Agenda item

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report provides 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 fourth quarter of the year (January to March). It includes out-turn performance and financial data (where this is available) for the Portfolio, along with updates on the portfolio savings programme.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to: -

·         Consider the Annual Portfolio Performance and Resource Report;

·         Review the progress against delivering key projects, priority outcomes, targets and budgets for 2017/18;

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

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

·         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  (474 3186)

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

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

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

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

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated detailing 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 fourth quarter of the year (January to March). It includes out-turn performance and financial data (where this is available) for the Portfolio, along with updates 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:-

Priority One

·         It was noted that the early days courses and the early years settings was good and improving however, the take up of the free school meals was only 40%. It was commented that the early years foundation stage targets were a priority and following a peer review there was evidence of good practice across Stockport and was being monitored. The figures relate to the school year of 2018/19 and improvements have been put in place and would be reported in due course.

Priority Two

·         It was noted that 92% of children were attending a primary school, but the % of children attending a secondary school was reported as a red rating. It was commented that due to the new Ofsted regime introduced on 1 September 2019 and the preparation time for schools there was concerns expressed relating to the lack of flexibility given to secondary schools. It was also stated that there were issues relating to two year KS3 and the choice of options at the end of Year 8 and the delivery of the curriculum.

·         Concern was raised relating to persistent absentees and how the children were tracked and the interventions that were involved. It was commented that the Werneth and Brinnington Enhanced Integration programme involving 11 schools (9 Primary & 2 High Schools), delivering in a more integrated and enhanced offer, with a focus on attendance, wellbeing and improving outcomes and then being scaled up to be delivered across Stockport.

·         Clarification was sought on the current situation with Covid-19 and the apprentices and whether anything was being done to get young people back into apprenticeships. It was commented that prior to Covid-19, there was already a decline in the apprenticeship programme, but Stockport are putting plans in place to improve getting young people into apprenticeships.

Priority 3

·         Clarification was sought on what was being done to address the emotional health of looked after children. It was commented that the emotional health and wellbeing of the looked after children was a priority for Stockport and changes had been made. It was noted that the report related to the outcomes for the last 12 months.

·         Clarification was sought relating to the percentage of children in Year 6 classed as underweight and due to Covid-19 and children being off school what would the impact be on the figures. It was commented that a number of programmes were already underway, however, it was difficult to assess what was currently happening, but information would be provided in a future report.

Priority 4

·         It was noted that the number of looked after children increased by 14, but low numbers of children with child protection plans was also reported. It was commented that the figures are monitored weekly, but it was below the regional average and further scrutiny had been done looking at the figures together with the safeguarding partnership executive on a regular basis.

·         Clarification was sought relating to the increased figures for the children missing from care. It was commented that there was a specific team that monitored this and that Stockport had several hundred children living in Stockport who were looked after children but from other local authorities.

Priority 5

·         It was noted that the KS2 results for EHCP & SEN were progressing in the right direction and were a green rating, however, KS4 SEN were red rating. It was commented that the report reflected the time period from June 2019, so those children would now be undertaking their exams and results would be reported in a future report. It was also stated that work was underway to improve the support for SEN was provided much earlier and to support the transitioning for KS2 into secondary school.

·         It was noted that the persistent absent rate and the permanent exclusions for the EHCP & SEN were going down, but it didn’t match with the permanent exclusions for the EHCP which was increasing. It was commented that a member of staff from the Attendance & Welfare Service was working with the schools to reduce the exclusions and change the structure and improvements would be reported to a future meeting.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.