Issue - meetings

Overview and Scrutiny require regular updates on themes regarding improvements in Education and Skills Services to scrutinise the Improvement progress and plans since the Written Statement of Action was issued following a SEND Inspection in July 2021. Some progress has been made but further is required and at pace. An Education Improvement Consultant has been engaged by Childrens Services to support the Service Director for Education and Skills accelerate improvement and ensure stability in the Education and Skills Service. The assignment is;

•        To finalise the Education Improvement Plan and associated strategies

•        To lead the co-ordination of the Education Improvement Board and programme of work

•        To support Director of Education and Skills in creating a culture of accountability and performance across all LA Education and Skills functions

•        To support the work with School Leaders and Education Providers in the Improvement Plan; building back trust and delivering against our statutory duties; inspection readiness

•        To provide advice and support in strategic and operational matters with specific focus on SEND and Vulnerable Learner systems.

To understand the current state of play they have carried out a diagnostic of the service to inform a view in order to drive improvements. The findings of which are to be presented at Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny.

The Director for Quality, Performance Improvement and Governance and the Education Improvement Consultant presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Overview and Scrutiny required regular updates on themes regarding improvements in Education and Skills Services to scrutinise the Improvement progress and plans since the Written Statement of Action was issued following a SEND Inspection in July 2021. Some progress had been made but further was required and at pace. An Education Improvement Consultant had been engaged by Children's Services to support the Service Director for Education and Skills accelerate improvement and ensure stability in the Education and Skills Service. The assignment was:

•       To finalise the Education Improvement Plan and associated strategies.

•       To lead the co-ordination of the Education Improvement Board and programme of work.

•       To support the Director of Education and Skills in creating a culture of accountability and performance across all LA Education and Skills functions.

•       To support the work with School Leaders and Education Providers in the Improvement Plan; building back trust and delivering against statutory duties; inspection readiness.

•       To provide advice and support in strategic and operational matters with specific focus on SEND and Vulnerable Learner systems.

To understand the current state of play a diagnostic had been carried out of the service to inform a view to drive improvements. The findings of which were being presented at Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny.

The Committee considered the report and made the following comments:

• In response to a query, the Committee was advised that the programme of work had started and progress was being made. It was highlighted that the recruitment of educational psychologists was essential in reducing the backlog of EHCPs and the difficulties in recruitment were detailed.
• In response to a query regarding the BCP system and the push for EHCPs, the Committee was advised that more work needed to be done, some schools worked well in the early help space and with inclusion while others need more support.
• In response to a query, the Committee was advised that one of the biggest concerns was the length of the waiting time children within BCP were having to deal with.
• In response to a query, the Committee was advised that improvements to the processes and data needed to be made, so they could see what schools were not completing their data and how this could be improved by increasing engagement with schools across BCP.

RESOLVED that the update be noted.