Agenda and minutes

Mr N Collor moved, seconded by Mr R Pascoe, that Mr Kit Smith be elected Chairman of the Committee.

Agreed without a vote

Mr Smith thereupon took the Chair.

Mr J Ozog moved, seconded by Mr J Wedgbury, that Mr M Vye be elected Vice-Chairman of the Committee.

Agreed without a vote

Members are asked to note that the meetings for CFE: Learning and Development for 2009/2010 are as follows:-

Thursday, 5 November 2009

Friday, 15 January 2010 - all 3 CFE POCs

Wednesday, 14 April 2010

Thursday, 1 July 2010

Friday, 17 September 2010 - 2.00 pm 

Tuesday, 23 November 2010

(All meetings will commence at 10.00 am unless otherwise stated)

The Committee noted the dates of its future meetings, as follows:

Thursday, 5 November 2009

Friday, 15 January 2010 - all 3 CFE POCs

Thursday, 1 July 2010

Friday, 17 September 2010 - 2.00 pm 

Tuesday, 23 November 2010

It was requested that a term time date be found for the proposed April meeting.

 All meetings will start at 10.00 am. 

(1)       Mr Smith introduced Mrs Whittle, Deputy Cabinet Member (Learning) and invited her to set out any areas that she would like the POC to include in their work programme.

(2)       Members were then invited to indentify any areas of work where they thought that the POC could have an impact on the work of the County Council.

(3)       The following were identified as issues for consideration at future meetings:-

·          Transition from Primary to Secondary School

·        14 -24 provision

·        Universal coverage of children’s centres.

·        Performance at Key Stage 2 and reasons for low attainment.

·        Support from KCC staff for early years settings.

·        The creative curriculum.

·        Safe and Secure learning environment

·        Leadership in Schools

·        Extended schools

(4)       The teacher representatives requested that they, and the other co-opteed members of the Committee, be invited to attend any school visits with Committee Members.

(5)       There was agreement that some meetings of this Committee should be held at appropriate venues such as an Academy, a Skills Centre or a further education college.

(6)       RESOLVED that the items suggested for future meetings be considered further at the agenda discussion meeting.

(1)       Ms Gamby and Mrs White introduced a report which updated Members on progress to date and future plans for Children’s Centres and Extended Schools in Kent.  Members were invited to ask questions and make comments, which included the following:-

·        The importance of there being an awareness of the impact that Children Centres can have on the private and voluntary sector in their area was highlighted. It was important that they were encouraged to co-operate with each other for mutual benefit. 

·        It was important to ensure that providing cover for the Extended School did not distract teaching staff from their core duties.

·        Mrs White assured Members that although a number of schools delivered their extended services by signposting this was done in a proactive way.

·        The issue of the community use of school facilities during school holidays was mentioned.

·        Clarification was sought as to whether the Temple Hill Children’s Centre was in the Dover West Local Children Services Partnership as stated in Appendix 1.

(2)       The Chairman requested that any information requested by a Member at a Meeting should be circulated to all POC Members and that there should be a flow of information to POC Members between Meetings.

(3)       RESOLVED that (a)   the report and the comments made by Members as set out in the Minutes be noted;   (b)      the outcomes from the information provided to the DCSF by each Children’s Centre against set targets be provided to the POC at the appropriate time.

(1)       Ms Harris introduced a paper which set out the GCSE and Key Stage provisional performance in 2009.  The validated figures would be available later in the year.  Ms Harris reminded Members that there was a new framework of inspection which was tough on achievement.  There were a number of Kent schools, especially those in disadvantaged areas who would not be able to achieve more than a “satisfactory” as an outcome. In order to mitigate the negative impact that this could have on school moral it was important that there was an understanding of the reasons behind this.

(2)       It was requested that consideration be given to benchmarking the current effect of the recession on learning and skills.

(3)       RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted and a more detailed report be submitted in Spring 2010 when all the validated results were available.  It was requested that this report should set out the Kent context and provide information on the gap in performance of specific groups such as LAC and SEN.

(1)       Ms Dunn introduced a report which provided an update on the current developments relating to 16+ transition. The report outlined progress made to date on the transfer of functions from the LSC to the local authority and gave information about the proposed sub regional decision making process.

(2)       Member made comments and asked questions which included the following:-

• A view was expressed that the freedom pass should be extending to include all young people in further education at least, and to include rail travel as well.
• Vocational training should be relevant to local employment needs.
• All areas should ensure that there are meaningful pathways to further education.

(3)       Members requested that an induction into 14 – 24 provision be arranged for them.

(4)       RESOLVED that the report and the comments made by Members be noted.