Agenda and minutes

The Minutes of the meeting held on 7^th September 2009 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

            RESOLVED: That the Minutes be noted.

It was noted that no public questions had been received.

(NB: Councillor Stockton declared a personal interest in the following item of business due to being a Governor at the Grange School).

            The Board considered a report which contained the Minutes relating to the Children and Young People Portfolio which had been considered by the Executive Board and Executive Board Sub-Committee since the last meeting.

            RESOLVED: That the Minutes be noted.

            The Board received the Minutes of the Halton Children’s Trusts Specialist Strategic Partnership held on 8^th September 2009.

            RESOLVED: That the Minutes be noted.

            The Board received a report of the Strategic Director, Children and Young People which reported on 2009 performance data for Foundation Stage Profile and Key Stages 1 – 5.

            The Board received a presentation from Judith Kirk, Operational Director – Universal Learning Services and Paul Greenall, SIP Manager which set out:

• the Foundation Stage Profile;
• key stage 1 assessments;
• key stage 2 assessments;
• key stage 3 assessments;
• key stage 4 assessments;
• key stage 5 assessments;
• the implications of these results;
• the actions being undertaken in relation to these results;
• priorities at Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4 and overall;
• special School priorities; and
• overall achievement.

Arising from Members’ comments and questions the following was noted:

·        that there was an important role for parents to play in educating their children and the initiatives that were in place to support this;

·        how the inclusion agenda was progressing and the support being received from schools and parents; and

·        that there was a need for more early intervention and one-to-one work as it was felt that not enough children were being reached at present.

            RESOLVED: That the attainment and achievement of young people in Halton Schools for 2008-09 Academic Year be noted.

(NB: Councillor Loftus declared a personal interest in the following item of business due to being an employee of Riverside College).

            The Board received a report of the Strategic Director, Children and Young People, which reported on progress towards meeting the 2013 entitlement including Local Authority new responsibilities for post 16 provision from 2010.

            The Board received a presentation from Simon Clough, 14-19 Strategy Manager, on planning for entitlement on the 2^nd November. In 2013 the Local Authority (LA) would have a statutory duty to provide a comprehensive curriculum and entitlement to 14-19 year old Halton residents. Schools would also have a statutory duty to secure their Key Stage Four (KS4) students access to the first 14 diploma lines. If provision was not available in Halton, the Council would be obliged to promote and enable access to provision out of borough.

            The transfer of responsibility for 16-19 provision to local authorities was an essential element of the Government’s long-term strategy and placed all 0-19 commissioning under the leadership of local authorities enabling local decision-making. In 2013, all young people aged 17 would be required by law to remain in education and training, this would rise to age 18 in 2015.

            The presentation set out:

• Self-assessment toolkit in 14 – 19 partnerships;
• The journey so far;
• First Class Learning;
• World  Class opportunities;
• The 14 – 19 Education Plan;
• Partner Agencies involvement;
• How Commissioning would operate;
• Priorities for post 16 education;
• New Pathways;
• A Model for Delivery; and
• Curriculum Planning.

                        Arising from Members’ comments and questions the following points were noted:

• in relation to how financial systems would operate with multi-site learning taking place, it was noted that an hourly rate would be applied to courses and would follow the learner;
• that there were concerns regarding transportation difficulties, which could inhibit some pupils accessing courses at different sites. The Board was advised that work was still ongoing on how transport would be provided;
• that there were currently 70 expressions of interest from the construction industry alone in support of diplomas; and
• accountability for the services provided for 14-19 education would fall within the Local Authorities remit.

            RESOLVED: That the LA New Responsibilities for Planning and Commissioning of 14 – 19 Provision to meet the 2013 entitlement be noted.

            The Board received a report of the Strategic Director, Children and Young People which provided the Quarter 2 Children’s Trust Report Card. The card was circulated to the Board and gave details of the performance for the Quarter 2 period, 1^st July 2009 to the 30^th September 2009.

      Arising from Members’ comments and questions the following was noted:

·              that there was a lack of breast feeding facilities in public areas and the impact this could be having on breast feeding rates in the Borough; and

·              complaints being received about the lack of notifications for immunisations and it was agreed that this would be fed back to the service development partnership;

It was noted that Councillor Dennett would contact Members of the Board in the near future in relation to topic group representation.

It was further noted that the performance report for Quarter 2 would be submitted to the next scheduled meeting of the Board.

            RESOLVED: That the progress against the priorities set out in the Children and Young People Plan through the Quarter 2 Children’s Trust Report Card be noted.   

Question and Answer Session with Councillor McInerney, Portfolio holder for Children and Young People.

   The Chairman of the Board, Councillor Dennett welcomed Councillor McInerney, the Portfolio Holder – Children and Young People to the meeting and invited Members to take part in a question and answer session with the portfolio holder.

Councillor McInerney highlighted some of the excellent achievements and activities that had taken place within the Children and Young People’s Directorate during the last twelve months. He gave the Board Members a verbal update on the following service areas:-

·        the BSF programme;

·        the Fostering and Adoption service;

·        educational attainment;

·        the transfer of post 16 education to the authority;

·        improvements to children’s disability services;

·        the launch of the Children in Care council;

·        primary re-organisation;

·        recent OfSted results and the implications of these;

Councillor McInerney also highlighted that the Council was continuing to face financial difficulties and the work being undertaken to ensure that there would be minimum disruption to front line services.

It was noted that a report on increasing fees for fostering and adoption services would be considered by the Executive Board on 5 November and the Board expressed its support to the increase.

RESOLVED: That

(1)       the update be received; and

(2)       the Executive Board be informed of the Board’s support for Placement Strategy for Children in Care report.

            RESOLVED: That the item be deferred to the next meeting of the Board.