Issue - meetings

To consider the Third Quarter Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Report (PPRR) for the Children, Family Services and Education Portfolio. This report focuses on highlights and exceptions in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects since the Mid-Year Report. It includes the latest forecast performance and financial data for the Portfolio, along with an update on the portfolio savings programme.

This report is based on the 2019/20 Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreement (PPRA), which was considered by the Committee on 10 July and approved by Cabinet on 23 July 2019.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the recommendations and proposals in the report and to identify how areas of strong performance and good practice can be shared in other service areas.

Officer contact: Peter Owston, 0161 474 3274, peter.owston@stockport.gov.uk

A joint report of the Director for Children’s Services and for Education was submitted (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the Third Quarter Portfolio Performance and Resources Report for the Children, Family Services and Education Portfolio that focussed on highlights and exceptions in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programmes and other key projects since the Mid-Year Report. It included the latest forecast performance and financial data for the Portfolio, along with an update on the portfolio savings programme.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Family Services & Education (Councillor Colin Foster) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised: -

·         Clarification was sought regarding the Portfolio Summary and the reference to the Greater Manchester Care Leavers Charter (GMCLC). In response, it was commented that the GMCLC was an innovation of a series of projects and practices involving Stockport Family and ten Local Authorities to share best practice and learn from each other. It was also to support care leavers, children’s homes and foster carers, which resulted in the Charter being developed. A number of steps had already been taken regarding council tax exemptions, housing and access to health professionals and free prescriptions, but also includes access to employment and employment advice and support for care leavers.

·         Clarification was sought relating to Priority 1 and the percentage of Free School Meals eligible children achieving a “good level of development” at the end of “Early Years Foundation Stage” (EYFS) and what was being done to improve the targets. In response, it was commented that a series of changes had been flagged and work to improve had already started but it would take about 3-5 years to see any improvements, however some of the bigger issues were around speech and language therapy. There had been some additional funding provided by Greater Manchester with particular focus and dedication to the EYFS which was a very important opportunity to continue the work across all Local Authorities and to work through the home learning environment. Work was also underway to empower parents through the Empowering Communities Programme to provide parental confidence and improve care of confidence.

·         Clarification was sought relating to Priority 2, the Poverty Proofing Project and what changes and improvements were being made as part of the budget process. In response, it was commented that the small project would be scaled up and expanded to other schools in Stockport with awareness being raised around the language being used in classrooms by teachers to take into account the impact of poverty on the children in the classroom and the stigma that can be attached. As a result, discussions were being held with Headteachers and the University of Manchester to undertake a research led project into pupils and poverty that would be fed back to the project and the schools involved.

·         More detail was requested relating to Priority 4, Stockport Area Partnership and achieving the Quality Lead of Youth Justice Award. In response, it was commented that the particular standard relating to the award “drills down” to the extent to which the young people were known to the Youth Offending Service in terms of “special educational needs” or “disabilities” and how well equipped the responsive services were to meet those young people’s needs. It was noted that not many Youth Offending Services around the country had achieved this, so it was really something to be proud of having achieved the quality standard required.

·         Clarification was sought relating to Priority 3, Healthy Weight and why there was an absence of community based interventions support for overweight and obese children below the age of five years. In response, it was commented that the information would be sought from Public Health and shared with the Committee via email following the meeting.

·         Clarification was sought relating to Priority 2, Performance Indicators for Key Stage 4 and the slight reduction in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4