Agenda item

To receive a report from the Director of Children and Families presenting an update on the ongoing progress made by Children and Families Services, working with partners and communities, in response to the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic.

The Director of Children and Families submitted a report that presented an update on the ongoing progress made by Children and Families Services, working with partners and communities, in response to the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic.

The following information was appended to the report:

-  Early Years and Childcare Data

-  New advice for children and young people who have been shielding

The following were in attendance:

-  Cllr Jonathan Pryor, Executive Member for Learning, Skills and Employment

-  Cllr Fiona Venner, Executive Member for Children and Families

-  Sal Tariq, Director of Children and Families

-  Julie Longworth, Deputy Director of Children and Families

-  Sue Rumbold, Chief Officer, Partnerships and Health

-  Val Waite, Head of Service Learning Inclusion

-  Dave Clark, Head of Service Learning Improvement

The Executive Member for Children and Families introduced the report, noting the exceptional efforts of social care teams, childcare providers and youth workers throughout the pandemic. Members were also advised that in recent months the Council has received a significant increase in foster carer applications, a capacity increase that will support the anticipated increase of children looked after due to a number of confirmed additional placements for unaccompanied asylum seeker children in Leeds.

The Executive Member for Learning, Skills and Employment also noted his thanks to the support provided to children and families in a range of settings throughout the pandemic, particularly praising the efforts of school staff to prepare over the summer for the full reopening of schools at the beginning of the academic year. The Director of Children and Families advised that some phased reopening had been necessary due to positive COVID-19 cases, but confirmed that all schools will reopen fully on the week commencing 14^th September 2020.

Members discussed a number of matters, including:

·  Attendance monitoring. In response to a query, Members were advised that local arrangements have been put in place to monitor attendance across school settings in Leeds, which, along with the Governments’ centralised system, will produce a clear data set and understanding. This information will be provided at the next meeting of the Board.

·  Shielded cohorts. Members sought clarity in relation to shielded groups, whether they are being encouraged to return to school, or if not appropriate, the home learning packages made available to them. Members were advised that children who have health conditions that make them more vulnerable if they were to contract COVID-19, or have a family member who is shielding, are all assessed on an individual basis by a paediatrician and their GP and providing that their needs can be met and are considered as part of a risk assessment, many have been encouraged to return to school this September. Additionally, members of staff in schools who are part of a shielded cohort are able to return to school upon the completion of a comprehensive risk assessment.

·  Maintaining ‘bubbles’ in school transport for SILCs. Members sought clarity on whether a ‘bubble’ is able to be maintained when transporting pupils to and from school. Members were advised that maintaining pupil ‘bubbles’ in their journey’s to and from school remains a challenge, but provided assurance that in the few cases where this is not possible, social distancing measures and PPE are used.

·  Electronic equipment for home learning. In response to a query, Members were advised that over 1200 donated and refurbished laptops have been delivered by social workers to families in need for home learning as part of a national scheme.

·  Increased demand for mental health services. Members noted the expected increase in referrals for child and adolescent mental health services, and sought assurance that services are prepared for the rise. Members were advised that services provide information and resources online and to schools to support their learners, adapted to reflect the experiences of children throughout the pandemic, through programmes such as MindMate. It was also confirmed that notification had been received of a successful wellbeing return grant bid £96,277, which will be used to support the multi-agency working groups set up to build capacity within clusters, schools, early help hubs to build resilient communities, with a particular focus on training and upskilling staff to provide mental health support.

The Chair explained that the Board will be focusing its attention on the recovery planning of schools during its next meeting.  Other suggested areas of priority for the Board to focus on included the implications and impact of Covid-19 on the Leeds Child Poverty Strategy and on the demand for mental health services for young people. 

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report and appendices, along with Members comments, be noted.

Councillor C Gruen left the meeting at 11:30 a.m. during discussion of this item.