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ITEM CH3
CHILDREN’S SERVCIES SCRUTINY committee
MINUTES of the meeting held on 13 May 2008 commencing at 10.00 am and finishing at 1.00 pm.
Present:
Voting Members: Councillor Ann Bonner - in the chair
Councillor Lynda Atkins Councillor Marilyn Badcock Councillor Nick Carter Councillor Mrs Anda Fitzgerald-O’Connor Councillor Jean Fooks Councillor Deborah Glass Woodin Councillor Sue Haffenden Councillor Pete Handley Councillor Ray Jelf (in place of Councillor Carol Viney) Councillor David Nimmo-Smith Councillor Val Smith Councillor David Turner
Mr Chris Bevan Mr Ben Jackson Ms Bernadine Spencer
Non-Voting Members: Mr Mark Forder (COTO)
Other Members in Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Families, Attendance: Councillor Louise Chapman and Cabinet Member for Schools improvement, Councillor Michael Waine.
By Invitation: Mrs Ruth Robinson, Principal, North Oxfordshire Academy – for Agenda Item 7.
Officers:
Whole of meeting: D. Miller (Corporate Core).
Part of meeting:
The Scrutiny Committee considered the matters, reports and recommendations contained or referred to in the agenda for the meeting, together with the following additional documents:
· a presentation on the North Oxfordshire Academy – Agenda Item 7 · a presentation on The New Children’s Plan – Agenda Item 9
and agreed as set out below. Copies of the agenda, reports and additional documents are attached to the signed Minutes.
79/08 ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN FOR THE CURRENT COUNCIL YEAR
RESOLVED: that Councillor Ann Bonner be elected Chairman of the Committee for the current Council Year.
80/08 ELECTION OF DEPUTY CHAIRMAN FOR THE CURRENT COUNCIL YEAR
RESOLVED: that Councillor Sue Haffenden be elected Deputy Chairman of the Committee for the current Council Year.
81/08 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND TEMPORARY APPOINTMENTS
Apologies for absence and temporary appointments were received as follows:
82/08 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Mr Ben Johnson declared a personal interest by virtue of being a member of CHOICE and by having a child who was young carer.
83/08 MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 26 February 2008 were approved and signed.
84/08 NORTH OXFORDSHIRE ACADEMY: PRESENTATION AND QUESTION & ANSWER (Agenda Item 7)
Councillor Haffenden had requested the opportunity for the Committee to receive a presentation on how the move to an Academy had gone so far in order to inform the Committee’s understanding of academies and what they had to offer, not least in the light of a second academy on the horizon (Peers Academy).
Accordingly, Mrs Ruth Robinson, the Principal of North Oxfordshire Academy had been invited to this meeting to enable the Committee to learn more about the Academy.
Mrs Robinson gave a short presentation to the Committee, a copy of which is attached to the signed minutes (download as .pdf file). The main points are summarised below;
· Strong leadership was put in place from the beginning.
· A vision was set for the Academy, developing a rich and challenging personalised curriculum.
· A strong staffing structure was put in place.
· Talked to teachers about students about what was expected of them in terms of behaviour.
· The continuous day was then implemented lunch and break times – no more than 200 of the 750 pupils had a break at any given time.
· Longer lessons were introduced.
· High expectations for the foundations of the School were introduced
- behaviour for learning - uniform - rules.
· Vocational courses were introduced with an alternative, curriculum for most challenging students.
· Strategy targets were set.
· Students were put into target groups.
· New up-to-date ICT was implemented.
· Training on lesson planning was introduced for teachers and new modules – with ongoing training for teachers.
· HMI Inspections were undertaken.
· Expectations of young people had changed and students were now proud of the academy.
The Committee then conducted a question and answer session. A selection of questions, together with responses, are listed below:
· Why couldn’t this turn around have been achieved by the Local Authority as a County School. What was it about being an Academy that made all the difference?
Good leadership and finance. A sum of money was needed to attract the best teachers. Local authorities salaries of Head Teachers would need to be raised to reflect the level of commitment needed to turn a failing school around. Also formula funding.
Councillor Waine added that there also had to be a realisation in the school community that something had to change. Indifference to standards in the local community could build up defences around the school. Academies had the ability to work differently, together with an infusion of money.
· Was there any extra support for children – what did the Academy provide? Were the children happy with all the control?
The Academy provided enhanced support through the behaviour for learning system. Children had expressed that they liked to know the rules and were much happier.
Councillor Waine commented that he had been shown around the new Academy by young people. The children were very open. Their view was that the rules gave them a great deal of security and enabled them to get on with learning.
