Agenda item

This report provides an update summarising Children’s Services response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and to provide assurance as to how we will continue to work with partners to meet the needs of children, young people and their families during the course of the pandemic.

The Service Directors, Children’s Services, 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.

The report provided an update summarising Children’s Services response to the Covid-19 pandemic and aimed to provide assurance as to how they would continue to work with partners to meet the needs of children, young people and their families during the course of the pandemic.

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

• In response to a query from a Youth Parliament Member regarding how Covid was affecting their peers especially those with exams next year.  It was highlighted there was anxiety amongst them about returning to school and how they will catch up. The Committee was reassured by the actions of the service to try and mitigate any concerns, which included resource sharing through the educational psychologist team with schools to help them deal with the transition.  It was also planned to offer an increased service to schools in September to help schools and pupils adjust and adapt to the new challenges the creation of a multi agency wraparound for teachers and pupils to ensure a collective of professionals were available to support those children.
• The Committee was advised that social services had been reviewing all care plans for its vulnerable children, including unaccompanied asylum seekers, who were subject to social care intervention, including working closely with foster carers and if the child was not in school, supporting them now and to assist in a return to school.
• In response to a query regarding the delay in the process of a child receiving an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP), the Committee was advised that due to the pandemic, there had been some immediate impacts on how the service had been able to manage its duties.  The reasons why the EHCP processes had been delayed were detailed including an inability to do face to face assessments and the redeployment of relevant professionals to front line services.  The Committee was advised that there had been a challenge ensuring all affected parents were communicated with regarding this and work was being undertaken to rectify this.
• In response to a query about the support being provided to children who were currently subject to an EHCP, it was highlighted that a multi-agency meeting had been arranged to consider how to manage the children getting back to school in September whilst considering social distancing rules. In addition, there would be catch up tutoring offered which schools would receive extra funding for
• In response to a statement that some children had thrived in a home learning environment, whilst acknowledging that most children were best suited to a school environment, it was hoped that this would be a good opportunity to consider a broader offer including more flexible curriculum delivery models
• In response to a concern regarding the low numbers of vulnerable children currently in school, the Committee was reassured that compared to local and regional levels, BCP’s attendance levels were higher than most.  The reasons for the low numbers were detailed together with the work being undertaken to increase pupil numbers. The Committee was advised that link workers had been released to work with the schools and parents to ensure vulnerable children were able to attend school wherever possible.
• In response to a concern regarding the equality implications of the impact of Covid on for example the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) due to the higher risks and the need for increased support when going back to school, the Committee was advised that it was hoped that schools would work with the Council to manage the transition for all children and young people.  The Committee was advised that information had been shared with schools, using adapted guidance, including risk assessments, to provide clear understanding of the impact on BAME groups and individuals within schools.  A Member requested that the information relating to BAME pupils was communicated with the relevant families also to show them the work that was being undertaken.
• In response to a query regarding summer schools for vulnerable children, the Committee was advised that work with schools was still ongoing regarding what the offer would include and achieve.  Considerations surrounding this issue were highlighted and it was noted that the local authority was providing a coordinating and communicating role.  The Committee was reassured that all offers that would be available over the summer would be advertised using every social media platform, including the Family Information Directory, as well as other mediums.
• In response to a query regarding the Multi Agency Services Hub (MASH) referrals, the Committee was advised that workloads had been manageable during lockdown and whilst it was anticipated that referrals may increase, measures had been put in place to accommodate this
• In response to a query regarding the redeployed Ofsted inspectors and addition of new social workers, the Committee was advised that these additions had been welcomed and proved invaluable in terms of assisting with capacity issues and new insight being provided as well as reassurance of the work being undertaken to address issues. 
• The Portfolio Holder concluded that Children’s Services had responded well during the pandemic and she was very grateful for all the hard work being undertaken.

The Chairman summarised the discussions and debate as follows:

• The importance of close consideration of children and young people’s mental health and the transition of returning to school;
• An acknowledgment of the difficulties regarding processing EHCPs
• A possible positive move to consider alternative home learning provisions for some pupils
• The importance of considering equality implications during the recovery phase
• The positive addition of the redeployed staff.

RESOLVED that the contents of the Report be noted.