Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director of Children and Families which summarises the work undertaken to ensure the council’s statutory duty to provide sufficient learning places is being met. The report also outlines the challenges to overcome in the future.

The Director of Children and Families submitted a report which summarised the work undertaken to ensure the Council’s statutory duty to provide sufficient learning places is met. The report also outlined the challenges to overcome in the future.

The following information was appended to the report:

-  Harehills Situation

-  Secondary 2018 Allocations

-  Leeds Childcare Sufficiency Assessment 2018-2019

-  Reception Allocations for September 2018 – minute 88 refers

-  Roundhay Primary Places

The following were in attendance:

-  Steve Walker, Director of Children and Families

-  Councillor Lisa Mulherin, Executive Board Member for Children and Families

-  Andrew Eastwood, Chief Officer for Learning Improvement

-  Viv Buckland, Head of Learning Systems

-  Richard Amos, Partnership Team Senior Manager

-  Rebecca McCormack, Lead for Admissions and Family Information

In introducing the report, the Head of Learning Systems outlined the significant increase in birth rate for the city since 2010 and the complexity of predicting future school places.

The key areas of discussion were:

·  The requirement for the local authority to provide sufficient school places not to fulfil parental preferences.

·  The prevalence of renting properties to gain a place at a preferred school, and then vacating the property. Members were concerned that this may disadvantage families who live in the area. Officers confirmed that they were aware of the problem, and have a number of strategies in place to investigate suspected cases, which can lead to withdrawal of school places.

·  The impact of children from the same family attending a number of different schools, particularly on working parents who rely on public transport. Officers confirmed that the sibling rule exists to ensure children from the same family attend the same school, but unfortunately cannot always be applied, particularly when families move in year.

·  Members sought clarification of the long term approach to providing adequate school places in the Roundhay and Harehills areas. Officers explained the process as a partnership through consultation with housing and health colleagues, along with birth rate and migration analysis. The Board resolved to propose a working group in the next municipal year which would focus on areas with significant and growing pressures for school places.

·  The lack of control over academy and free school place allocations as these admitting authorities are not under the control of the council, and the challenges this presents when school places are urgently required.

·  Members sought clarification around the circumstances in which school places are automatically allocated, and the potential for those families to be given priority for desired schools via school waiting lists. Officers explained that the five preferences that parents provide do not always include the nearest school, and can often be influenced by current popularity of schools. The Board were also informed that the School Admissions Code sets out that those who are automatically allocated schools cannot be treated favourably, in terms of school waiting lists.

·  The lack of available land to build permanent school provision, and the prevalence of this issue both locally and nationally. Members were informed of ongoing conversations regarding transfers of assets from other government organisations. The Board agreed to write to the Local Government Association (LGA) to highlight the necessity for government owned land, such as NHS land, to be utilised for school provision in areas where places are needed.

·  Take-up of funded Early Years provision across the city. Members were informed that funded places are more commonly utilised by working parents seeking childcare, and of the challenges of engaging non-working parents.

·  Modelling of school catchment areas. The Board requested information on future developments in this area as it evolves.

·  The advice provided to parents around choosing their five preferable schools. Members were assured that parents are encouraged to preference their closest school, and are provided with the likelihood of gaining a place at that school. The Board requested the ‘invitation to apply’ letter to be circulated to all Members.

RESOLVED -

a)  That a letter be written to the LGA on behalf of the Board,

b)  That consideration be made by the Scrutiny Board (Children and Families) to undertake a working group in the next municipal year which will focus on areas with significant and growing pressures for school places.

c)  That the information requested be circulated to the Board.

d)  That the contents of the report and comments made during discussion, be noted.