Agenda and minutes

Venue: Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR. View directions

Contact: Sandra Pentelow (0113) 24 74792  Email: sandra.pentelow@leeds.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

72.

Late Items

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

 

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

Minutes:

There were no formal late items of business to consider.

 

73.

Declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

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.

Minutes:

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests declared to the meeting.

 

74.

Apologies for Absence and Notification of Substitutes

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were submitted by Councillors, A Lamb, P Latty,

K Mitchell, M Rafique, K Renshaw and A Sobel and from Co-opted Members; Mr A Graham and Ms C Bewsher.

 

Notification had been received that Councillor J Jarosz was to substitute for Councillor K Mitchell, Councillor N Dawson for Councillor M Rafique, Councillor E Taylor for Councillor K Renshaw and Councillor R Grahame for Councillor A Sobel.

 

75.

Minutes - 19 March 2015 pdf icon PDF 70 KB

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 19 March 2015.

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 March 2015 be approved as a correct record.

 

76.

Appointment of Co-opted Parent Governor Representatives

Minutes:

The Scrutiny   Board was advised that one nomination had been received for Parent Governor Representative (Secondary) from Jacqueline Ward.

 

No nominations had been received for Parent Governor Representative (Primary)

 

RESOLVED – The Scrutiny Board (Children and Families):

 

a)  Confirms the appointment of Jacqueline Ward as Parent Governor Representative (Secondary) from 23 April 2015.

b)  Seeks further Parent Governor Representative (Primary) nominations within statutory timescales.

 

77.

Scrutiny Inquiry - Raising Educational Standards in Leeds - Learning Improvement pdf icon PDF 92 KB

To receive information as part of the Board’s inquiry into Raising Educational Standards in Leeds – Learning Improvement

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report which presented evidence as part of the Board’s inquiry into Raising Educational Standards in Leeds, Learning Improvement.

 

The following information was appended to the report:

 

-  The Draft Annual Standards Report 2013/14

-   Learning Outcomes Dashboards

-  Primary Schools Below Floor 2014

-  Secondary Schools Below Floor 2014.

 

The following representatives attended the meeting:

 

-  Jane Dowson, Deputy Executive Board Member (Children and Families)

-  Nigel Richardson, Director of Children’s Services

-  Paul Brennan, Deputy Director of Children’s Services (Learning)

-  Sara Harris, Area Lead (Primary Learning Improvement)

-  Kim Porter, Area Lead (Primary Learning Improvement)

-  Anne Fell, Area Lead (Primary Learning Improvement)

-  Kevin Paynes, Leadership and Management Lead (Secondary)

-  Andrew Eastwood, Headteacher Fountain Primary School

-  Jancis Andrew, Headteacher Virtual School

-  Ian Stokes, Performance Programme Manager.

 

The key areas of discussion were:

 

·  The potential impact of a change in government on educational policy.

·  A brief history of the changes in attainment since education was brought back under the control of Leeds City Council, acknowledging the low base line and the progress made since that time.

·  That 87.4% of primary schools in Leeds are good or outstanding and 71% of secondary schools are good or outstanding.

·   The challenges to improve progress and catch up with national and core city statistics, acknowledging that may take a number of years,  focusing on the following key priorities:

Ø  Achievement in the city and narrowing the gap

Ø  Social emotional mental health and behavioural issues

Ø  Raising the quality of secondary provision

Ø  Sufficiency of good and outstanding learning places in EYFS and post 16

Ø  Managing an increasingly challenging budget

·  The need for a whole city approach to narrowing the gap to focus on social and economic situations that create barriers to learning.

·  Increased focus on exam based qualifications and a reduction in vocational based qualifications which could disadvantage some children.

·  The tangible impact of the Learning Improvement Service on the data provided and Ofsted inspection judgements.

·  A life ready for learning, the additional focus of the Children and Young Peoples Plan refresh, best start strategy, the impact of poverty and free school meals.

·  The use of pupil premium and families first support to enhance outcomes for vulnerable children. 

 

The Chair thanked representatives for their attendance.

 

RESOLVED –

 

The Scrutiny Board (Children and Families):

 

a)  Supports the new format and contents of the draft Annual Standards Report

b)  Confirms that the above issues be incorporated into the Board’s final inquiry report.

 

(Councillor F Venner joined the meeting at 10.00am during this item. Councillor R Grahame joined the meeting at 10.35am and left at the conclusion of this item at 11.10am.)

 

78.

Outcome of the 2015 Ofsted inspection services pdf icon PDF 83 KB

To receive information regarding the outcome of the 2015 Ofsted Inspection

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report to advise the Scrutiny Board about the outcome of the 2015 Ofsted inspection of Services and the provision of a post inspection action plan.

 

The following information was appended to the report:

 

-  Executive Board report of 22 April 2015 – Outcome of the 2015 Ofsted inspection services for children in need of help and protection, children looked after and care leavers; and the effectiveness of partnership working, including the Leeds Safeguarding Children Board.

 

The following representatives attended the meeting:

 

-  Jane Dowson, Deputy Executive Board Member (Children and Families)

-  Nigel Richardson, Director of Children’s Services

-  Steve Walker, Deputy Director of Children’s Services (Safeguarding, Specialist and Targeted Services)

-  Paul Brennan, Deputy Director of Children’s Services (Learning).

 

The key areas of discussion were:

 

·  The comprehensive nature of the inspection.

·  The judgement on area of service, four of which were judged as good with leadership, management and governance being judged as outstanding. 7 core cities had been inspected and only Leeds had improved and had been rated as good.

·  The areas where further improvement is required, including the quality of assessments, capturing social worker case knowledge on record. Ofsted did not identify areas of improvement that were not already known to Children’s Services.

·  The model of CAMHS provision and offer, which requires improvement and the links to the therapeutic social work support service. It was acknowledged that CAMHS requires further investment and delivery need to change. This is currently under review.

·  The links between child and adult mental health services to provide family focused services.

·  The use of pupil premium for looked after children and the need to demonstrate how schools are being held to account for the use of pupil premium.

·  Recognition of the robustness of CSE proceedures.

 

RESOLVED –

 

That the Scrutiny Board (Children and Families):

 

a)  Notes the information presented and requested that the Post Inspection Action Plan be brought to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Board for consideration.

b)  Congratulates the Children’s Services Officers and Partners on a great result and for enabling the wok of the Scrutiny Board for 2014/15 to conclude on such a positive note.

 

79.

Work Schedule pdf icon PDF 82 KB

To consider the Board’s work schedule for the municipal year 2014/15

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which presented the Executive Board minutes for 18 March 2015.

 

RESOLVED –That the Board notes the Executive Board minutes.

 

80.

Date and Time of Next Meeting

To be confirmed

Minutes:

Future meeting dates to be confirmed.

 

 

(The meeting concluded at 12.10pm.)