Agenda item

1.40

 

To provide an opportunity for the Committee to reflect upon the achievements and successes of the Committee, together with lessons to be learnt for the future.

The Committee had before it a list of issues that had been considered over the last year as follows:

 

February 2020

 

Improving Educational Outcomes

 

A strategic review is being been undertaken on how Oxfordshire County Council and key stakeholders, including settings, schools, Trusts, Diocesan Authorities and parents can all contribute to further improve education outcomes for young people in Oxfordshire. This review is commissioned by Lucy Butler, Director for Children, Education and Families.

 

As part of this review, the Committee’s view and opinions on the document ‘Improving Education Outcomes – a strategic review’ are sought.

 

Our aim is to develop joint priorities which all stakeholders can support and work towards achieving.  Consultation is essential to develop an effective local school improvement system which is fit for purpose, led by schools and multi-academy trusts, yet with the active engagement of key strategic partners including Oxfordshire County Council.

 

The Management of Changing Rolls in Oxfordshire Schools

         

Members of Scrutiny Committee received an update on population trends affecting the provision of education services for children and young people in the county at its meeting on 4 September 2019.  The aims and objectives of a strategy to meet changing demand and promote sustainability for schools is set out in the report. 

 

Aims

a)       Ensure sufficient places in mainstream schools for Oxfordshire’s growing population.

b)       Ensure sufficient provision for children with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities, not only to meet population growth, but also related to changing policy, practice and incidence of specific needs.

c)       Ensure sufficient Alternative Provision.

d)       Support Oxfordshire’s schools to respond to changes in demand, both down as well as up. 

 

Objectives

a)       Monitor demographic changes and housing growth in order to inform annual pupil forecasts.

b)       Plan for new schools and expansions of existing schools.

c)       Identify emerging spare building capacity which could be reallocated to other uses.

d)       Provide guidance to schools on maintaining their affordability/sustainability.

 

 

 

Alternative Provision Commissioning Progress Update

 

Education Scrutiny Committee has requested an update on the Recommissioning of Alternative Provision for children and schools in Oxfordshire.

 

Educational Attainment Working Group Report

 

The report is the result of a deep dive by the Education Scrutiny Committee, as set out in its Forward Plan of work. The Committee formed a working group to take the deep dive forward, which met with key officers in the Education Service and visited four secondary schools to learn about good practice and innovation in teaching disadvantaged children.

 

This report sets out why attainment (and progress), particularly of disadvantaged children, was chosen as a deep dive topic, what examples of good practice in education of disadvantaged pupils at secondary schools the working group learned about, and sets out the Working Group’s conclusions for officers, Education Scrutiny Committee and the Cabinet Member for Education and Cultural Services. The Education Service is beginning the development of a comprehensive 3-year Education Strategy for Oxfordshire. This report is therefore presenting the findings of the deep dive investigation, and the Working Group's conclusions in the interim, ahead of this important scheme of work.

 

In Year Fair Access Policy Update

 

An update on the implementation and outcomes of the revised In Year Fair Access Policy (IYFAP) has been requested by Education Scrutiny Committee.  In Year Fair Access protocols with schools are required under the terms of the statutory School Admissions Code 2014.  This is to afford a mechanism whereby children requiring a school place outside normal admissions rounds, where local places may not be available or when the child has additional vulnerabilities, can be offered a school place.

 

The protocol is designed to ensure a fair distribution of non-placed children across all schools.  In Year Fair Access protocols must be designed in collaboration with representative school leaders and agreed by the majority.  100% agreement is not required for the IYFAP to be valid and lawful.

  

Education Achievement and Attainment in Oxfordshire and its Localities' Schools

 

This Annual Education Performance Report at key stage 4 gives a summary and overall analysis of key outcomes and progress measures.

 

 

 

 

Ofsted and Oxfordshire Academies.

 

The Deputy Director of Education, Chris Hilliard will give a verbal update outlining recent discussions with Ofsted.

 

A Learner Engagement Strategy for Oxfordshire

 

This Learner Engagement Strategy has been co-produced by key stake holders and partners engaged in optimising the inclusion in education of all Oxfordshire’s statutory school aged children.  The purpose is to ensure that children access their full educational entitlement to enable them to thrive as adults and fully participate in the economic, learning, personal and social life of Oxfordshire.

 

The Committee will receive an update from the Children’s, Education and Families Director team on the impact of Covid-19 on learner engagement and the current situation in education more widely.

 

Update on the Impact of work on Reducing Exclusions

 

Exclusions in Oxfordshire have been a cause for concern to Members, Officers, Parents, the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Board and Children’s Trust for several years.  Education Scrutiny Committee commenced a deep dive investigation into the issues in 2018.  Accordingly, Education Scrutiny Committee has requested an update briefing on the current position of School Exclusions in Oxfordshire.

 

School Exclusions in Oxfordshire

 

The Committee will receive a briefing on School Exclusion data in Oxfordshire.

 

September 2020

 

Changes to SEND High Needs Top Up Funding Arrangements for 2020/21

 

On 15 September 2020, Cabinet will consider a report on SEND High Needs Funding and will be recommended to approve a one-off change to the funding formula for top up payments for secondary schools for the academic year 2020/21. The SEND High Needs Funding report and proposals will be published on 7 September 2020.

 

The Education Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the information and proposals contained in the report and comment upon them. These comments will be published as an addendum to the SEND High Needs Funding report and taken into consideration by Cabinet in approving the recommendation at the meeting on 15 September 2020.

