Issue - meetings

This report provides a performance update for the period April - June 2022 (Quarter 1 2022-23) for the key performance indicators relating to Children’s Services as detailed in the Corporate Performance Scorecard.

The Interim Head of Performance presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'F' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The report provided a performance update for the period April - June 2022 (Quarter 1 2022-23) for the key performance indicators relating to Children’s Services as detailed in the Corporate Performance Scorecard.

The Committee discussed the report and comments were made, including:

• A Committee Member referred to the new course which was being proposed for unaccompanied asylum seekers and detailed the difficulties faced by them educationally within the current system
• In response to a query regarding schools advising they were inadequately resourced to meet the increased complex needs of some pupils, the Committee was advised that funding was an issue, together with the rise of EHCPs
• The Committee was advised of the Education Entitlement Board which would include Headteachers and was going to meet for the first time soon and would monitor children missing education and exclusions.  It was noted that the Board would bring stakeholders together to ensure a joined up and positive response
• In response to a query regarding the cost implications of providing education for excluded pupils and the consequence of them being excluded having wider cost implications across other services, the Committee was advised that the service had a duty to provide alterative provision for permanently excluded pupils
• An MYP advised that as part of her work she had been made aware of pupils who did not go to school for fear of being harmed or bullied by disruptive pupils and in response the Committee was advised that a schools first duty was to ensure pupils within the school were safe. 
• In response to a query about the number of children missing out of education and the possible reasons for this, the Committee was advised that it was difficult to make a judgment on why which could include complex reasons.  The Committee was advised that schools would say that they offered a comprehensive curriculum, and it was not thought that would be a reason.
• In response to a query regarding how Academies report into the data, the Committee was advised of the methods used to collect the data both daily and weekly.

RESOLVED that the Committee note the report.