· Why couldn’t the County have freedom of curriculum, Did the Academy really need a new building if it was performing so well in the old one and what was going to happen to the other schools in Banbury – was the Academy working with other schools?
The Academy was working with other schools in partnership to ‘up their game’ to ensure that local schools would attract local children.
The Academy was not having a new building but was being refurbished. It was important to let the children know that the Academy were investing in them.
· Why was the rebuilding of the Academy behind schedule – were there any lessons to be learnt?
Building works were behind schedule because the Academy was having a refurbishment and not a rebuild and this was the first time that an Academy was not a total rebuild. The Academy had lost the contractor half way through and had to re-let the contract. I don’t think there were lessons to be learnt, I think it was bad luck, but if anything could be learnt it would be to do everything you can to secure a contractor and then monitor them very carefully.
· Could you train other teachers at the Academy to spread the money put into the Academy and was there any protection in place to stop the Academy slipping back?
The Academy would have structuring in place to ensure that it does not slip back.
From September the Academy would take on student teachers who would go out and work in other schools in the County.
Following discussion, the Committee AGREED to thank Mrs Robinson for her informative presentation.
85/08 DRAFT SCRUTINY REVIEW REPORT: YOUNG (CHILD) CARERS (AND SUPPORT FOR THEM) (Agenda Item 8)
On 10 July 2007, this Committee had agreed as part of its work programme to undertake a review of ‘Young Carers’ and had appointed Councillors David Turner, Mrs Anda Fitzgerald O’Connor, Carol Viney and Mr Ben Jackson to the Lead member Review Group.
Having collected a wide variety of evidence, the Review Group presented its findings in a draft report for the Committee’s consideration.
Councillor Mrs Anda Fitzgerald-O’Conner and Councillor David Turner introduced the report.
They reported that the Review had set out to:
· identify how the County Council (and its partners) could empower young carers to approach the authority for help (there was a fear that they did not because conversely, they often thought that they might be taken into care). · achieve a change in understanding and perception around young carers. · identify the gaps between provision, need/demand and availability of services. · examine the social/economic/educational and health impacts of the issue.
The Review Group believed that the report presented to the Committee demonstrated that these aims had been achieved.
During the review a considerable amount of secondary research and analysis had taken place. Primary evidence gathering involved Member attendance at the Children’s Services Network Seminar on Young Carers and attendance at the Annual Oxfordshire Carers Forum on the 14 November. Members had also visited Gloucestershire Young Carers, the Oxford City and South & Vale Young Carers’ Projects – in the case of the South & Vale, to talk to young carers on the second visit; Hertfordshire Young Carers, the Children’s Society, the Oxfordshire PCT and met representatives of the North & West Oxon Project here at County Hall, as well as taking the opportunity to view a DVD produced by the Young Carers at the project.
There were still contracts and expert witnesses whom the Review Group would have liked to question. For instance, a visit to a school to get its perspective and to the North & West project later on during May. Nevertheless, this draft report structure had been compiled now and set out the key themes, areas of evidence and formative recommendations.
The Committee’s attention was drawn to recommendations 1 and 9 which had now been withdrawn from the report. An addendum to this effect had been circulated separately. The Committee’s comments and questions were welcomed.
Following debate, the Committee AGREED that the following changes should be made to the draft report:
RECOMMENDATIONS
The final report would be submitted to this Committee’s July meeting.
86/08 THE GOVERNMENT’S NEW CHILDREN’S PLAN: BUILDING BRIGHTER FUTURES (Agenda item 9)
This item has been included on the agenda at the request of Councillor Jean Fooks, to enable the Committee to question the Head of Commissioning, Strategy and Locality Development regarding the Government’s new Children’s Plan (Building Brighter Futures) in order to see whether there were any implications for the County Council.
Accordingly, Mr Mike Simm, Head of Commissioning Strategy and Locality Development had been invited to attend the meeting.
Mr Simm gave a short presentation to the Committee, a copy of which is attached to the signed minutes (download as .doc file). The main points are summarised below:
· It was always better to prevent failure than tackle a crisis later - key principal – we need to influence leaders.
· Parenting advisers were needed in every local authority – This was funded.
· Improve outreach from Sure Start Children’s Centres - there was evidence that Centres were very good at dealing with children who did attend but there was a need to focus on those who didn’t attend.
· Pilot key worker approach to most vulnerable families (Team around the Child) – the Council were developing a lead professional.
