Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence from Councillors.

Apologies were received from Councillor Geary.

Councillor Rocca attended the meeting virtually forgoing his voting rights.

To receive information on any changes in the membership of the Committee.

Note – When a member of a Committee is unable to attend a meeting of a Committee or Sub-Committee, the relevant Political Group Leader (or their nominated representative) may, by notice to the Monitoring Officer (or their nominated representative) prior to the meeting, appoint a substitute member from within the same Political Group. The contact details on the front of this agenda should be used for notifications.

Councillor Hilliard substituted for Councillor Geary.

Councillors are requested to declare any interests on items included in this agenda. Please refer to the workflow on the preceding page for guidance.

Declarations received will be reported at the meeting.

Councillor Hilliard declared an interest as Chair of Governors at Highcliffe and Councillor Moore declared an interest as a Trustee and Member at Teachers Trust.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Meeting held on 21 September 2021.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting held on 21 September 2021, having been previously circulated, be taken as read and confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

To consider any outstanding actions.

The Chair advised that all outstanding actions were being progressed and noted the delay for the Longspee/Ensbury Park campus and MASH visit due to Covid risks.

To receive any public questions, statements or petitions submitted in accordance with the Constitution, which is available to view at the following link:

https://democracy.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeID=151&Info=1&bcr=1

The deadline for the submission of a public question is 4 clear working days before the meeting.

The deadline for the submission of a public statement is midday the working day before the meeting.

The deadline for the submission of a petition is 10 working days before the meeting.

There were no public issues received on this occasion.

This is the covering report for the Appreciative Inquiry, which took place over the summer of 2021, concluding with a consultation process with schools about its contents. The final version of the Inquiry is attached along with suggested next steps.

A report with recommendations is being taken to Cabinet and should the recommendations be accepted by the Cabinet, this will allow for major changes in the services provided by the Council to schools to go ahead in principle, subject to separate business cases being submitted for authorisation when detailed work on relevant individual recommendations have been carried out.

The Chair of Children and Young People’s Partnership Board and the Director of Education presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

This was a covering report for the Appreciative Inquiry, which took place over the summer of 2021, concluding with a consultation process with schools about its contents. The final version of the Inquiry was attached along with suggested next steps.

A report with recommendations was being taken to Cabinet and should the recommendations be accepted by the Cabinet, this would allow for major changes in the services provided by the Council to schools to go ahead in principle, subject to separate business cases being submitted for authorisation when detailed work on relevant individual recommendations had been carried out.

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

• In response to a query regarding about getting Academies to agree to cooperate, the Committee was advised that Trusts set and manage their own behaviour policies which meant that BCP needed to influence them to bring about change.  This was going to be actioned by having a BCP wide standard but sign up could only be voluntary.
• The Committee was advised that some of the Recommendations would be incorporated in the SEND Written Statement of Action
• A Committee Member highlighted the importance of ensuring Governors were fully aware of the recommendations and work being undertaken by BCP, as they provided challenge to the leadership of school and could help bring about the change needed.
• The Chair of the Committee felt that good practice of inclusion, such as case studies of successful managed moves, needed to be shared with the schools to promote ethical leadership and demonstrate the positives of partnership working to support the children of BCP.
• The Committee welcomed the Report and acknowledged the work that had been put in to producing it
• The Committee discussed how inclusion was managed when dealing with neighbouring Local Authorities and was provided with positive examples of partnership work between Dorset and BCP to support vulnerable children.
• In response to a query, the Committee was advised that the MAISEY model referred to the Multi-Agency Identification and Support in the Early Years – ACTION – what??
• In response to a query about timescales for the recommendations to be implement, the Committee was advised that it was being requested to agree the principles and then individual business cases would be created to support each of the recommendations. It was however acknowledged that this would be a complex piece of work to establish resources and finances.
• The Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Schools and Skills advised that the Committee should continue to monitor and scrutinise the work being undertaken periodically, as part of the Transformation Programme, to ensure Children’s Services were being held to account for progressing the recommendations.
• A Member of the Youth Parliament was pleased that the voices of young people had been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

Following a local area SEND inspection by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in late June 2021, the local authority (LA) and Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) must produce and submit a Written Statement of Action (WSoA) by 7 December.

