Local democracy

Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 1 - City Hall, Bradford. View directions

Contact: Fatima Butt / Jill Bell 

Items
No. Item

26.

DISCLOSURES OF INTEREST

(Members Code of Conduct - Part 4A of the Constitution)

 

To receive disclosures of interests from members and co-opted members on matters to be considered at the meeting. The disclosure must include the nature of the interest.

 

An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting when it becomes apparent to the member during the meeting.

 

Notes:

 

(1)       Members may remain in the meeting and take part fully in discussion and voting unless the interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or an interest which the Member feels would call into question their compliance with the wider principles set out in the Code of Conduct.  Disclosable pecuniary interests relate to the Member concerned or their spouse/partner.

 

(2)       Members in arrears of Council Tax by more than two months must not vote in decisions on, or which might affect, budget calculations, and must disclose at the meeting that this restriction applies to them.  A failure to comply with these requirements is a criminal offence under section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. 

 

(3)       Members are also welcome to disclose interests which are not disclosable pecuniary interests but which they consider should be made in the interest of clarity.

 

(4)       Officers must disclose interests in accordance with Council Standing Order 44.

 

Minutes:

Those members who were school governors disclosed a non pecuniary interest.

27.

MINUTES

Recommended –

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on XXXXX 2016 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

 

(XXXXXX – 01274 43XXXX)

Minutes:

Resolve –

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on 26 July  2016 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

 

ACTION:         City Solicitor

28.

INSPECTION OF REPORTS AND BACKGROUND PAPERS

(Access to Information Procedure Rules – Part 3B of the Constitution)

 

Reports and background papers for agenda items may be inspected by contacting the person shown after each agenda item.  Certain reports and background papers may be restricted. 

 

Any request to remove the restriction on a report or background paper should be made to the relevant Strategic Director or Assistant Director whose name is shown on the front page of the report. 

 

If that request is refused, there is a right of appeal to this meeting. 

 

Please contact the officer shown below in advance of the meeting if you wish to appeal. 

 

(XXXXX - 01274 XXXXXX)

 

Minutes:

There were no appeals submitted by the public to review decisions to restrict documents.

29.

SCHOOLS FORUM UPDATE pdf icon PDF 303 KB

Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee has asked for a regular update on the work of the Schools Forum.  The last update was presented to the Committee on 26 July 2016. The Schools Forum has met once since on 21 September. The decisions list from this meeting is attached at Appendix 1 of the report of the Director of Children’s Services (Document “N”).

 

Recommendation -

 

Committee Members are asked to consider and to note the information provided in Document “N”.

 

                                                                        (Andrew Redding – 0174 432678)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee had asked for a regular update on the work of the Schools Forum.  The last update was presented to the Committee on 26 July 2016. The Schools Forum had met once since on 21 September. The decision list from this meeting was attached at Appendix 1 of the report of the Director of Children’s Services (Document “N”).

 

It was reported that a Government announcement on the High Needs Block Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) was expected in the autumn.  The early years National Funding Formula proposals and consultation was referred to and specifically the £3.01m reduction in Bradford’s funding for 3 and 4 year olds from April 2017 and 2018. Reference was made to the very significant implications for the levels of DSG funding to nursery schools.  It was noted that Bradford was one of 38 local authorities that would lose out under the proposed funding formula and concerns were expressed about how much influence the authority could have nationally.

 

It was noted that the Schools Forum recommendations to Council on the budget would be considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in January 2017.

 

In response to a member question about what action was being taken to respond to the changes in funding which would start to be implemented in 2017 it was reported that the Schools Forum was looking to provide as much continuity as possible and use some of the DSG reserves to support nursery schools next year. 

 

The Deputy Director of Children’s Services noted that issues were being looked at holistically, working hand in hand with nurseries through what was potentially a very difficult funding situation.

 

The Children’s Services Portfolio Holder acknowledged the work undertaken by the Schools Forum in difficult circumstances.

 

Resolved -

 

That the information provided in Document “N” be noted.

 

No Action

 

                                                           

 

30.

EDUCATION STANDARDS 2016 - EARLY YEARS TO KEY STAGE 5 pdf icon PDF 718 KB

The Strategic Director of Children’s Services will present an initial report on the performance of Bradford’s Children and Young People in Key Stage tests and exams for 2016 (Document “O”).

 

 Recommended -

 

(1)          That Overview and Scrutiny Committee receive this initial report on the performance of Bradford’s Children and Young People in Key Stage tests and exams for 2016 (Document “O”).

 

(2)       Further reports be provided as the Local Authority receives further published data from the DfE.

 

                                                                                    (Judith Kirk – 01274 431078)

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

The Strategic Director of Children’s Services presented an initial report on the performance of Bradford’s Children and Young People in Key Stage tests and exams for 2016 (Document “O”).

 

It was reported that in respect of Early Years, outcomes year on year had increased for 5 year olds.  Key measures of Good Level of Development (GLD) had increased since 2013.  The gap between Bradford and national had continued to close by a further 1%.  There were some aspects that needed to improve.  The gap between boys and girls had closed by 3% where it had previously been widening.  Children that were disadvantaged, based on eligibility for free school meals, had not seen an improvement since 2013 however this year the gap had closed between those eligible for free school meals and those who were not.  Final validated results would be received on 20 October. 

 

The following responses were made to member questions regarding Early Years:

 

·        Members would be provided with information on whether the introduction of universal infant free school meals had effected the rate of registration.

·        Improved outcomes were being observed for those children that the authority was aware were eligible and claiming benefit.

