The Director of Children’s Services will submit a report (Document “P”) which provides an update on the Raising Attainment Strategy.

Recommended -

That Members accept the reports and note the progress of the Raising Attainment Strategy implementation.

                                                                        (Sue Lowndes - 01274 432623)

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report (Document “P”) which provided an update on the Raising Attainment Strategy.

The Officer reported Raising Attainment Strategy was intended to be a 5-year plan. However, budget constraints had led to much of the work to cease and most would end in July 2023.

The Committee heard that £687,000 had been removed from the Early Years Language for Learning programme as part of this year’s budget setting.

The primary school work had spent £260,000 on maths and £116,480 on English work – but the scheme would end this Summer.

£500,000 had been removed from the secondary school scheme due to budget cuts.

£500,000 had been committed to the scheme to tackle persistent absences, but this will only last until July.

The Chair of the Committee expressed disappointment that the whole strategy would end in July 2023 adding that when the report last came to the committee, Members were quite positive and felt that the strategy may have potential.

Members of the Committee were keen to understand how it was decided which elements would be abandoned.

Director of Children’s Services reported that some projects that had not yet begun never started, which was easier than cutting existing schemes.

Members asked if the decision of what to cut was made by officers or if it was a political decision.

The Officer reported that in a situation of budget constraints, officers were asked to put measures forward that would cut costs. Officers looked at several areas and the risks if they withdrew one scheme or another, then a determination was made as to which risks were the least risky.

Members of the Committee were concerned that although a good programme was put together, it would be cut short due to budget restraints. Members felt that a proper evaluation of what was needed was not carried out as Early Years was still not up to standard.

Members sought clarification on engagement levels with families to identify which service they required.

It was reported that Early Years/Health Visitors were trained in family care settings and would help families navigate the system.

A Member of the Committee asked how many schools the Council was working with to tackle attendance issues.

The Officer reported that most schools have internal resources (Attendance Officer) that would assist with absences but at times the schools do not have the time or resources to deal with long term absences.

Members of the Committee commented that the issue of children’s school absence was not being taken as seriously as it should. School’s do not have the correct resources to tackle long term absence therefore, there needs to be further investigation into the issue to gain a better understanding of persistent absences as these families would benefit from a timelier intervention.

The Officer assured Members that there were many families with persistent absence issues but this is short lived due to intervention and support. Sometimes it was particular times of the year where there was a spike in absences. The Officer reported that some school are not under the direct rule of the Local Authority.

Resolved –

1.    This Committee requests that a further progress report be presented in the new Municipal Year.

2.    Members of the Committee agreed to undertake a scrutiny review into persistent absence across schools in the Bradford District.

3.    The Committee requests that a briefing note be provided to members, summarising Key Stage 2 outcomes of schools involved in the Primary school interventions, under the Raising Attainment Strategy.

ACTION:  Strategic Director for Children’s Services

                                                                        (Sue Lowndes – 01274 432623)