· Invest £90 million over three years to improve short break facilities for disabled children – Oxfordshire would receive a set amount of money during next year to achieve this.
· £225 million over three years to improve play facilities - Oxfordshire proved successful. Given £1 million to develop existing play areas for 8-13 year olds.
· Review of Child and Adolescent mental health services - seen as being well placed in Oxfordshire. PCAMHS shortlisted for another award.
· Need to strike the right balance between keeping children safe and allowing them the freedom they need - Can we protect children – need to access appropriate risks.
· Review the potential risk to children of harmful content on the internet and in video games - Parents need to be vigilant to protect children.
· Publish Staying Safe Action Plan – this brought together review of safeguarding children.
· Enhance workforce development £17 million over three years – Graduate leadership in early years settings by 2015 – Need to ensure that funding was in place to achieve this.
· Develop three new Diplomas in Science, Humanities and Languages – this was different from conventional GCSE A level course.
· Transfer funding fro 16-19 learning from the LSC to local authorities - process of consultation about how this is going to be achieved.
· Increase opportunities for Positive Activities (£160 million over three years) - requirement to have a positive activity offer to keep children out of trouble and give them an achievement.
· Publish Youth Crime Action Plan - awaiting.
· Have in place by 2010 high quality arrangements for identification and early intervention for all children and young people who need additional help - Children’s Trust are going to have to raise their game setting clearer and higher targets.
The Committee thanked Mr Simm for his presentation.
87/08 PROGRESS UPDATE FROM TASK GROUP: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRIORITIES FROM THE REVIEW OF YEAR ONE OF THE CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE’S PLAN (Agenda Item 10)
Task Group members comprise Councillors Fooks, Glass-Woodin and Handley, Mrs Sue Matthew and Ms Bernadine Spencer.
One of the items in this Committee’s Scrutiny Work Programme for 2007/08 was an ongoing review of the Children and Young People’s Plan (CYPP) as it was implemented. On 17 July 2007 the Cabinet approved the review of the first year of the Children & Young People’s Plan, which had been produced in April 2006.
The Task Group would be reporting back to the Committee periodically and feeding into the review of Year 2 of the Plan.
The Lead Member Review Group reported as follows:
The Members wished to look at issues including drugs, alcohol and bullying among young people as this permeates the major priorities in the CYPP, including support to schools on bullying, support for vulnerable children and families, safeguarding children and ultimately, educational achievement.
The Group had visited Didcot as it has been advised that locality working and inter-agency work operated very well in this area in terms of the CYPP and the vision of the CYP&F Directorate.
An exercise had also been suggested to
examine the match between what the new Carterton Children’s Council was
discussing and doing and what the CYPP was focusing on as areas for
improvement.
Elsewhere, the Group wished to focus on the CYPP’s priority of improving support to schools and communities to reduce anti-social behaviour including bullying. It was understood that there was a new officer in post with responsibility for anti-bullying policy and that a discussion with the Task Group would be timely because of members’ interest in emotional health, bullying and safeguarding.
With its interest in the effectiveness of multi-agency working, the Task Group also wished to explore in more detail, the relationship with the Health sector and the extent to which skills (if not budgets) are shared. A new drugs policy was being published and how effectively this would be delivered across schools was considered to be appropriate for the Group’s scrutiny.
The Committee noted the update.
88/08 SCRUTINY WORK PROGRAMME (Agenda Item 11)
The Committee noted the current work programme and that it would be considering proposals for a new work programme at its July meeting.
In relation to the Educational Attainment, Councillor Sue Haffenden asked for it to be recorded that the proposed start date should read February 2008 and not February 2009 as printed.
The following suggestions were put forward for consideration at the July meeting:
· Joint Area Review. · Restructuring of Children, Young People & Families Directorate. · Youth Support Service – chill out funds.
89/08 TRACKING SCRUTINY ITEMS (Agenda Item 12)
Report back on advice by this Committee to the Cabinet or Council.
· Healthy Schools Champion
The Chairman reported that the Democracy & Organisation Committee had AGREED to appoint Councillor Handley as the Council’s Healthy Schools Champion.
· Service and Resource Planning 2008/09 – 2012/13
The Committee noted the response from the Cabinet member for finance which set out the final budget agreement in relation to their advice as listed below:
90/08 FORWARD PLAN (Agenda Item 13)
The Committee was asked to suggest items from the current Forward Plan on which it might have wished to have an opportunity to offer advice to the Cabinet before any decision was taken.
No items had been identified for consideration.
................................................................................... in the Chair
Date of signing.................................................................. 2008
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