The WSoA is being co-produced by a partnership process involving families, schools, Health, the Council and other partners.

The Director of Education 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.

Following a local area SEND inspection by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in late June 2021, the local authority (LA) and Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) must produce and submit a Written Statement of Action (WSoA) by 7 December 2021.

The WSoA was being co-produced by a partnership process involving families, schools, Health, the Council and other partners.

The Interim Corporate Director advised the Committee that this would be part of the Transformation Programme with a clear governance process which was detailed to the Committee. There was eight focused areas, underneath strands of appreciative inquiry and WSoA.  The Committee was advised that capacity was needed to be able to progress and implement the changes at pace.

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

• The Chair referred to the eight focus areas and in response to a query regarding timescales for implementation, the Committee was advised the WSoA would be scrutinised by Ofsted and the CQC for the next 12-18 months.  The timescales for the Appreciative Inquiry and Transformation Programme was for actions to be embedded and the impact being seen within three years.
• In response to a request, the Committee was advised that the Transformation Programme would be available early next year – ACTION - add to Forward Plan.
• In response to a query regarding whether the Department for Education (DfE) had had sight of the draft WSoA, the Committee was advised that they were being kept updated and BCP was ensuring transparency and co-production were key in the actions however Ofsted would be interested in the delivery and translation of what can be seen.
• The Committee was advised that 60% of Local Authorities have had to produce WSoAs which demonstrated how hard it was to deliver SEND services.
• The Committee was advised that the risk of Department for Education would only happen if there were no improvements within the 12-18 months and that SEND doesn’t have the same intervention protocol as Social Care.

The Chair summarised as follows:

• Eight work streams which were moving at pace
• Timescales for implementation and to see the impact
• Drafts back to scrutiny
• Add Transformation Programme to Forward Plan for early 2022
• DfE feedback to date

With regard to the Recommendation, the Portfolio Holder for Covid Resilience, Schools and Skills advised that she was awaiting advice from the Monitoring Officer, but that it was anticipated that the sign off of the WSoA would be the Interim Corporate Director and the Portfolio Holder Covid Resilience, Schools and Skills.

RECOMMENDED that Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee endorse to Cabinet the partnership approach to radically improving special educational needs and disabilities across the BCP area; and delegate authority to the Portfolio Holder for Covid Resilience, Schools and Skills to sign off the Written Statement of Action on behalf  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52.

The Summer Offer looked to address mental health, gaps in learning, the lack of preparation for secondary school, exploitation and knife crime as well as ensuring that families have food during this period. This report details the impact of this offer on the start of the school year for children in BCP.

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

Public Report 

RECOMMENDED/RESOLVED that

Members note the impact of the Summer Offer.

Voting: Unanimous/Nem. Con. X:Y (Z abstentions)

The Summer Offer looked to address mental health, gaps in learning, the lack of preparation for secondary school, exploitation and knife crime as well as ensuring that families have food during this period. This report details the impact of this offer on the start of the school year for children in BCP.

The attached cabinet report introduces a common home to school transport policy for the whole of the BCP Council area across the areas of the three former council areas

The Head of Service – School Planning and Admissions presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'D' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Cabinet report introduced a common home to school transport policy for the whole of the BCP Council area across the areas of the three former council areas.

