED |
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Overview and Scrutiny Board - An Update The Chair will present a verbal update on the matters that were considered at the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Board held on 29 June 2021. Minutes: The Chair advised that at the meeting of the Overview and
Scrutiny Board, which had been held on 29 June 2021, the Board had considered: ·
the Executive Forward
Work Programme; ·
an update from the Chief
Executive in respect of the Council’s response to COVID-19 and other
organisational matters; ·
an update on Town Centre
Regeneration, the Future High Streets Fund, as well as an overview of the plans
for the transformation of the Town Centre; ·
the Strategic Plan
2020-23 - Progress at Year-End 2020/21; ·
the Revenue and Capital
Budget - Year-End Outturn Position 2020/21; ·
the Ad-Hoc Scrutiny
Panel’s Final Report on Members Communications; and ·
the Scrutiny Chairs
Updates. NOTED |
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Any other urgent items which in the opinion of the Chair, may be considered. Minutes: The Chair advised
that the work programme was scheduled to be considered and approved by the
Overview and Scrutiny Board on Wednesday 28 July 2021. Members were
reminded that that the scrutiny panel had selected the following topics for
investigation during the 2021/22 municipal year. In-depth
reviews ·
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
(SEND) ·
The Impact of COVID-19 on Education and the
Council’s Recovery Plan Short
review/one-off meeting ·
Post-16 Education NOTED |