Agenda item

To consider a report of the Director of Children’s Services updating the meeting on Children’s Services developments.

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report updating the meeting on Children’s Services developments.

The report provided a summary of performance at Area Committee level with a broader summary of city level performance and built on previous reports with additional local context and tracking of local indicators.

The following representatives were in attendance and responded to Members’ queries and comments:-

-  Nigel Richardson, Director of Children’s Services

-  Gillian Mayfield, Targeted Services Area Lead (ENE), Children’s Services

Appended to the report were copies of the following documents for the information/comment of the meeting:-

·  Performance Data for Inner North East Area Committee (Appendix 1 refers)

·  Individual School Foundation Stage and Key Stage results 2012 (Appendix 2 refers)

·  Individual School Key Stage 4 Results 2012 (Appendix 3 refers)

·  Clusters – Member Leads; Cluster Chairs; Cluster Managers; LAPs

  (Appendix 4 refers)

In his presentation, the Director of Children’s Services circulated a case study summary in relation to working with families to:-

-  Improve school attendance

-  Reduce the need for children to be looked after

-  Reducing the need for children to be on child protection plan

Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report and appendices.

In summary, specific reference was made to the following issues:-

·  Clarification of the statistical data in relation to the whereabouts of children in care

(The Director of Children’s Services responded and outlined the national data in respect of those vulnerable groups)

·  Clarification of the measures in place in relation to pressures on school places, especially within the Roundhay and Moortown wards

(The Director of Children’s Services responded and outlined the latest measures. He acknowledged the importance of this issue and confirmed that progress was being made in this area)

·  Clarification as to why there was only one ward representative on the Networks Cluster

(The Director of Children’s Services responded and agreed to investigate this issue further with a report back to the East North East Area Leader)

·  Clarification of the number of children subject to a child protection order in December

·  Clarification of how the bedroom tax and welfare reforms would impact on families bringing up children

·  Clarification of the current issues regarding the exploitation of children in care in the Inner North East area

·  The need to acknowledge the importance of role of the families and to challenge narrowing the gap when addressing the wellbeing of children

·  Clarification of the future of the North East Learning Centre

(The Director of Children’s Services responded and agreed to investigate this issue further with a report back to the East North East Area Leader)

·  Clarification of the exclusion provision identified in the case summary

·  Clarification of the funding, support and help in place to support parents

·  To congratulate Children’s Services on the excellent results achieved in maths and English in primary schools and on school attendance

RESOLVED-

a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

b)  That this Committee welcomes the continued progress in relation to Children’s Services issues and encourages a sustainable direction with links into other agencies.