(1)  In the interest of transparency Councillor Engel disclosed an interest in Minute 20 as she had children in key Stages 1 and 2.

(2)  Councillor Mullaney disclosed an interest in Minute 20 as she worked in a 2 year old setting.

Action:           City Solicitor

(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. 

(Fatima Butt - 01274 432227)

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

To consider referrals that have been made to this Committee up to and including the date of publication of this agenda.

The Committee is asked to note any referrals and decide how it wishes to proceed, for example by incorporating the item into the work programme, requesting that it be subject to more detailed examination, or refer it to an appropriate Working Group/Committee.

There were no referrals that had been made to the Committee.

The report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services (Document “I”)provides an interim summary of performance for children and young people attending Bradford schools at the following key stages:

·         Early Years Foundation Stage – 5 year olds (Provisional results)

·         Key Stage 1 – 7 year olds (Provisional results)

·         Key Stage 2 – 11 year olds (Unvalidated results based on the Statistical First Release (SFR))

Recommended -

(1)          That the Committee receives the interim report on the performance of Bradford’s Children and Young People in Key Stage tests for 2017 and that additional reports be provided as the Local Authority receives further published data from the DfE; a final report be produced in January 2018 after receipt of validated data.

(2)          That Members be asked to continue to encourage families in their wards to become more actively engaged with their children’s learning, attendance, health and well being in order to further improve their children’s learning  capacity and resilience.

(Judith Kirk – 01274 431078)

The report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services (Document “I”)provided an interim summary of performance for children and young people attending Bradford schools at the following key stages:

·         Early Years Foundation Stage – 5 year olds (Provisional results)

·         Key Stage 1 – 7 year olds (Provisional results)

·         Key Stage 2 – 11 year olds (Unvalidated results based on the Statistical First Release (SFR))

It was reported that:

·                The interim report outlined some of the key outcomes for Bradford from the 2017 national tests and teacher assessments.  The results relating to these national tests were published throughout the autumn term and consequently the complete confirmed results could not be reported to the Committee until January 2018.

·                Much of the report was based upon unvalidated results.  A few 2017 national averages had been published and where they existed they had been used.  Information relating to specific groups including gender, disadvantage, Looked After Children and those eligible for free school meals, would be included in the final report in January 2018.

·                Results for 2017 generally indicated that the proportion of pupils who achieved the expected standard across the range of subjects and age groups within the Primary Phase continued to rise.  The rate of improvement in some measures were slightly better than the national.  However, these improvements were often not sufficient enough to substantially reduce the gaps that existed with national averages, improvements in the proportion of pupils achieving the higher standard at the end of Key Stage 2, however, were particularly notable.

·                When compared to all other Local Authorities, Bradford results at the end of Key Stage 2 had been ranked higher this year in all subjects with the exception of writing.  In reading, writing and maths results, Bradford ranked 126^th position of the 152 Local Authority nationally which was 13 places higher than 2016.

·                Changes to the GCSE examination system in 2016, and again this year, meant that it was too early in the term to summarise performance at Key Stage 4 accurately.  Further information would be available later this term and in the New Year.  This also applied to Key Stage 5 outcomes.

·                In 2017 80% of Bradford’s Year 1 children (6 year olds) were successful in the phonics screening checks.  This was one percentage point higher than in 2016.  Nationally 81% met the expected standard in 2017 which was the same as 2016.

·                72% of Bradford pupils achieved the expected standard in reading at the end of Key Stage 1 which was an increase of two percentage points compared to 2016.  Nationally 76% of pupils achieved the expected standard in reading at the end of Key Stage 1.

·                66% of Bradford pupils achieved the expected standard in writing at the end of Key Stage 1 which was an increase of two percentage points compared to 64% in 2016.  Nationally 68% of pupils achieved the expected standard in writing at the end of Key Stage1.

·                73% of Bradford pupils achieved the expected standard in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

The report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services (Document “J”) provides an update to the report previously presented regarding the issue of child sexual exploitation (CSE). It particularly focuses on the 9 Point Strategic Response to CSE and how it is used by Bradford Safeguarding Children Board (BSCB) and partners in work to drive improvements across the District’s safeguarding partnership and to hold agencies to account for their work in their area.

Recommended -

(1)          That it be noted that the 9 Point Strategic Response to CSE be reviewed and replaced with a new Strategic Response to CSE.

(2)          The a further update on the progress of the 9 Point strategic Response to CSE be submitted to the Committee in 12 month’s time. 

(3)          That subsequent reports be provided to Area Committees.

(Mark Griffin – 01274 434361)

The report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services (Document “J”) provided an update to the report previously presented regarding the issue of child sexual exploitation (CSE). It particularly focused on the 9 Point Strategic Response to CSE and how it was used by Bradford Safeguarding Children Board (BSCB) and partners in working to drive improvements across the District’s safeguarding partnership and to hold agencies to account for their work in their area.

The Strategic Director, Children’s Services highlighted the progress that had been made since the last report:

·                Review of the BSCB in light of the Wood Review and the Children and Social Work Act.

·                Further review of the CSE Hub around operational functionality.

·                Refresh of the 9 Point Strategic Response to CSE.

·                Introduction of a monthly CSE Operational meeting to compliment daily activity and the strategic CSE Sub-Group.

·                Completion and publication of two serious case reviews around CSE.

·                Co-location of Local Authority and Police resources to oversee Missing Children.

·                Establishment of Joint Targeted Area Inspection (JTAI) Sub-Group which allowed continual quality assurance.

·                Recent JTAI inspection recognised effective arrangements around child protection.

·                Innovative methods of raising awareness through Safeguarding Stories, Mr Shapeshifter, Someone’s Sister and Someone’s Daughter and Police Cyber Teams.

·                Barnardo’s Nightwatch and Police Problem Solving Teams continued to work effectively with the industry sector and night time economy.

·                Increased communication and awareness through the BSCB and CSE campaigns.

·                Internet Safety Conference to share good practice and increase awareness with 80 delegates involved.

It was reported that at a previous meeting a request was made to include data on the number of children under 16 that had been diagnosed with a STD (sexually transmitted disease), the number of children under 16 that had multiple pregnancy terminations and numbers and what action had been taken in relation to historical cases.  Enquiries with Children’s Services and the Health agencies had indicated that it would not be possible to collate and obtain this data due to the complexity of arrangements that provided services for these matters.

A representative of the Police highlighted the key points of the report and emphasised that there had been a year on year increase in referrals to the CSE Hub which was seen as a sign of success as it raised awareness.

It was reported that an extra sergeant had been appointed to support the work of the CSE Hub.

Members were informed that ongoing actions relating to the Autumn Serious Case Review Action Plan and Jack Serious Case Review Action Plan was outlined in Appendix 2 of the report.

A representative of Barnardo’s attended the meeting and reported that Bradford had been innovative in its parenting support programmes on CSE as well as producing a CSE “Parenting Education Pack”.  This was a resource that addressed the gap in current provision to help parents participate and contribute to the safety and protection of their children from CSE.

Examples of positive work undertaken by the CSE Hub was tabled at the meeting.

The Chair  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

The report of the Chair of the Committee (Document “K”) presents the Committee’s Work Programme 2017-18.

Recommended -

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

(Licia Woodhead – 01274 432119)

The report of the Chair of the Committee (Document “K”) presented the Committee’s Work Programme 2017-18.

A Member requested that a briefing note be circulated to Members of the Committee on the performance of Pupil Referral Units.

Resolved-

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

Action:           Overview and Scrutiny Lead