Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence and notification of any substitutes present

Apologies for absence had been received from Miss E Dawson, Mrs S Gent, Ida Linfield and Mr M Northey.

Mr D Brazier attended as a substitute for Mr M Northey, and Mr R Bird attended a substitute for Ida Linfield.

To receive any declarations of interest made by Members in relation to any matter on the agenda.  Members are reminded to specify the agenda item number to which it refers and the nature of the interest being declared

Dr L Sullivan made a declaration of interest as her husband worked as an Early Help Worker for Kent County Council.

To consider and approve the minutes as a correct record.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Children’s, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee held on 25 September 2018 are correctly recorded and that they be signed by the Chairman, subject to minute 34 being amended by the addition of the following declaration of interest:

“Dr L Sullivan made a declaration of interest as her husband worked as an Early Help Worker for Kent County Council.”

To note the minutes and to receive a brief update from the Chairman of the Corporate Parenting Panel.

1.          Mrs Allen (Chairman of the Corporate Parenting Panel) provided a brief update on the positive progress that had been made by the Corporate Parenting Panel and said that the Corporate Parenting Annual Report would be brought to County Council on 13 December 2018. This would highlight the work that had taken place in 2017/18 and the key steps that were being taken to ensure that all Corporate Parents were aware of their responsibilities.

2.          The Chairman of the Children’s, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee said that all Members of the Children’s, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee were welcome to attend Corporate Parenting Panel meetings.

3.          RESOLVED that the minutes of the Corporate Parenting Panel held on 19 July and 19 September 2018 be noted.

To receive a report which provides the details of the 2019/2020 meeting dates for the Children’s, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee.

1.          The Chairman introduced the report which set out the 2019/20 meeting dates for the Children’s, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee.

2.          RESOLVED that the Children’s, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee meeting dates for 2019/20 be noted.

To receive a verbal update from the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education and the Corporate Director of Children, Young People and Education.

1.          Mr Gough (Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education) gave a verbal update on the following issues:

a)    National Children and Adults Services Conference:

Mr Gough and Mr Dunkley (Corporate Director of Children, Young People and Education) had attended the National Children and Adult Services Conference (NCASC) in November. Amanda Spielman (HM Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills) had presented a series of slides which set out information relating to the new Ofsted inspection framework, off-rolling issues within schools, children missing education, tackling criminal exploitation of children and child poverty. Other presentation sessions had taken place at the conference which focused on the funding of children's services, High Needs Funding issues as part of the comprehensive spending review and its underlying structural features, and the increasing demand for Education, Health and Care Plans within the High Needs block.

b)   Special Educational Needs and Disability and the linked impact on High Needs Funding:

Mr Gough referred to the impact that Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) had on the growth of High Needs Funding and said that this was a national issue. Kent County Council’s Pupil Premium Select Committee had considered SEND and High Needs Funding and extensive evidence had been submitted to the Secretary of State for Education which set out Kent’s views and concerns in relation to SEND and High Needs Funding.

c)    Meadowfield Foundation Special School – Update:

Mr Gough referred to the letter that he sent to Members on 23 November 2018 which provided further detail in relation to the revised cost of the Meadowfield project, outlined reasons for the overspend and highlighted the reduction in the estimated costs from £5,096,934 to £4,792,000.

2.          In response to a question relating to the letter that Mr Gough had sent to Members regarding Meadowfield Foundation Special School, Mr Gough confirmed that the process had been followed correctly.

