Agenda and minutes

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration.

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes.)

The following late information was submitted to the Board:

·  Agenda item 8 – Monitoring Performance in Education – Annual Standards Report 2015-16 – Learning Outcomes Dashboards 2015-16.

The above information was not available at the time of agenda despatch, but was subsequently made available on the Council’s website.

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests declared to the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies for absence were submitted by Councillors D Cohen and N Dawson and Co-opted Members, Ms C Bewsher, Mr T Britten, Ms J Hazelgrave, Ms C Hopkins, Mrs S Hutchinson, Ms K Jan and Ms L Nichols.

Notification had been received that Councillor B Flynn was to substitute for Councillor D Cohen and Councillor M Harland for Councillor N Dawson.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 30 March 2017.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 30 March 2017 be approved as a correct record.

To consider the report of the Director of Children and Families which provides Scrutiny Board (Children’s Services) with information to promote understanding and discussion about the behaviour of children in schools, the causes, impact and the current provision in Leeds to provide support.

The Director of Children and Families submitted a report which presented the Board with information to promote understanding and discussion about the the causes, impact and current provision in Leeds in relation to the behaviour of children in schools.

The following were in attendance:

-  Councillor Lisa Mulherin, Executive Member, Children and Families

-  Councillor Jane Dowson, Deputy Executive Member, Children and Families

-  Steve Walker, Director of Children’s Services

-  Sue Rumbold, Chief Officer, Partnership Development and Business Support

-  Barbara Newton, Head of Service (Complex Needs)

-  Andrew Eastwood, Head of Service (Learning Improvement).

The key areas of discussion were:

·  The need for different approaches when tackling difficult and challenging behaviour.

·  The importance of effective engagement with children and families, particularly in terms of developing learning and building positive relationships.

·  The need to tackle the root cause of problems and the need for greater resources to develop more personalised support for children and their families.  The Board considered opportunities for ongoing school to school support and sharing good practice.  The Board was advised that innovation funding will facilitate more co-ordinated support.

·  The important role of clusters and work with partners, particularly in terms of targeted support.

·  The positive work undertaken by Area Inclusion Partnerships and the recognition that its function needs to be fully supported.

·  Clarification sought about the types of support available to teachers to help manage difficult and challenging behaviour. 

·  Clarification sought regarding support in place to help teachers manage stress / trauma in the work place. The Board was advised that a 24 hour help-line was available to teachers across the city.  Board members discussed the need to promote awareness of this provision.

·  The types of support available to parent and carers, particularly in terms of restorative practices and the work of children centres.

·  Clarification sought regarding the promotion of parenting courses and the need to break down stigma in relation to this.

·  Clarification sought about support for children that had been excluded from school.  The Board was advised about the importance of undertaking a holistic assessment and ensuring that quality assurance measures were in place.

·  A suggestion that the scrutiny board report be shared with schools for their information.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted.

(Councillor B Flynn left the meeting at 11.00am during the consideration of this item.)

To receive the report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support which facilitates the monitoring of educational performance in Leeds and consideration of the Annual Standards Report submitted to the Executive Board on the 19 April 2017.

Learning Outcomes Dashboards to follow.

The Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support submitted a report which presented the Annual Standards Report submitted to Executive Board on 19 April 2017.

The following were in attendance:

-  Councillor Lisa Mulherin, Executive Member, Children and Families

-  Councillor Jane Dowson, Deputy Executive Member, Children and Families

-  Steve Walker, Director of Children’s Services

-  Andrew Eastwood, Head of Service (Learning Improvement).

The key areas of discussion were:

·  Concern that LCC was still in the third and fourth quartile for most areas of performance and over a number of years had not made the considerable ‘leap’ in performance that was required.  The Board was advised about measures in place to address issues, particularly in terms of positive leadership development, school to school support and other partnership working.  It was acknowledged, however that improvement in educational outcomes was required.

·  The need to raise awareness about the 30 hours’ childcare entitlement to support preparation for school.  The Board was advised that work was being undertaken with Schools Forum and private providers to ensure a consistent approach.

·  The changes to examinations and performance monitoring at KS4, particularly that it will be 2020 before data was available for a stable examination year.

·  Clarification sought about the accountability framework for school standards and the results for Leeds as a whole.  The Board was advised about the role of governing bodies, Ofsted and Department of Education.

·  The challenge for management with the expectation on teachers and public sector workers to deliver more for less, the impact of increased pressures on staff morale, concern about work life balance and teachers leaving the profession.

·  Clarification sought about monitoring arrangements in relation to SEND achievement.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the Annual Standards Report submitted to Executive Board on 19 April 2017 and the Learning Outcomes Dashboards, be noted.

b)  That an action plan for improved outcomes be submitted to a future meeting of Scrutiny Board (Children and Families).

(Councillor K Renshaw left the meeting at 12 noon, Councillor J Akhtar at 12.20pm and Councillor M Harland at 12.20pm.)

To receive a report from the Director of Children and Families which provides an update on the work that has been undertaken to ensure the sustainability of the cluster model, and provide a position statement on the current level of continued buy in to the model (as at 24 March 2017)

The Director of Children and Families submitted a report which provided an update on the work undertaken to ensure the sustainability of the cluster model, and a position statement on the current level of continued buy in to the model (as at 24 March 2017).

The following were in attendance:

-  Councillor Lisa Mulherin, Executive Member, Children and Families

-  Councillor Jane Dowson, Deputy Executive Member, Children and Families

-  Steve Walker, Director of Children’s Services

-  Sue Rumbold, Chief Officer, Partnership Development and Business Support

-  Andrew Eastwood, Head of Service (Learning Improvement)

-  Nicola Engel, Partnership Development and Behaviour Support Lead.

The key areas of discussion were:

·  The changed funding arrangements that prevented the retention of schools funding and the engagement with school teachers and governors to secure ongoing support for the cluster partnership model.

·  The evolving number of cluster partnerships across Leeds, including the SILC cluster.

·  An update that academies understood the value of cluster partnerships and were buying back into cluster arrangements.

·  The review of arrangements and performance in some clusters.

·  Clarification sought whether any risk assessment in relation to support for children had been undertaken for schools that had opted out of cluster arrangements.  The Board was advised that schools that had opted out were aware that they could opt back in.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the update on the work undertaken to ensure the sustainability of the cluster model, be noted.

(b)  That a further update regarding cluster sustainability be submitted to the October Board meeting.

(Councillor C Gruen left the meeting at 12.35pm and Councillor M Iqbal at 12.40pm.)

To consider if potential work items are required during the remainder of the municipal year. Following the meeting of the 27 April 2017 no further formal meetings are scheduled.

The Head of Governance Services and Scrutiny Support submitted a report which invited Members to consider the Board’s work schedule for the 2016/17 municipal year.

RESOLVED – That subject to any on-going discussions and scheduling decisions, the Board’s outline work schedule be approved.

(The meeting concluded at 12.45pm)