Agenda item

To consider the latest trends, priorities and pressures in terms of departmental performance as reported in the Quarterly Service Report for the first quarter of 2017/18 (Aril to June 2017) relating to Children, Young People and Learning, giving particular attention to exclusion levels over the past year, numbers of children looked after, in need and subject to protection plans, and foster placements and movements.

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

The Panel considered the latest trends, priorities and pressures in terms of departmental performance as reported in the QSR for the first quarter of 2017/18 (April to June 2017) relating to Children, Young People and Learning.

The Chief Officer: Children’s Social Care gave a presentation concerning children in need, looked after and subject to child protection plans.  Data indicated that although the numbers of all of these children had increased prior to June 2017, numbers were beginning to reduce since then with the exception of children in care.  There were currently 650 children in need, 142 children looked after and 143 children subject to protection plans.  The increase in the latter number earlier in the year had reduced possibly because some children had been placed in care.  Ward data showed where the greatest number of children on child protection plans or looked after were located.  In terms of placement types, although the number of children looked after (CLA) in residential care had increased owing to complex needs and high risk, the majority were placed in Bracknell Forest foster care.  More foster carers were sought owing to the increase in the number of children in care.  Placement stability for children in care for two and a half years in the same placement for two years had increased.  Situations of three or more placements in a year were tightly monitored and subject to change during the year with performance less strong by 2% than it was at this time last year.  The presentation included information and case studies to explain the reasons for the placement moves.

The following points arose from questions and discussion:

·                     There were many care places outside Bracknell Forest and if foster carers relocated to another Borough it was likely that their fostered children would move with them.  There were no residential care facilities in Bracknell Forest with the exception of Larchwood, a short breaks unit for children with disabilities.

·                     Ofsted inspections were based on current practice and did not take account of future housing and population predictions.

·                     There were currently no Bracknell Forest children in secure residential accommodation.  The amount in other types of residential accommodation totalled 24, a number of whom were children with disabilities.

·                     There was a mixture of individual children and those from large families in care.

·                     Owing to the relatively small number of CLA in Bracknell Forest, a modest increase led to a large percentage change.  The increase locally was a trend reflected in benchmarking against statistical neighbours and local authorities in the south east and nationally.  The reasons for children becoming looked after included neglect, domestic abuse, mental health and substance misuse and the age ranged from birth to teenagers.

·                     Fluctuations in the number of CLA had an impact on resources and the step up to and step down from child protection would be addressed in the Gateway Review.

Data was circulated at the meeting which provided the rates of local permanent primary and secondary exclusions in 2016/17 and fixed term exclusions over a three year period from 2014/15 to 2016/17 at primary and secondary levels compared to the national trend.

The number and rates of both types of exclusion increased nationally in 2015/16 (latest published national data) and a recent Freedom of Information request had suggested that this had continued exponentially in 2016/17.  In Bracknell Forest the number of permanent primary exclusions had remained static and well below the national average.  Although there had been an increase in the level of permanent exclusions at the secondary phase, this also remained below the national average.  Whilst the Pupil Referral Unit was well below the national average for permanent exclusion, it was above for fixed term exclusion and Kennel Lane Special School was below the national average for both types of exclusion.  One possible reason for the increase in exclusions was the updating of statutory guidance to provide head teachers with increased confidence in their use of exclusion as a disciplinary measure and to provide greater clarity to independent review panels and governing bodies on their consideration of exclusion decisions.

The following points arose from questions and discussion:

·                     The data indicated the causes of exclusions and it was acknowledged that there was usually more than one reason for an exclusion.

·                     Concern was expressed at the level of primary fixed term exclusions as approximately 20% of the Borough’s schools had exclusion levels above the national average and overall above statistical neighbours.

·                     There were two methods of obtaining exclusion data, one was through schools’ termly returns and the other was via the school census, both of which were utilised by Bracknell Forest.  The Council usually became aware of an incident leading to an exclusion at an early stage as head teachers tended to make contact seeking support and information concerning the process.  The Council would not advise a school whether or not to exclude.

Children would rarely be excluded more than once, unless they had significant behavioural issues, and their school career was unlikely to be adversely affected if their re-integration was successful.