Agenda item

This report outlines the importance of a full-time education in the right education provision for children. It provides information on the current level of suspensions and permanent exclusions in BCP compared to both the South West and England.

The Local Authority is concerned by the high rate of both suspensions and permanent exclusions for children in BCP and will be working closely with the Department for Education (DfE) and all schools to both understand and improve this position.

Our focus now iso improve the rates of attendance and inclusion across the system with our partners. The aim being to reduce the number of children missing out on their learning. Actions regarding this are detailed in the report and includes details of the national policies that have been recently published. These actions illustrate how they will support the changes needed to reduce the number of children being suspended and permanently excluded.

The Head of Virtual School and Inclusion Service 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.

The report outlined the importance of a full-time education in the right education provision for children. It provided information on the current level of suspensions and permanent exclusions in BCP compared to both the South West and England.

The Local Authority was concerned by the high rate of both suspensions and permanent exclusions for children in BCP and would be working closely with the Department for Education (DfE) and all schools to both understand and improve this position.

The focus was to improve the rates of attendance and inclusion across the system with our partners. The aim was to reduce the number of children missing out on their learning. Actions regarding this were detailed in the report and included details of the national policies that had been recently published. These actions illustrated how they would support the changes needed to reduce the number of children being suspended and permanently excluded.

The Committee discussed the report which included:

• In response to a query regarding guidance about exclusions for teachers, the Committee was advised that work was being done to provide a clear pathway that could be shared with schools on best practice.
• In response to a query regarding the high number of exclusions and suspensions in the BCP area and what was being done to address this, the Committee was advised that the service was part of a network of local authorities to help highlight methods used to reduce permanent exclusions. Collaborative work with partners and schools was essential to find out what was causing the increase and how to best support young people.
• The Committee was advised that work was being done to increase the number of registered alternative places, however finding funding to do so was challenging.
• In response to a query regarding providing funding to help students in the early stages of education as a way to combat expulsions, the Committee was advised that consideration was being given to frontloading funding. It was noted that collaboration with schools would highlight and identify areas that could benefit students, where they may need extra support.
• The Committee was advised of the positive things happening in schools in the area and was encouraged to visit schools in BCP to give a real insight into the good work that was already being done.
• The Committee was advised of the motivation of the service to improve the relationship with schools and the need for the system to mature and the relationship to grow was acknowledged.
• The Committee was advised of educational improvement workshops that were being held and an update would be provided from the Education Improvement Board in September. ADD TO FORWARD PLAN.

It was Proposed, Seconded and unanimously agreed to add a c) to the Recommendation as follows:

The Committee notes the work that is being done in this arena and is encouraged by the co-production between headteachers and the council in developing pathways and action plans and requests an update on the progress in this area come back to the Committee in September.

RESOLVED that:

a)    The Committee understand the current position of vulnerable learners in BCP place. 

b)    An update on the progress across the Education System throughout this academic year linked to the Education Improvement work is brought for your attention at the end of the Academic year. 

c)    The Committee notes the work that is being done in this arena and is encouraged by the co-production between headteachers and the council in developing pathways and action plans and requests an update on the progress in this area come back to the Committee in September.

Voting: For - Unanimous