Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Children, Young People and Learning Overview and Scrutiny Panel held on 18 January 2012. 

Information sought by the Panel at its last meeting has been circulated electronically and is appended to the minutes.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 18 January 2012 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interest and the nature of that interest, including the existence and nature of the party whip, in respect of any matter to be considered at this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest relating to any items on the agenda, nor any indications that members would be participating whilst under the party whip.

Any other items, which pursuant to Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chairman decides are urgent.

There were no urgent items of business.

To receive submissions from members of the public which have been submitted in advance in accordance with the Council’s Public Participation Scheme for Overview and Scrutiny.

No submissions from members of the public submitted under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme for Overview and Scrutiny had been received.

The minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2012 are to follow.

The Panel noted the minutes of the Corporate Parenting Advisory Panel held on
7 March 2012.

The Chairman suggested that if Members had any questions arising from these minutes they should e-mail the officer concerned or the Advisory Panel Chairman, Councillor Mrs McCracken.

To consider the latest trends, priorities and pressures in terms of departmental performance as reported in the QSR for the third quarter of 2011/12 (October to December) relating to Children, Young People and Learning.

Please bring the previously circulated Quarterly Service Report to the meeting.  Copies are available on request and attached to this agenda if viewed online.

The Panel noted the Quarterly Service Report (QSR) and progress against Service Plan actions for the third quarter of 2011/2012 (October to December).  It was customary to focus on a theme from the QSR and as there was to be a presentation on young people not in education, employment or training the Director advised that she did not intend to go through the report.

Members were asked to e-mail any specific questions to the officers.

To receive a presentation in respect of training and interventions to assist young people who are NEET.

Steve Lambert, Learning, Development and Commissioning Manager, gave a presentation on young people not in education, employment or training (NEET).  He particularly highlighted:

• The rules around NEET had changed and the Department for Education collected data differently to two years ago.
• It was acknowledged that post 16 education was not appropriate for everyone.
• NEET was at 6.1% in 2010/2011, and 5.1% in January 2012.  The group was not a static population and the downturn of the economy had impacted on the group.
• There were 17 young people aged 16 who were NEET who were mostly longer term.  There were 45 young people aged 18 which was well below the national average.
• It would not be possible to eliminate NEET as some young people were not available for education, employment or training; i.e., teenage parents, those in custody or long term sick.
• All NEET young people were Red, Amber or Green rated against a criteria.  Green was those with level 1+ qualifications who were employment/training ready.  Amber was those with Entry Level/level 1 qualification who were not employment ready.  Red was those with no formal qualification and with multiple barriers to employment/education.
• A multi-agency Participation Group reviewed the needs of young people on an individual needs basis.  It also considered those at risk of becoming NEET.
• A Transition Co-ordinator engaged with schools.
• In addition to mainstream provision, there was alternative provision by Foundation Learning Providers.
• There were currently eight or nine young people on the Work Pairing Programme.  Bracknell Forest was one of only two south east local authorities offering such a programme.

Arising from questions:

• It was hoped that the Work Pairing Programme may be extended to other organisations including Town and Parish Councils.
• Less young people were dropping out of sixth form and college as work was done to re-engage them in their areas of study.
• The Chairman spoke of a local business that had been unable to recruit enough apprentices.  She would pass the details to the officers.
• Next week apprenticeship events would be held in collaboration with Bracknell & Wokingham College.

Councillor Dr Barnard advised the Panel that Bracknell Forest was in quite a good position as it knew where the NEETS were, which was very important.

The Chairman thanked Steve for a very interesting presentation.

To receive an update regarding EAL work following the review of EAL previously undertaken by a working group of this Panel.

Kashif Nawaz, EAL and Diversity Team Leader, presented the update report on English as an additional language, following the review by a working group of the Panel, the recommendations of which were agreed by the Panel in 2009. 

The Panel noted the report, particularly:

• The progress and positive developments across Key Stages 2 to 4.
• The increase in the number of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) pupils and those speaking English as an additional language who attended Bracknell Forest schools, the impact of which was an increase in the number of referrals to the team.
• An increased number of schools placed emphasis on celebrating diversity and using it as an opportunity to develop links across the curriculum.  Diversity days were held and a cultural calendar had been developed.  Members were invited to visit the Education Centre at Easthampstead Park Mansion to view the display by transition students at Sandhurst School.
• The creation of an EAL Ambassadors programme in partnership with the Extended Services team.
• The Welcome to Bracknell Forest booklet had been translated into a number of different languages, reflecting the needs of communities.
• The continued improvement of achievement of BME pupils in end of key stage tests and examinations.
• Schools had been prepared for growing changes, including the need to prepare an Equality Plan. 
• No marginalisation of pupils was referred to in Ofsted inspection reports.

Arising from questions, support given by the team included:

·         An initial assessment followed by recommendations to the school, the family and the pupil. 