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

• There was some discussion over whether pupils that don’t get the required grades to attend a local college, would be provided transport costs to attend a college outside of BCP and the Committee was advised that the eligibility criteria was not met for a certain course, then another course may have to be considered
• Timescales for applying for transport would have to be considered and could possibly be considered under appeals procedure.
• It was highlighted that the overriding factor was it was a parents preference to consider applications which should include how the pupil would travel there
• Take point away as would like to reduce NEETS, would encourage pupils to take up spaces so will need to consider how policy impacts on those pupils.  Statutory landscape – overriding preference for parent that they need to consider how their child can travel to school.  Don’t want to open floodgates.
• A Committee Member highlighted the Transport appeals panel and some positive additions to the policy however there was a backlog for transport appeals and ensuring parents were aware of the policy by requesting schools advise parents of their right
• Page 19 of policy states minimum of three Members sit on the panel, should be amended to four.
• In response to a query regarding the timescales for changes, the Committee was advised that the majority of the years 10 and 11 who travel under the policy, most of them are in receipt of FSM and so would continue to receive.  The small number who may not be in receipt will need to reapply annually
• In response to a query regarding school transport help for pupils attending one of the Grammar schools, the Committee was advised that it would be difficult to answer these questions, but they could be picked up and considered through the consultation process.
• The statutory criteria was highlighted and the distinction between that and parental preference and in response to a query regarding whether there were any children who received funding for free assistance with transport who lived within the allocated distance but that if the route was considered hazardous,
• Don’t have detail but should be able to identify the children who receive funding under the hazardous code – if easy to identify will email Lisa Northover. ACTION
• In response to a query about the assistance provided and whether consideration could be given to providing active assistance such as a bike or scooter, the Committee considered what could be offered in terms of the definition of transport and what it is made up of.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54.

The cabinet report confirms admissions arrangements for schools maintained by BCP Council for the school year 2023/24. It is proposed that a consultation take place to reduce the published admission number at Burton Primary School from 60 to 45 to enable the school to organise classes most efficiently.

The Head of Service – School Planning and Admissions presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'E' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Cabinet report confirmed admissions arrangements for schools maintained by BCP Council for the school year 2023/24. It was proposed that a consultation take place to reduce the published admission number at Burton Primary School from 60 to 45 to enable the school to organise classes most efficiently.

There was no Committee discussion on this item.

RECOMMENDED that Cabinet approve the Schools Admissions Arrangements 2023/2024 for community and maintained schools.

The report proposes that Cabinet approve up to £500,000 capital expenditure to enable the Avonbourne Schools to undertake remodelling so that they can take up to two bulge classes.  Pupil place planning projections suggest there may be insufficient places available in the local area in the admissions years 2022 and 2023. Providing for bulge classes would ensure that the council meets its statutory responsibility to provide sufficient school places for all school age children living within the area.

The Head of Service – School Planning and Admissions 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 proposed that Cabinet approve up to £500,000 capital expenditure to enable the Avonbourne Schools to undertake remodelling so that they can take up to two bulge classes.  Pupil place planning projections suggested there may be insufficient places available in the local area in the admissions years 2022 and 2023. Providing for bulge classes would ensure that the council meets its statutory responsibility to provide sufficient school places for all school age children living within the area.

There was no Committee discussion on this item.

RECOMMENDED that Cabinet approves expenditure of up to £500,000 to facilitate the provision of bulge classes at the Avonbourne Schools

To receive a verbal update from the Portfolio Holders.

There was no Portfolio Holder update on this occasion.

Information only items will be circulated after the Committee:

·       Pan Dorset Safeguarding Childrens Partnership Annual Report

The Chair advised that any items for information would be circulated after the Committee.

To consider the Committee’s Forward Plan.

The Chair provided feedback from the recent forward planning and advised that further work would be undertaken on the plan.

The Member of Youth Parliament requested the addition of an MYP Annual Report to come in March 2022 to enable the outgoing Members to update the Committee on their work and to introduce the new MYPs to the Committee.

To note the dates of future Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committees as follows:

• 25 January 2022
• 22 March 2022

All meetings will commence at 6pm and venues to be confirmed.

The dates of the future meetings were noted.