Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 February 2024.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 28 February 2024 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers to declare any interests which they have in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interest which they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

The following interests were declared:-

To consider call-in items (if any).

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider a joint report of the Executive Director of People & Integration and the Director of Education, Work & Skills.

The report presents the Year-End Portfolio Performance and Resource Report (PPRR) for the Children, Families and Education Portfolio. The Year-End Report focuses on delivery of the portfolio priorities from October 2023 to March 2024. It includes forecast performance and financial data (where this is available) for the portfolio, along with an update on the portfolio savings programme.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to –

(1)  Consider the Year-End Portfolio Performance and Resource Report;

(2)  Review the progress against delivering key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2023/24;

(3)  Highlight key areas of and responsibility for taking forward corrective action to address any performance or resource issues;

(4)  Highlight any significant issues or changes to be fed back to the Cabinet alongside the Corporate Performance and Resource Report;

(5)  Identify how areas of strong performance and good practice can be shared in other services.

Officer contact: Gaynor Ward, Strategy and Performance Manager, gaynor.ward@stockport.gov.uk  (0161 474 3186)

Gill Dixon, CSS Manager (Specialist) Finance – Children’s Social Care

gill.dixon@stockport.gov.uk  (0161 474 3886)

Peter Hughes, CSS Manager (Specialist) Finance – Education & Schools

peter.hughes@stockport.gov.uk  (0161 474 3947)

The Executive Director of People & Integration and the Director of Education, Work & Skills submitted a joint report (copies of which had been circulated) presenting the Year-End Portfolio Performance and Resource Report (PPRR) for the Children, Families and Education Portfolio. The Year-End Report focuses on delivery of the portfolio priorities from October 2023 to March 2024. It included forecast performance and financial data (where this was available) for the portfolio, along with an update on the portfolio savings programme.

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:-

Priority 1 - All babies and children are given the very best start in life by their parents and carers and start school ready to learn

·         Members welcomed the detail in the report and recognised how useful the information was for the Committee.

·         Clarification was sought relating to Quarter 4 and the ASQ3 results regarding the Healthy Child Programme and the national average. In response, it was noted that the national average was 81.3% with the Northwest being at 80.6% which was below the national average and it was being done well and children were being identified who needed more help so interventions were being put in place.

·         It was noted that the ASQ was a screening tool which would indicate whether some more assessments were needed to done in five domains of development e.g. finance, communication etc.

·         Members enquired about the family hubs uptake. In response, it was stated that there were no figures to date, but it was being monitored closely including the outreach and what was being asked for by families.

·         It was noted that the figures relating to the family hubs uptake would be circulated to the Committee following the meeting.

·         It was commented that the Nesta Innovation Partnership was a non- profit organisation with early years as their primary focus for the last three years.

Priority 2: All children and young people are well prepared for adulthood and engage in education, employment, and training

·         Clarification was sought relating to the persistent absences and how this  impacted on the children with the most needs including the eligibility for free school meals. In response, it was noted that there was an analysis being done to help prevent children from missing school, but there was an improving picture particularly for children with special educational needs.

·         Members enquired about the figures relating to fixed term exclusions and suspensions and whether schools were exchanging pupils to support this process. In response, it was stated that everything was being done to support schools and pupils through fixed term exclusions and suspensions and preventing the incidences from happening in the first place rather than sanctions.

·         It was commented that regarding CFE11 the Northwest was at 74.4% which was a big difference to the national picture. It was stated that out of the 14 secondary schools only two schools were below the national position, so there was a lot of work happening with schools working together

Priority 3: Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

·         Members enquired about the timelines for assessments and diagnosis and what was being done to improve these. In response, it was stated that there were still real pressures on waiting times, but a better system was being put in place to better support children in school including changes to the autism service and reducing the timescales for assessing EHCPs. It was noted that over 70% of EHCP reviews had been completed last year and to date for 2024 the team were already up to 1500.

·         It was stated that there were approximately 600 requests per month for EHCPs and that progress will be reported back to the Committee in about 6/7 months.

Priority 5: Children and young people live safely and happily within their families, and where this is not possible, they are supported  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To consider a report of the Executive Director of People and Integration.

The report presents the draft 2024/25 Agreement for the Children, Families and Education Portfolio for consideration and comment by the Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to review and comment on the draft Portfolio Agreement.

Officer contact: Gaynor Ward, Strategy and Performance Manager

gaynor.ward@stockport.gov.uk  (0161 474 3186)

Gill Dixon, CSS Manager (Specialist) Finance – Children’s Social Care

gill.dixon@stockport.gov.uk  (0161 474 3886)

Peter Hughes, CSS Manager (Specialist) Finance – Education & Schools

peter.hughes@stockport.gov.uk  (0161 474 3947)

The Executive Director of People & Integration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) presenting the draft 2024/25 Agreement for the Children, Families and Education Portfolio.