3.          Matt Dunkley (Corporate Director of Children, Young People and Education) gave a verbal update on the following issues:

a)    National Children and Adults Services Conference:

Mr Dunkley made reference to the NCASC and referred to the national crisis in relation to SEND, High Needs Funding and other funding issues in children's services. He also said that the government were increasingly recognising the importance of these issues.

b)   Kent County Council’s Fostering Appreciation Awards:

Mr Dunkley said that although he was unable to attend Kent County Council’s Fostering Appreciation Awards ceremony in Folkestone, he understood that it had been a well-attended and overwhelming event. A video of the awards ceremony, which included the interviews that took place with some of Kent’s foster carers, was available on Kent County Council’s website.

c)    Change for Kent Children Project:

Mr Dunkley referred to the progress that had been made in relation to the Change for Kent Children Project and said that the research that had been undertaken by officers would become a firm proposal for consultation with staff in relation to the practice framework and the operating model that would support  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52.

To note a parcel of school alterations which will shortly be subject to key

decisions. The Children’s, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee is asked to endorse or make recommendations to the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education on the proposed decisions. The proposed decisions are as follows:

·         18/00057 - Proposal to establish a new 14 place Specialist Resource Provision (SRP) at John Wesley Church of England Methodist Primary School, Ashford, for children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) from September 2019

·         18/00059 - Establishing a 15 place Specialist Resource Provision at Kings Farm Primary School, Gravesend

·         18/00061 - Proposal to temporarily expand The Westlands (Secondary Academy) School, Swale, by 1.5FE from September 2019

·         18/00062 - Proposed changes to Specialist provision in Maidstone and Malling

Ms White (Area Education Officer - East Kent), Mr Watts (Area Education Officer – North Kent), Mr Adams (Area Education Officer - South Kent) and Mr Nehra (Area Education Officer - West Kent) were in attendance for this item.

1.          Ms White, Mr Watts, Mr Adams and Mr Nehra introduced the reports which set out the proposed decisions to expand or alter the following schools: John Wesley Church of England Methodist Primary School in Ashford, Kings Farm Primary School in Gravesend, The Westlands (Secondary Academy) School in Sittingbourne and the changes to specialist provision in Maidstone and Malling.

2.          Officers answered questions from Members of the Committee and comments were noted.

3.          Members of the Committee thanked Mr Nehra for his hard work and involvement in supporting the Children’s, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee.

4.          RESOLVED that

a)    the decision (18/00057) proposed to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, toissue a public notice to establish a new 14 place Specialist Resource Provision (SRP) at John Wesley Church of England Methodist Primary School for children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) from September 2019, be endorsed.

b)    the decision (18/00059) proposed to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, to

(i)    consider the results of a consultation to seek opinions on the establishment of a 15 place Specialist Resource Provision at Kings Farm Primary School; and

(ii)  issue a statutory public notice to establish a 15 place Special Resource Provision at Kings Farm Primary School from September 2019,

            be endorsed.

c)    the decision (18/00061) proposed to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, to allocate £1.96 million to the temporary expansion of Westlands Secondary School by 1.5FE, be endorsed.

d)    the decision (18/00062) proposed to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, to

(i)    increase the designated number of places offered at Five Acre Wood School from 330 to 465 places (including Satellite and Nursery provision) from 15 March 2019;

(ii)  expand the Satellite provision of Five Acre Wood School at Holmesdale School, Malling Road, Snodland ME6 5HS from 70 to 150 students aged 11-19 with moderate to severe learning difficulties from 15 March 2019;

(iii)establish a Satellite provision of Five Acre Wood School at Palace Wood Primary School, Ash Grove, Allington, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 0AB for 30 students aged 4-11 with moderate to severe learning difficulties from 01 September 2019; and

(iv)establish a Specialist Resourced Provision (SRP) for students with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) for autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) at East Borough Primary School,

            be endorsed.

To receive a report which sets out an overview as to why Kent County Council are required to produce a Local Offer for Care Leavers and details of the proposed offer.

Ms Smith (Interim Assistant Director for Corporate Parenting) and Mr Startup (Head of Care Leavers 18 plus Service) were in attendance for this item.

1.          Ms Smith introduced the report which provided an overview of the requirement placed on the County Council to produce a Local Offer for Care Leavers and detailed the proposed offer.

