Agenda item

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 taken into account in the Inquiry and in response to a query was advised that consultations took place by various methods including team meetings, face to face with support workers or teachers and some on a one to one basis.  It was confirmed that they had reviewed and approved their contributions however the entire report had not been shared with them.  The Chair of Children and Young People’s Partnership Board confirmed that he would do this for completeness - ACTION
• In response to a query regarding banding of the High Needs Block, the Committee was advised that this had been amended following a review and was going back to Schools Forum for approval.  The Interim Corporate Director advised she would make contact with the Officers leading on the work to arrange a briefing for interested Committee Members - ACTION

The Chair summarised as follows:

• Working with schools and partnership working
• Partnership working with neighbouring Local Authorities
• MAISEY model
• Reviewing recommendations and how consultations took place
• High Needs Block Banding.

RECOMMENDED that that Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny notes the content of the Appreciative Inquiry and supports the recommendations to Cabinet to:

a)    Agrees in principle with the content and recommendations of the Appreciative Inquiry.

b)    Agrees to receive future business cases in respect of new capital or revenue spend arising from implementation of the recommendations, on the proviso these are cross-referenced with all other Council strategies for education such as the SEND strategy and the Children’s Services Capital Programme.