·         Translation services or interpreters.

·         Help with admissions interviews, benefit claims, attendance at parents’ evenings, college applications.

·         Activities to develop language skills.

The Chairman thanked the officers for a very interesting report.

To consider the attached draft Prevention and Early Intervention Strategy.

The draft Prevention and Early Intervention Strategy for Children, Young People and Families in Bracknell Forest 2012 – 2014 was presented, to give the Panel the opportunity to contribute to the draft strategy prior to its adoption by the Executive.

The strategy sat under the Council’s overarching approach designed to demonstrate the commitment of the Council to ensuring prevention and early intervention were central to planning and to ensuring the best possible outcomes for people living in the borough.

The strategy document identified that prevention and early intervention was already strongly developed within the Council’s systems and structures and was a key underpinning priority in the Children and Young People’s Plan.  A range of national and local drivers had been identified and was supported by research and evidence.  Many of the elements of the framework for prevention and early intervention were already in place and would be strengthened.

The Panel noted the challenges around demonstrating the impact and measuring success as it was recognised that this took place over a period of time.  Methods to measure success had been identified.  Commissioning plans would enable a clear focus on the delivery of a range of key services to support prevention and early intervention and to embed this within the routine delivery of services to children, young people and families.

Councillor Dr Barnard, Executive Member for Children, Young People  and Learning, invited members to submit their thoughts and views on this important subject.

Arising in discussion:

• A suggestion to make a DVD to help parents to access services available to them.  The Panel noted that a DVD of material from teenage parents was used in schools.
• Trend data concerning key outcomes for Children, Young People and Learning was a measure of success and would be circulated to the Panel when compiled.
• The latest version of the needs analysis would be available soon and would be circulated to the Panel.
• Bracknell Forest was improving at identifying at an earlier stage families who were struggling.
• Assessing performance was not carried out in isolation.  Comparisons could be made with similar authorities with similar demographics.

To consider the attached report of the review of the Bracknell Forest Youth Service.

Paul Crawte, Youth Service Manager, presented the report on the Bracknell Forest Youth Service Quality Review undertaken by an external consultant.   The review found that:

• The quality of youth work was good overall.
• The curriculum provided a good range of activities.
• The service had a well established suite of quality assurance arrangements that enabled it to make accurate assessments of the overall quality of youth work.
• The service exceeded targets for reach, participation and recorded outcomes but had yet to achieve the target for accredited learning and had insufficient focus on promoting equality and diversity in youth work programmes.

Areas for development included taking action to:

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• Enable more young people to evaluate their learning and apply it to other areas of their lives.
• Ensure that all centres engaged young people in personal and social development.
• Identify strategies to ensure that youth work was provided in locations and settings that were accessible to young people living in areas where needs were greatest.
• Address issues of equality and diversity in youth work programmes.
• Gather accurate data on ethnicity and use it to analyse the service’s performance.

In response to a question, the officers would advise whether the Youth Bus still visited Birch Hill.

The Panel expressed their congratulations and thanks to the Youth Service team for their efforts.  Particular reference was made to the work at Great Hollands and Harmans Water (The Wayz).  

Councillor Dr Barnard wished to place on record thanks for the good work undertaken by the Youth Service.  The review would help to forge youth provision in the town centre.  He particularly referred to a recent visit to TRAX in North Ascot.

An information report explaining the role and work of the Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board is attached.

The Panel noted the report of the Director of Adult Social Care, Health and Housing explaining the role and work of the Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board. 

To consider the Executive’s response to the report of the review of the Common Assessment Framework undertaken by a working group of this Panel.

The Panel considered the Executive’s response to the report of the review of the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) undertaken by a working group of the Panel.

The Panel noted the Executive’s responses, particularly:

• The majority of the recommendations had been agreed in full.
• Recommendation 3 was partly agreed.  An internal review of the CAF had been undertaken and involved meeting with a number of schools to determine their views.  Feedback had been positive.  A report on the review would be brought to the Panel.  The Executive Member thought there had been a misunderstanding of the laws of responsibility and would bring up with Head Teachers the CAF and other processes.
• Recommendation 4 was agreed but should be considered within the context of the legal framework for sharing information lawfully.  The current information sharing protocol would be reviewed and a protocol would be developed to support information sharing to assist the transfer of children between schools.

To receive a verbal update in respect of the Panel’s working groups.

The Panel noted that the Working Group to review school governance had not yet met.  The review would commence at the conclusion of some of the current working groups.

To note the Bi-Annual Progress Report of the Assistant Chief Executive.

The Panel noted the Bi-Annual Progress Report of the Assistant Chief Executive.

To consider forthcoming items on the Executive Forward Plan relating to Children, Young People and Learning.

The Panel noted the forthcoming items relating to Children, Young People and Learning on the Executive Forward Plan.