 

September (23rd)

 

Covid-19 Update

 

The Committee have requested to receive an update on the impact of COVID-19 on Education and Oxfordshire Schools.  Accordingly, Corporate Director of Children’s Services, Kevin Gordon and the Deputy Director for Education, Hayley Good will attend the meeting to give a verbal update on the current situation.

 

Update on Alternative Provision (AP) commissioning arrangements

 

Education Scrutiny Committee has requested an update on the Recommissioning of Alternative Provision for children and schools in Oxfordshire.  This follows the update provided to Education Scrutiny Committee on 1st February 2020 and papers provided to Schools Forum lastly on 17th June 2020 for information.

 

Performance Update on Education Health & Care Plans in Oxfordshire

 

To receive a report on ECHP process and performance including a focus on Exclusions/Elective Home Education/Part time timetable and on the Early Intervention Service.

 

The Education Scrutiny Committee is RECOMMENDED to note the progress made in relation to Education Health and Care Plans for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

 

November

 

Update on Special Educational Needs in Oxfordshire

 

The Education Scrutiny Committee has requested an update on the analysis of SEND and provision in Oxfordshire, together with the emerging strategy for implementing a transformative approach to supporting our children and young people with SEND.

 

The Education Scrutiny Committee is RECOMMENDED to note developments to date since September 2020, in order to transform the provision of education, health and care services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

 

Vulnerable Learners

 

To receive a presentation from the Head of the Virtual School on the Virtual school, celebrating children in care and their educational achievements.

 

Teacher Training Recruitment

 

To receive a verbal report from Oxfordshire Teaching Schools Alliance on recruitment onto initial teacher training placements and the capacity of the workforce.

Admission Scheme

 

To receive a verbal update from the Head of Access to Learning on fair access and referrals to the Secretary of State.

February 2021

 

Covid 19 Update

 

The Committee have requested to receive an update on the impact of COVID-19 on Education and Oxfordshire Schools.  Accordingly, Corporate Director of Children’s Services, Kevin Gordon and the Deputy Director for Education, Hayley Good will attend the meeting to give a verbal update on the current situation.

 

As part of the update, the Head of Learner Engagement, Deborah Bell will provide the Committee with an update on the Reintegration Timetable.

 

Update on Special Educational Needs in Oxfordshire

 

The report outlines the developments since November 2020 in transforming SEND services in Oxfordshire. 

 

The Education Scrutiny Committee is RECOMMENDED to note developments to date since November 2020, in order to transform the provision of education, health and care services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

 

Children, Education & Families Capital Programme

 

The Committee have requested to receive an update on the delivery of the Children Education & Families Capital Programme including the additional school places successfully delivered in 2020 and the additional school places the council plans to deliver in 2021 and 2022.

 

Educational Attainment in Secondary Schools

 

The Committee have requested to receive an update on Educational Attainment in Secondary Schools.  Accordingly, the Deputy Director for Education, Hayley Good and the Head of Learning and School Improvement, Kim James will attend the meeting to give a verbal update on the current data available.

 

Zero Carbon Agenda for Schools Buildings

 

The Committee have requested to receive an update on what is happing in relation to school buildings in light of the Council’s agreed commitment to Climate Change, including the capital programme for new schools/retro fitting of existing schools and to receive an update on whether school transport vehicles are being looked at in terms of pollution.  Accordingly, the Head of Access to Learning, Allyson Milward will attend the meeting to give a verbal update on the current data available.

Elective Home Education

 

The Committee have requested to receive an update on Elective Home Education and the Oxfordshire situation.  Accordingly, the Deputy Director for Education, Hayley Good and the Head of Learner Engagement, Deborah Bell will attend the meeting to give a verbal update on the current situation.

 

The Chairman reflected on the issues and excellent work that had been considered by the Committee over the past year.  He queried whether the Learner Engagement Strategy was still current and live.  Deborah Bell confirmed that it was.

 

Councillor Gill Sanders requested that the issue of ensuring sufficient provision for children with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities, not only to meet population growth, but also related to changing policy, practice and incidence of specific needs was undertaken and monitored by the Committee in the future and also that the High Needs top up funding arrangements be carefully monitored going forward and that the Committee look at the overall funding in this area.  The Director for Children’s Services welcomed the suggestion of on-going Scrutiny in the area of SEND.  He reported that they were expecting the National SEND Review to report in June.  It was unlikely that there would be any central funding to bridge the current gap in Oxfordshire.  Sufficiency of special provision, proportionately what they needed and how that could be provided in mainstream settings would be a key issue for the Committee.

 

Councillor John Howson agreed that SEND was an important issue going forward and reported that the DfE had reached some limited agreements with a small number of local authorities regarding the ‘overhang’ in limbo in reserves and he hoped that the whole country would be treated the same.

 

The Chairman commented that the Meetings with the Regional School Commissioner and Ofsted was an important area for the Committee to maintain in the future.

 

Councillor John Howson commented that at a recent Oxford Localities Meetings they had received a presentation from turning point.  During the presentation, the presenter had referred to the work that the Education Scrutiny Committee had been doing in terms of the investigations carried out into attendance and exclusions, and specifically the work of getting schools to look at why they were excluded children at risk and reducing the level of Exclusions.  He thought that a tribute from an outside body to this Committee’s work should be noted.

 

The Chairman thanked the Committee for their comments which would inform the next item.