Agenda item

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for People.

The First Update Portfolio Performance and Resource Reports (PPRRs) for the Children & Families and Education Portfolios are presented for consideration by the Committee. These provide a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects in the first quarter of the year (April to June). They include forecast performance and financial data (where this is available) for the Portfolios, along with an update on the portfolio savings programmes. These are the first reports to be based on the 2017/18 Portfolio Performance and Resource Agreements (PPRAs). They were considered by the Committee on 24 May 2017 and approved by Cabinet on 13 June 2017.

The Scrutiny Committee are invited to consider and comment on the report.

Officer Contact: Gaynor Ward on Tel: 474 3186 or email: gaynor.ward@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report of the Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing (copies of which had been circulated) detailing the first update Portfolio Performance and Resource Report  for the Children & Family Services and Education Portfolios providing a summary of progress in delivering the portfolio priorities, reform programme and other key projects since the final update report, with a focus on the first quarter of the year (April to June 2017). The report also included out-turn performance and financial data for the Portfolio, along with an update on the portfolio savings programme.

Children & Family Services Portfolio

The Cabinet Member for Children & Family Services (Councillor Colin Foster) attended the meeting to present the report and respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         In response to a comment in relation to the increase in the number of children the subject of a child protection plan, it was stated that there had been in a change in approach of the courts across Greater Manchester which had resulted in the increase.

·         The number of children placed at home who were the subject of a care order had also increased and a detailed analysis was taking place with regard to those children the results of which would form part of a report which would be submitted to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee.

·         There were a number of young people who fell within the older teenage bracket where there were complex family situations which meant that the only way forward was to accommodate them in care. 

·         A discussion took place in relation to pupils transferring from private, voluntary and independent early years providers to maintained nurseries mid-year and the associated difficulties for schools in planning for and maintaining appropriate specialist practitioners to support those pupils with complex needs when the associated need was unknown at the commencement of the school year.

·         It was commented that public health advice in England was that vaping was a better alternative to smoking in those circumstances where cessation was not possible, and it was queried how that message was being communicated.  In response, it was stated that health visitors had been trained with regard to smoking cessation and public health workers were integrated into communities.

·         In response to a query in relation to Brinnington Adopter scheme, it was stated that this was not just a matter of co-location, but co-working where practitioners discussed cases and worked with each other as a recognition that their roles often overlapped and were complementary.  It was commented that the scheme was in its infancy and that the lessons learned would be used to inform future delivery strategies elsewhere in the Borough.

·         There had been a positive response from early years providers in relation to the government’s announcement on the increase in the hours for free childcare.

·         With regard to mental wellbeing it was stated that in addition to crisis care, there were also early intervention teams with health visitors, midwives and those workers who had direct contact with service users being trained in and aware of the service so as to be able effectively sign post and support individuals in need of support.

·         The work of Sure Start centres remained integral part of service delivery in the localities.

·         The renewed commitment to targeted youth provision was welcomed.

Education Portfolio

The Cabinet Member for Education (Councillor Dean Fitzpatrick) attended the meeting to present the report and respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was commented that the data relating to the performance of children resident in priority one areas was not necessarily representative of the cohort as a whole as it only captured those pupils who attended a school within a priority one area and not those who lived in the area but were educated elsewhere.

·         It was suggested that there was a discrepancy in the performance of primary and secondary schools where primaries were outperforming their secondary counterparts.  In response, it was stated that due to the larger size of secondary schools, a single school can represented a larger proportion of the percentage. 

·         The work of the school improvement service was welcomed, however many secondary schools in Stockport were no longer community secondary’s and did not buy into the services provided by the school improvement service.

·         A report would be brought to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Committee in relation to work to address the anticipated shortfall in secondary schools places across the Borough.

·         Consideration needed to be given to how the Council could recognise the work of head teachers and governors in ensuring that Stockport’s schools were amongst the best in the region.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.