The report of the Strategic, Children’s Services (Document “A”) contains information on children not in mainstream education (including Special Schools), pre and post 16 up, to March 20^th 2020. This report also contains a summary on education for children in care during the COVID crisis.

Recommended –

Members are asked to note the information contained within this report.

(Jonathan Cooper – 09124 436401)

The report of the Strategic, Children’s Services (Document “A”) contained information on children not in mainstream education (including Special Schools), pre and post 16 up, to March 20th 2020. The report also detailed a summary on education for children in care during the COVID-19 crisis.

The Chair invited the Virtual Head to introduce the report to the Panel.

Following his synopsis, a question and answer session ensued –

·         In reference to section 2.13, the figures from September 2019 to March 2020 had doubled. What was the cause of the increase?

o   This was the result of a particular mix of children due to a variation, particularly in terms of children where it was often most difficult to get them into a suitable education provision. On most occasions the increase of numbers was due to children from out of District placements, it took a period of time to find a suitable education provision. The increase was also due to the individual makeup of a cohort, but the out of District was always be a higher number. A factor being that the authority had  less of an  influence directly over other admissions authorities.

·         Was a elected Councillor able to assist in any way to help try to speed up admission delays that the service have encountered?

o   It was paramount that Councillors ensured that the  an application for a school got to the school as soon as possible. It was equally important for the Virtual School Head to be made aware of a child’s placement move in order to assist in the child’s favour towards commencing the process of a new school placement. In this way the service could advise on schools available in order to assist the Social Worker in submitting the application. The protocol on admissions process for Children in Care was also being discussed with the Admissions Manager at present;

·         In relation to Section 2.4 of the report, regarding the data of care leavers, how were Bradford’s statistical neighbours dealing with this ? and, in terms of these figures, how did Bradford compare to its statistical neighbours?

o   The information presented in the report was slightly deceptive in its layout and in terms of education, employment and training, statistical neighbours were actually doing worse than Bradford due to a further 10% more children on their registers. Bradford was ahead of its statistical neighbours and therefore on an average par in comparison to England as a whole as opposed to last year when Bradford was behind the national average.

Resolved –

1.         That the information contained in Document “A” be noted.

2.         That School Admissions give the necessary support to the office         of Virtual School to ensure that applications for new admissions            to schools are actioned as soon as possible.

3.         That a further report be presented to the Corporate Parenting    Panel explaining the usage of the additional pupil premium plus    and how the premium is supporting children not in mainstream education and children in care.

Action:          Virtual School Head

                        Strategic Manager Admissions & Exclusions