Ms Smith and Mr Startup then responded to comments and questions from Members, including the following: -

a)    Ms Smith confirmed that comprehensive training would be provided to foster carers in relation to the local offer.

b)    Ms Smith said that the local offer would be shared with all of Kent’s districts. She said that Kent County Council were working closely with housing boroughs towards being able to offer council tax exemption to Kent’s care leavers.

c)    Ms Smith stated that an interactive, easy-read local offer document would be available on Kent County Council’s website.

d)    Mr Startup referred to the entitlement rates within the document and confirmed that they were being reviewed. He said the revised entitlement rates would be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee.

e)    Mr Startup referred to the accredited course that was offered to Kent’s care leavers and answered questions from Members of the Committee.

f)     In relation to the food vouchers that were offered to Kent’s care leavers, Ms Smith stated that they were a safe way of ensuring that young people could buy food in supermarkets. She added that Kent’s care leavers were supported by Kent County Council to ensure that they were able to attend college and had an aspirational future.

2.          Mr Dunkley referred to Kent’s bulge of 800 unaccompanied asylum-seeking care leavers and said that there was severe financial pressure on Kent County Council’s budget to accommodate the additional care leavers in Kent.

3.          RESOLVED that the decision proposed to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, to

              a)    agree publication of KCC’s Local Offer for Care Leavers up to the age of 25 years in accordance with the statutory requirements of The Children and Social Work Act (2017); and

              b)    delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Children, Young People and Education, or other nominated officer, to undertake the necessary actions to implement the decision,

be endorsed.

To receive a report which provides Members of the Committee with the opportunity to comment on the Commissioning Plan for Education Provision in Kent 2019-23 prior to final approval.

1.          The Chairman referred to the briefing that had been offered to all Members on the more complex areas of the Commissioning Plan.

2.          Mr Gough (Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education) introduced the report which set out the Commissioning Plan for Education Provision in Kent 2019-23, prior to final approval by Cabinet on 14 January 2019.

3.          RESOLVED that the report be noted.

(Post meeting note: As the meeting of Cabinet on 14 January was cancelled, this item was referred to the Cabinet meeting on 28 January 2019)

To receive a report which advises Members of the Committee about the proposals contained within the School Funding Formula Consultation 2019-20 which occurred between 15 October and 16 November 2018.

Mr Pleace (Revenue and Tax Strategy Manager, Strategic and Corporate Services), and Mr Abbott (Director of Education Planning and Access) were in attendance for this item.

1.       Mr Gough (Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education) and Mr Pleace introduced the report which set out the proposals contained within the School Funding Formula Consultation 2019-20.

Mr Abbott, Mr Dunkley, Mr Gough and Mr Pleace then responded to comments and questions from Members, including the following: -

        a)    Mr Pleace referred to the figures set out in the report and to the cost of providing additional support for children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). He confirmed that the average cost of an EHCP could be calculated. Mr Gough added that the majority of the costs within the High Needs Block reflected children that had an EHCP in place.

        b)    In relation to children in Kent with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Mr Pleace stated that Kent County Council were working closely with paediatricians and GP’s to seek ways in which children with ASD could be better supported.

         c)    Mr Dunkley highlighted the significant increase in EHCP’s in Kent and said that Kent County Council continued to refine the outcome measures that were used for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND). Mr Gough referred to the need for extra resource in the high-needs system, the extensive action programme that had been put in place for children with SEND and ensuring that appropriate support was provided in schools to ensure that the needs of children and families could be met locally.

        d)    Mr Gough stated that there had been a large increase in independent sector placements over recent years and said that it was important to continue to ensure that children were in the schools, that ensured that their individual needs could be met appropriately.

        e)    Mr Pleace confirmed that English as an Additional Language (EAL) was part of the local funding formula.

          f)    Mr Dunkley said that the demand for EHCP’s was led by parents and health professionals. He said that Kent County Council had become less robust in terms of refusing EHCP applications for assessment, which in turn increased workflow.

        g)    Mr Abbott acknowledged that work was being undertaken across the Council to re-establish a parent/carer forum in Kent to ensure that parents and carers were well informed and were receiving clear and concise information.

        h)    Mr Pleace confirmed that a protective lump sum of £120,000 was provided to all schools in Kent, regardless of their size.

