Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Easthampstead House, Town Square, Bracknell, RG12 1AQ

Contact: Derek Morgan  01344 352044

Items
No. Item

19.

Substitute Members

To receive apologies for absence and to note the attendance of any substitute members.

Minutes:

The Panel noted the attendance of the following substitute Member:

 

Councillor Thompson for Councillor Kensall

 

20.

Minutes and Matters Arising pdf icon PDF 81 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Children, Young People and Learning Overview and Scrutiny Panel held on 11 June 2014.

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 11 June 2014 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

 

21.

Declarations of Interest and Party Whip

Members are requested to declare any disclosable pecuniary or affected interest, including the existence and nature of the Party Whip, in respect of any matter to be considered at this meeting.

 

Any Member with a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest or an affected interest in a matter should withdraw from the meeting when the matter is under consideration and should notify the Democratic Services Officer in attendance that they are withdrawing as they have such an interest. If the Disclosable Pecuniary Interest is not entered on the register of Members interests the Monitoring Officer must be notified of the interest within 28 days.

 

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest or any indications that Members would be participating under the party whip.

 

22.

Urgent Items of Business

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

Minutes:

There were no urgent items of business.

23.

Public Participation

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.

Minutes:

No submissions had been made by members of the public under the Council's Public Participation Scheme for Overview and Scrutiny.

24.

Corporate Parenting Advisory Panel pdf icon PDF 77 KB

To receive the minutes of the last meeting of the above Panel held on 25 June 2014

Minutes:

The Panel received the minutes of the Corporate Parenting Advisory Panel held on 25 June 2014.

 

In response to a Member's question it was reported that there were no known problems at present with delays in Disclosure and Barring Service checks for foster carers.

25.

Performance Monitoring Report pdf icon PDF 389 KB

To consider the latest trends, priorities and pressures in terms of departmental performance as reported in the QSR for the first quarter of 2014/15 (April to June 2014) relating to Children, Young People and Learning, giving particular attention to outcomes of Ofsted school inspections, Family Focus and school place allocations.

 

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

 

Panel members are asked to give advance notice to the Overview and Scrutiny Team of any questions relating to the QSR where possible.

Minutes:

The Panel received the Quarterly Service Report (QSR) for the first quarter of 2014/15 (April to June 2014) together with a series of presentations on aspects of the service.

 

Janette Karklins, Director of Children, Young People & Learning, gave a presentation detailing the major achievements during the first quarter and the ongoing work to continue development.

 

Karen Frost, Head of Prevention and Early Intervention, gave a presentation on support for "Troubled Families".

 

Following questions from the Panel, the meeting was advised that:

 

·                     The initiative was still being funded on the basis of outcomes.

·                     To date 57 out of 115 families (50%) had been turned around and that monitoring would continue to try to ensure that previous problems did not reoccur.

·                     Mental health was a significant factor in many troubled families and was a focus for the Family Intervention Team.

·                     The Team comprised approximately 8 full time equivalent staff and had been formed by bringing together officers from different Council services.

 

The Director gave a presentation on the allocation of school places and reported that the Borough used to operate with approximately 15% surplus school places. This had subsequently reduced to between 5 and 10% and was currently running at 3% despite the significant number of additional places created in recent years.

 

Following questions from the Panel, the meeting was advised that:

 

·                     The number of children moving out of the borough each year did not offset the large numbers moving in.

·                     Although there were detailed projections of future pupil numbers which took into account, amongst other things, birth rates and new housing developments, it was impossible to predict the number of school age children moving into the borough during the school year.

·                     Neighbouring boroughs were facing the same pressures on school places.

.

Christine McInnes, Chief Officer: Learning & Achievement reported that, during the first quarter, two schools had been inspected by Ofsted. New Scotland Hill had been rated good and Easthampstead Park had been rated as requiring improvement. There had also been an HMI monitoring visit to The Brakenhale School.

 

Some Members voiced concerns about Ofsted inspecting Easthampstead Park less than two years after the previous inspection and, prior to the publication of examination results which would have demonstrated significant improvement in performance in recent years. The Director reported that the Local Authority shared these concerns and had supported the Headteacher in making a formal complaint. The response was awaited. However it was important to note that, although the school continued to be rated as requiring improvement it was an improving school and its direction of travel was towards a good rating.

 

The Panel was also informed of the headline data for Early Years and Foundation, Key Stage 1 and 2. The results had not yet been validated and a detailed report would be submitted to a future meeting.

 

In response to questions on the QSR, the meeting was informed that:

 

·                     The Local Authority would continue to prosecute in respect of pupils' non-attendance at schools as results will not improve if  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

26.

