Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Director of Education, Works & Skills.

This report is the Annual Report of the Virtual School Service demonstrating the educational achievements, school settings, attendance and needs of children in our care within education.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Tim Bowman, tim.bowman@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Education, Works & Skills submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) relating to the Annual Report of the Virtual School Service demonstrating the educational achievements, school settings, attendance and needs of children in our care within education.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education (Councillor Wendy Meikle) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·       Members welcomed the report and congratulated the team on its ongoing success and the good work that goes into the sustainability of the programme and how much it was appreciated.

·       It was noted how successful the virtual school has been with no suspensions and exclusions.

·       The work being done was amazing including the ‘virtual nature’ of the school and its success in comparison to sitting in a classroom and in a building.

·       It was stated that the Scrutiny Committee would welcome an update on an annual basis, but it was important to note that the team will never be satisfied with the outcomes as there were no boundaries for the ambitions of the children in the authority’s care going forward.

·       It was also noted that all of the programmes highlighted in the agenda relating to the virtual school, the hubs, the family courts and the nursery schools were all about prevention and putting preventative measures in place to help the borough’s children in the long term and to avoid the problems later on, but was also a cost effective measure to the borough.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That an update on the ‘Virtual School’ be provided annually to the Scrutiny Committee.