·        Eligible 2 year olds had been able to take up places for the last 3 years and if they were in quality provision this improved their outcomes.

·        The stability of the provider was also the key.

·        The impact of 2, 3 and 4 year olds taking up provision and the improved quality of the provision had been noted.   Ofsted rating of good and outstanding had increased from 60% to 80-85%.

·        A reduction in the difference between the attainment of girls and boys had resulted from specific targeted work in schools identifying where the gap was widening or staying the same.

·        The follow up report would include a breakdown by ethnicity.

·        Specific children in children’s centres and schools were being targeted and specific targeted programmes were being rolled out and this was starting to have an impact.

·        A module had been rolled out on male role models and carers which was run by the fatherhood institute and was targeted at schools with a growing gap between attainment levels of girls and boys.  In some schools the gap had closed or boys were out performing girls.  Case studies were included in a publication issued to all schools to highlight effective action that could be taken.

·        The Deputy Director of Children’s Services agreed to take up  with health colleagues the concerns of a member about the length of time between referral  for speech and language therapy and receiving an appointment.

 

It was reported that in respect of Primary schools, 29 schools and 8 academies had been targeted and monitored.  Schools were being sign posted to those that were doing well.  It was emphasised that the improvement was sector led.  In Key stage 1 a comparison could not be made with previous years, however in reading, writing and maths there was an indication that the gap was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

31.

ELECTIVE HOME EDUCATION pdf icon PDF 224 KB

The report of the Deputy director of Children’s Services (Document “P”) provides Members with details of the legislative framework surrounding Elective Home Education and the Authority’s role and responsibilities.

 

Recommended -

 

(1)        That the limited powers of the Authority to intervene in cases whereby parents elect to home educate their child(ren) is noted.

 

(2)        That it be noted that the establishment of the Education Safeguarding Hub is a key vehicle in ensuring and promoting the wellbeing of children who are not attending any registered provision.

 

                                                                                    (Judith Kirk – 01274 431078)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Deputy Director of Children’s Services (Document “P”) provided Members with details of the legislative framework surrounding Elective Home Education and the Authority’s role and responsibilities.

 

It was noted that a distinction had to be made between parents that successfully home educated and those parents that removed their children from school either because of issues with the school which were not taken up with the school or parents that did not secure a place in the school that they wanted and kept the child out of school pending an appeal.

 

A member questioned what action was taken in instances when a parent did not get a place at the preferred school and they kept the child out of school saying they were being home educated.  It was noted that the safeguarding team dealt with children not in education in a multi agency approach involving health and the police.

 

In response to a member question whether those children born in the district and not in school were being followed up, it was noted that not all children were known to the local authority as some went into the independent sector or moved out of the district.  If parents did not return the form then they were chased up.  It was noted that a pilot would run from January to June with HMRC sharing information.  A similar pilot in Sheffield had identified 47% of children missing education.

 

With reference to a member enquiry about outcomes for gypsy and traveller children it was noted that this would be known if they were on roll in school.  However if they elected to home educate they would be part of that cohort and if they had never been in school then there would be no knowledge of them.  It was also pointed out that there was no legislation that required parents to submit children to take qualifications.

 

A parent who was a home educator attended the meeting and addressed the Committee and circulated an Action for Home Education briefing paper on the report of the Deputy Director of Children’s Services (Document “P”).  She expressed concerns about the blanket sharing of child benefit data and stressed that Bradford Council had to be able to justify why it required the information and she was of the opinion that there was nothing evident in the report.  The Action for Home Education briefing paper referred to:

·        The contradiction between the proposed delay in deregistration from school and S8 of the statutory Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regs. 2006.

·        That the proposed use of personal data about children and families breaches Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. 

·        That the data sharing proposed in the report did not comply with the Data Protection Act and the Human Rights Act.

·        By the nature of the scheme those families whose personal data would be shared will not know about it and therefore can not be asked or agree to provide their informed consent  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

32.

UNREGISTERED SCHOOLS pdf icon PDF 174 KB

The report of the Deputy Director of Children’s Services (Document “Q”) provides Members with details of the legislative framework surrounding Elective Home Education and the Authority’s role and responsibilities.

 

Recommended -

 

That the Local authority works with partner organisations to effectively respond to and support (where necessary) any education organisation that may be operating illegally, either knowingly or unknowingly.

 

                                                                                    (Judith Kirk – 01274 431078)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Deputy Director of Children’s Services (Document “Q”) provided Members with details of the legislative framework surrounding Elective Home Education and the Authority’s role and responsibilities.

 

The Deputy Director of Children’s Services emphasised that there was a clear difference between supplementary schools and unregistered schools.  She added that schools providing less than “full-time” education did not come under the definition of ”independent school”  however there was there was no legal definition of “full- time education”.  The powers of the Authority and the Unregistered Schools Process flow chart were contained in the report.

 

Resolved -

 

That the Local authority works with partner organisations to effectively respond to and support (where necessary) any education organisation that may be operating illegally, either knowingly or unknowingly.

 

Action:            Strategic Director of Children’s Services

 

                                                                       

 

33.

CHILDREN'S SERVICES OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE WORK PROGRAMME pdf icon PDF 147 KB

The report of the Chair of the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Document “R”) presents the Committee’s Work Programme 2016-17.

 

Recommended –

 

That the Work Programme 2016-17 continues to be regularly reviewed during the year.

 

                                                                        (Licia Woodhead – 01274 432119)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Resolved –

 

That the Work Programme 2016-17 continues to be regularly reviewed during the year.

 

 

Action:            Scrutiny Lead