Agenda item

(a)  To hear from the Director of Children’s Services and Executive Board Member with portfolio responsibility for Children’s Services on current issues, and to ask questions;

(b)  To consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development providing information to assist the Board to develop its work programme for 2009/10.

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development provided information and guidance to assist the Board to develop its Work Programme for 2009/10.

Relevant information from the following key sources was attached to the report to assist Members:

• Leeds Strategic Plan 2008 to 2011 – Executive Summary
• Building Brighter Futures: The Leeds Children and Young People’s Plan 2009-14 – immediate priorities and long term ambitions
• List of scrutiny work undertaken in the past 5 years

The Chair welcomed the following to the meeting to contribute to the discussion about the Board’s Work Programme:

• Councillor Stuart Golton – Executive Member for Children’s Services
• Councillor Richard Harker – Executive Member for Learning
• Rosemary Archer – Director of Children’s Services
• Chris Edwards – Chief Executive, Education Leeds

The following issues were highlighted as potential areas for scrutiny:

·  Ongoing focus on safeguarding – including domestic violence

·  Launch of the new Children and Young People’s Plan

·  Changes in the way 14-19 services are provided

·  The number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET)

·  New policy framework for schools – 21^st century schools

·  Young people’s priority around places to go and things to do

·  Aiming High for Disabled Children

·  Children’s Trust Arrangements – further guidance from Government has been deferred for a year

·  The impact of population growth on Schools and other Children’s Services.

·  National Year of Volunteering – how to involve and recruit young people.

·  The Rose Review of the primary curriculum– including the recommendation that children started school in the term after their 4^th birthday

·  Replacement of the Learning and Skills Council – complex issues at regional and sub regional level, transfer of responsibilities to the Council

·  Anticipated reductions in funding for education over the next ten years.

·  Community use of school grounds and buildings.

·  Locality working and the need to ensure services are fit for local needs.

·  Post 16 education for young people with special educational needs.

In response to Members’ comments and questions, the following issues were discussed:

• Additional tuition entitlement for low achievers and any potential detrimental effect on routine class teaching – it was not envisaged that additional teaching for low achievers would create a problem.
• Safer schools – how to change the way that communities engaged with schools and how the police could be involved in learning.
• How to assist those not in education, employment or training (NEETs).  It was suggested that a representative of Prospects be invited to a future meeting to discuss this.
• Personal, Health and Social Education (PHSE) – issues surrounding the provision of sex and relationships education and different levels of teaching across schools.  Related issues included teenage conception rates.
• Improving attendance.
• The impact of different models of school organisation including trusts, federations and academies.
• Sharing of best practice between schools.

RESOLVED – That the information presented with the report and discussion with those present be used towards the development of the Board’s Work Programme.

(Councillor Driver declared an interest in this item as a prospective governor at the College of Building. Councillor Renshaw declared an interest in this item as a governor at Seven Hill Primary, East Ardsley Primary and Rodillian High Schools. Councillor Lancaster declared an interest in this item in relation to her roles as governor at Carr Manor High School and member of the West Yorkshire Police Authority.)