Agenda item

To consider a report from the Head of Policy, Performance and Improvement which invites Members to consider key performance issues relating to quarter 2 of 2007/2008 which are considered to be of corporate significance for the Scrutiny Board (Children’s Services)

The Head of Policy, Performance and Improvement submitted a report which invited the Board to consider key performance issues from quarter two of 2007/2008, which were considered to be of corporate significance for the Scrutiny Board (Children’s Services). The report also advised Members of a predicted Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) score for 2007/08.

Appended to the report was a table detailing all relevant Performance Indicators for the Board.

Councillor Richard Brett, Lead Executive Member for Children’s Services, Councillor Richard Harker, Executive Member with responsibility for Learning, Rosemary Archer, Director of Children’s Services, Dirk Gilleard, Deputy Chief Executive, Education Leeds, Edwina Harrison, Chief Officer, Children and Families, and Stuart Cameron-Strickland, Commissioning Manager, Performance and Quality Assurance, both of Social Care, were all in attendance to present the report and answer Members’ questions.

Having received a brief summary of the key issues detailed within the report, a question and answer session ensued. The main areas of debate were as follows:-

Issues Relating to Looked After Children and Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children

Ÿ  The Lead Executive Member for Children’s Services made reference to the rise in the number of Looked After Children in Leeds, with particular reference being made to the recent rise in unaccompanied asylum seeking children who were entering the city. Members were also advised that parental mental health and parental drug misuse were common features in families where children had become looked after;

Ÿ  Following Members’ enquiries, the Board learned that as of September 2007, there were 104 unaccompanied asylum seeking children in the authority’s care, the majority of which were 16-17 year olds. The Board was then assured that every effort was made to identify such individuals, and when they came to the authority’s attention, each individual was placed in the most appropriate setting for their needs;

Ÿ  Members noted that latest figures showed that there were about 1,360 Looked After Children in Leeds, which was higher than the national average. However, the Board learned that the provision for Looked After Children in Leeds was being improved via a series of initiatives, such as the recruitment of a ‘virtual’ Head Teacher for all Looked After Children in the city;

Ÿ  The Board sought information on the number of Looked After Children in Leeds who had statements or were otherwise deemed to have special educational needs, and were advised that such information would be submitted.

Issues Relating to Attendance and Absenteeism

Ÿ  Members made enquiries into the actions taken to reduce the number of

persistent absentees in Leeds. In response, the Board noted that Education Leeds and its partners had worked with the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) in order to revise its approach towards attendance, however it was acknowledged that such arrangements now needed to be turned into results;

Ÿ  Having emphasised the strong link between attendance and attainment, Members noted the actions being taken to address the issue of pupils being withdrawn from school, due to family holidays during term time;

Ÿ  Having highlighted the need for parental participation when tackling the problem of persistent absenteeism, the Board noted that the approach taken needed to place an emphasis upon personalisation and intervention;

Ÿ  Members made reference to the need for the appropriate curriculum to be delivered, in order to keep young people in attendance at school. In response, the Board learned that a curriculum was being developed, particularly in relation to Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3, which would be delivered through an entitlement for all young people, and which would enable regular intervention to take place with individuals, whenever it was required.

General Observations

Ÿ  In response to Members’ comments regarding the decline in secondary school performance against the national minimum ‘floor targets’ for Key Stage 3, the Board was advised that although such results did reflect the national trend, a more unified and less subject based approach was being taken to address this issue;

Ÿ  The Board learned that the ‘Payment for Skills’ programme aimed to recruit a greater number of foster parents in Leeds;

Ÿ  In response to Members’ enquiries, the Board was advised of the intention to continue to increase the provision of work based learning in Leeds;

Ÿ  Members discussed the impact that a possible increase in the number of academies in Leeds could have in relation to school term times;

Ÿ  Following Members’ enquiries, the Board learned of some of the actions which were being taken to engage with and address the needs not only of the children and young people of Leeds, but also their families and the wider community.

RESOLVED -

(a). That the report and information appended to the report be noted;

(b). That the information requested by the Board be forwarded to Members for consideration.

(Councillor Lancaster declared a personal interest in relation to this item, due to her respective positions as Governor of the North West Specialist Inclusive Learning Centre (SILC) and Governor of Carr Manor High School)

(Mrs S Knights declared a personal interest in relation to this item, due to being a foster parent)