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 were informed that the report set out the key priorities, the delivery programme, the performance measures for the portfolio for 2024/25 and formed the basis for the performance.

·         It was noted that the services work hard to ensure that children only came into care when it was necessary, and that all efforts had been made to support them to remain either with their parents or wider extended family.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Education, Work and Skills.

The report provides details relating to the continued work of the team and seeks to formalise plans to create a resource base at Tithe Barn Primary School and St Paul’s CE Primary School and to create fit for purpose and specialised areas within these schools that will be capable of meeting more complex need within a mainstream setting. It considers the findings of two rounds of the statutory proposals required by the statutory ‘prescribed alteration process recommending the creation of these bases be approved.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to comment on and approve the implementation of the statutory proposals and the creation of resource provision at:

·       St Paul’s CE Primary School; and

·       Tithe Barn Primary School

Officer contact: Chris Harland on 0161 521 1707 or by email at christopher.harland@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Education, Work and Skills submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing details relating to the continued work of the team and seeking to formalise plans to create a resource base at Tithe Barn Primary School and St Paul’s CE Primary School and to create fit for purpose and specialised areas within these schools that would be capable of meeting more complex need within a mainstream setting.

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:-

·         It wad noted how important it was for having the right sort of need with the right capacity in local areas where residents can access easily.

·         Members noted how impressive it was for money to be spent on the schools to improve the facilities and congratulated the teams involved.

·         Members enquired about why the SEND and EHCP numbers were historically to high. In response it was noted that the more parents had confidence in the system the more the demand would go down and also about the availability of funding and identifying children’s needs and supporting them through the process.

·         It was also stated that when these type of facilities are in the local communities it reduces the cost of transport and helps integrate families, siblings and friends a lot more locally.

RESOLVED – That the report be endorsed for approval by Cabinet for the implementation of the statutory proposals and the creation of resource provisions at St Paul’s CE Primary School and Tithe Barn Primary School.

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

The report provides details relating to the School Holiday and Term dates for Local Authority maintained and voluntary controlled schools within the borough for academic years 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to comment on and endorse the report for submission to the Cabinet.

Officer contact: Chris Harland on 0161 521 1707 or by email to christopher.harland@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing details relating to the School Holiday and Term dates for Local Authority maintained and voluntary controlled schools within the borough for academic years 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28.

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

RESOLVED – That the report be endorsed for submission to the Cabinet.

To consider a report of the Assistant Director (Legal & Democratic Governance).

This report outlines the Scrutiny Review process, provides a framework within which they should be undertaken and will support Scrutiny Committee Members with the selection of Scrutiny Review topics for the 2024/25 municipal year.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

(1) consider the selection of a Scrutiny Review topic to be carried out during the 2024/25 municipal year.

(2) nominate members to sit on the proposed Scrutiny Review Panel.

Officer contact: Damian Eaton on 0161 474 3207 or email damian.eaton@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Assistant Director for Legal & Democratic Governance submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining the scrutiny review process, the framework within which the review should be undertaken and supported for the selection of scrutiny review topics for the 2024/25 municipal year.

The Committee was invited to choose a topic for their next review.

Members proposed the following the topics-

·         Prevention and Early Years across Children’s Services

·         Falling Rolls

·         Early Years Communication

It was noted that Prevention was quite broad, but would be extremely helpful to look at clear beliefs, vision, goals and the education & health services to prevent family breakdown and with children not fulfilling their potential.

RESOLVED – (1) That the Council Meeting be recommended to include  ‘Prevention’ within the 2024/25 Scrutiny Work Programme.

(2) That Councillors Shan Alexander, Rosemary Barratt, Angie Clarke, Helen Hibbert and Graham Greenhalgh be nominated to sit on the proposed scrutiny review panel.

To consider a report of the Assistant Director for Legal & Democratic Governance.

The report sets out planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items that fall within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the information in the report and put forward any agenda items for future meetings of the Committee.

Officer contact: Charles Yankiah on 0161 474 3206 or email charles.yankiah@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Assistant Director for Legal & Democratic Governance submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and any Forward Plan items.

RESOLVED – (1) – That the report be noted.

(2) - That the Assistant Director for Legal & Democratic Governance be requested to make arrangements for the following items to be programmed onto the agenda for future meetings of the Scrutiny Committee:-

·         Impact of antisemitism and islamophobia in local schools

·         Progress on EHCPs – 27 November 2024

·         School Investment Plan to include an update on pupil numbers