Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director of Children’s Services on the established city priorities contained within the Children and Young People’s Plan (CYPP), especially the obsessions. The report seeks consideration of whether there are any local priorities that should also be regularly highlighted, for example a focus on a particular aspect of one of the obsessions and recommends that the local lead member for Children’s Services works with the area head of targeted services to identify local priorities for the committee’s approval.

NEIAC considered the report of the Director of Children’s Services on the established city priorities contained within the Children and Young People’s Plan (CYPP). The report sought consideration of whether there were any local priorities that should also be regularly highlighted, and requested approval to the proposal for the Area Lead member for Children’s Services to work with the area head of targeted services to identify local priorities for the AC’s approval

Gillian Mayfield, Targeted Services Area Lead (ENE) and Paul Brennan, Deputy Director of Children's Services (Learning); attended the meeting to present the report. During discussions, the following matters were raised:

·  Whether there was a correlation between attendance figures and the number of fines for non-attendance levied. Members noted that analysis of the one full year’s figures would be available in September 2014

·  The figures for persistent absenteeism. Members noted that the statistics covered the Autumn/Winter 2012 period and that Children’s Services were seeking to ensure each school had a plan to address persistent absenteeism. The AC requested that Members receive the figures for their individual wards on a school by school basis

·  The possible causes for the reduction in take-up of free school meals

·  The readiness of schools in the locality for the universal provision of free school meals for reception and key stage 1 children from September 2015. Members queried whether take-up of the offer was mandatory and the approach to be taken by other authorities. Officers agreed to respond to Members directly with that information, once available

(Councillor Sobel withdrew from the meeting for a short while at this point)

The AC discussed the number of young people recorded as NEETs (Not in Employment, Education or Training) or “not known” and expressed concern that, although Children’s Services had focussed efforts to reduce the numbers, the figures for the NEIAC area had remained largely static. Discussion followed on whether there should be a re-focus of the approach in order to look towards providing outcomes for those young people, and Members noted the intention to report back to the October meeting following the establishment of the ENE Employment Skills and Young Sub Group

RESOLVED –

a)  To note the contents of the report and the discussions on whether additional local priorities may be required in addition to the Children’s Services obsessions

b)  To note the intention for the local Area Lead member for Children’s Services and the area Head of Targeted Services to agree local priorities identified for the area, which may include the following:

·  analysis of any correlation between attendance figures and fines for non-attendance issued

·  consideration of the focus of the approach to NEETs and those young people recorded as “not known”

c)  To note the intention to use the basic need workshops to provide local intelligence for consideration in school place planning, and  to instruct officers on improved methods of member engagement in school place planning;

d)  To note that the requested additional information will be supplied directly to Members in respect of up to date statistical trends; the approach of free school meals adopted by other authorities

e)  To note the intention to present information on the Families First initiative to the October 2015 meeting