Independent Reviewing Officer Service: Annual Report 2013/14 pdf icon PDF 66 KB

The 2013/14 Annual Report of the Independent Reviewing Officer Service is attached for consideration.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel considered the 2013/14 Annual Report of the Independent Reviewing Officer Service which performs a key role in assuring the quality of the local authority’s care planning for Looked After Children.

 

Following questions from the Panel, the meeting was advised that:

 

·                     A report would be submitted to the next meeting of the Health and Well-being Board regarding the level of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services support for Looked After Children.

·                     The number of children who chose not to participate in a review was very small.

 

The Panel noted the report.

27.

Bullying

A presentation in respect of actions being taken to reduce incidences of bullying will be given.

Minutes:

Mandy Wilton, Head of Targeted Services, gave a presentation on the anti-bullying work programme which included numerous anti-bullying themed school assemblies and workshops.

 

Following questions from the Panel, the meeting was advised that:

 

·                     Schools had good relationships with bus companies and would be made aware of any significant bullying on bus journeys. However no particular issues had been reported.

·                     A DVD of pupils' artwork produced for anti-bullying work had been distributed to all schools in the borough.

 

The Panel congratulated the team on the the amount of work undertaken to combat bullying.

28.

Common Assessment Framework (CAF) Annual Report 2013/14 pdf icon PDF 65 KB

To consider the Common Assessment Framework Annual Report 2013/14.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel considered the 2013/14 Annual Report of the Common Assessment Framework together with a presentation from Sandra Davies, Head of Performance Management and Governance, highlighting progress made over the year by the Framework and the Early Intervention Hub.

 

The Overview and Scrutiny review previously undertaken in respect of the Common Assessment Framework had proved useful and all recommendations from the review had been implemented.

 

The Panel requested that copies of a Child's View Sheet, the Neglect Guide for Practitioners and the revised threshold document be circulated.

 

In response to a Member's question, it was reported that, although the situation had improved, there were still sometimes problems regarding the identification of a lead professional and further work would be done on this matter.

 

The Panel noted the report.

29.

Pupil Premium Grant for Looked-After Children - Effective Use pdf icon PDF 58 KB

To receive an update in respect of the effective use of the Pupil Premium grant for Looked After Children.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel considered a report on the support provided to schools from the Virtual School to enhance the impact of the Pupil Premium Grant for Looked After Children.  The Panel welcomed the pupil case studies which summarised some of the opportunities for the creative use of the grant.

 

The Panel was informed that:

 

·                     The Virtual School used the pupil premium to provide opportunities for tailored and targeted support to meet the individual needs of the child.

·                     It was too early to see the full impact of the pupil premium. Further updates would be submitted to the Panel during the year.

 

The Panel noted the report.

30.

School Places Overview & Scrutiny Working Group Report - Executive Response pdf icon PDF 65 KB

To receive the Executive response to the report of the review of school places undertaken by a working group of this Panel.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel welcomed the positive response of the Executive to the report of the Overview and Scrutiny review of school places which accepted all of the recommendations in the report.  All those involved in the review were thanked for their contribution..

31.

Executive Key and Non-Key Decisions pdf icon PDF 47 KB

To consider scheduled Executive Key and Non-Key Decisions relating to Children, Young People and Learning.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel noted scheduled Executive Key and Non-Key Decisions relating to Children, Young People and Learning.

32.

Development Plan for Community Learning 2014-17 pdf icon PDF 53 KB

To note the Development Plan for Community Learning which has been approved by the Executive.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel noted the Development Plan for Community Learning and Skills 2014-17 which would be considered by Full Council on 17 September.

33.

Exclusion of Public and Press

Minutes:

RESOLVED that pursuant to Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, and having regard to the public interest, members of the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the consideration of the following item which involves the likely disclosure of exempt information under the following category of Schedule 12A of that Act:

 

(3)        Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority).

34.

Pan-Berkshire Shared Adoption Service

To note the establishment of a shared Adoption service with West Berkshire, Wokingham and the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead which has been approved by the Executive.

Minutes:

The Panel received a report proposing the establishment of a Pan-Berkshire Shared Adoption Service.

 

Following questions from the Panel, the meeting was advised that:

 

·                     In the event of a breakdown in the adoption process the authority in which the child was living would be responsible for his/her welfare. However Bracknell Forest has not had any breakdown for many years.

·                     Under a shared service, any employment of agency staff would be funded from the host Authority.

 

The Panel noted the report and supported the proposal.

35.

Date of Next Meeting

Minutes:

The next meeting of the Children, Young People and Learning Overview and Scrutiny Panel was to be held on 12 January 2015 at 7.30pm. A pre-meeting was to be held at 7 pm.

 

Contact Information

Democratic services

Email: committee@bracknell-forest.gov.uk