Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education.

The report provides details of the Strategy which is a celebration of our strong ambition that children and young people of Stockport will grow up happy, healthy, with confidence, surrounded by love, care, kindness and belonging. It is underpinned with the knowledge that being in school has multiple benefits for children and young people learning wellbeing and overall development.

The Cabinet is recommended to endorse and approve the Attendance Strategy.

Officer contact: Katie Cooper | katie.cooper@stockport.gov.uk and Heidi Shaw | heidi.shaw@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education (Councillor Wendy Meikle) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing details of a proposed Stockport Attendance Strategy which was a celebration of the strong ambition that children and young people of Stockport would grow up happy, healthy, with confidence, surrounded by love, care, kindness and belonging and which was underpinned with the knowledge that being in school has multiple benefits for children and young people learning wellbeing and overall development.

RESOLVED – That the Strategy be endorsed and approval be given to the Stockport Attendance Strategy.

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

The report provides details of the Strategy which is a celebration of our strong ambition that children and young people of Stockport will grow up happy, healthy, with confidence, surrounded by love, care, kindness and belonging. It is underpinned with the knowledge that being in school has multiple benefits for children and young people learning wellbeing and overall development.

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

Officer contact: Katie Cooper | katie.cooper@stockport.gov.uk and Heidi Shaw | heidi.shaw@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Education, Works & Skills submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing details of the Strategy which was a celebration of our strong ambition that children and young people of Stockport will grow up happy, healthy, with confidence, surrounded by love, care, kindness and belonging.

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 the level of detail including the parents who were not aware of the law relating to school attendance.

·       It was noted that there was a 398% increase since 2020 in the number of children who have been electively home educated in Stockport.

·       Clarification was sought regarding any trends relating to returning to pre-covid levels for secondary school attendance. In response, it was noted there has been improvements in secondary school attendance and there has been intentional recovery to get it back to pre-covid levels of attendance in the long term.

·       It was stated that there were some parents who were still not aware of the legal implications for school attendance and together with homeschooling and the new ‘bill’ there would be more accountability and a register created. It was highlighted that a more strategic approach needed to be taken to put the right type of support in place that should enable schools to do a better job regarding attendance.

·       Members enquired about specialist attendance in Stockport. In response, it was noted that there was a difference between the national and local figures relating to specialist attendance and that medical appointments were a cause for the low attendance. However, it was highlighted that work was being done with schools and health colleagues to ensure that children with the most complex needs and their medical appointments were not happening during the school day or the medical appointments could be held in school.

·       It was commented that there was no reference of ‘young carers’ within the report. In response, it was noted that it would be amended before submission to Cabinet.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Director of Education, Works & Skills amend the report to include school attendance for ‘young carers’ before submission to Cabinet.