2.          The Chairman requested officers to circulate a briefing note to Members of the Committee, providing more information in relation to each of the divisions in Kent.

3.          RESOLVED that the decision proposed to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, to

a)    introduce a split site factor, and

b)    repeat the 0.5% transfer of funds from the Schools Block to the High Needs Block in 2018-19 and to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 56.

To receive a report which provides a summary of the Kent Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Assessments, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 test outcomes (SATs), and GCSE and Post-16 results for 2018. The report also includes comparisons with emerging national data where available and reports on the achievement of vulnerable groups and achievement gaps in each Key Stage.

Mr Roberts (Chief Executive Officer – The Education People) was in attendance for this item.

1.          Mr Roberts introduced the report which set out the Kent Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Assessments, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 test outcomes (SATs), and GCSE and Post-16 results for 2018. He had received additional information in relation to Key Stage 4 outcomes which had not been available at the time of agenda publication and reassured Members that this information would be circulated to Members of the Committee outside of the meeting.

Mr Dunkley, Mr Gough and Mr Roberts then responded to comments and questions from Members, including the following: -

a)    Mr Roberts referred to the Progress 8 score for 2018 for all pupils in North, East, South and West Kent and said that girls continued to out-perform boys.

b)    Mr Gough (Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education) said that a series of changes had been made in the assessment process which had an effect on widening the gaps in relation to disadvantaged pupils.

c)    Mr Roberts provided clarification on the percentages in relation to the children in care figures within the report.

d)    Mr Roberts outlined the effects of the vocational changes that had taken place nationally. He said that The Education People were undertaking work which looked more closely at apprenticeships and revitalising the work with the guilds.

e)    Mr Dunkley referred to the challenge of closing attainment gaps and said that Kent County Council were succeeding to close gaps best at the early years Foundation stage and Key Stage 1 and 2. In relation to the Children In Care, he confirmed that there was a bulge of Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) within the cohort.

f)     Mr Roberts clarified the Progress 8 score in terms of A-level performance and said that East Kent was in line with the national average. He referred to the performance of schools and said that the school improvement group were offering school improvement products to schools that were underperforming.

g)    Mr Dunkley referred to children in Kent with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and talked about how children with ASD’s needs could be met within selective schools.

2.          The Chairman suggested that more information relating to the additional data be brought back to a future meeting of the Committee.

3.          RESOLVED that the report be noted.

(Dr L Sullivan asked that her vote against the recommendation be recorded in the minutes)

To receive a report which summarises the current mental health services for children and young people in Kent. The report outlines which services are funded by Kent County Council and which are funded by the National Health Service, with a focus on the services funded by Kent County Council, delivered by the North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT).

Ms Sharp (Head of Commissioning Portfolio Children and Public Health), Mr Wickings (Deputy Managing Director, West Kent CCG), Ms Johnson (Director of Operations, Essex and Kent NELFT) and Ms Burns (Deputy Director Kent NELFT) were in attendance for this item.

1.          Mr Gough (Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education) and Ms Sharp introduced the report which summarised the current mental health services for children and young people in Kent and reassured Members of the Committee that a key decision report would be submitted to the Committee in January 2019.

2.          Mr Wickings explained the distinctions between the commissioning process and the provider.

Ms Burns, Ms Johnson, Ms Sharp and Mr Wickings then responded to comments and questions from Members, including the following: -

a)    Ms Sharp outlined the strengths and challenges faced within the services funded by Kent County Council but delivered by North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT).

b)    Ms Sharp said that terminating the contract was not a favourable option because the performance was improving within the mental health pathway. She added that terminating the current section 76 agreement as opposed to varying the existing contract would allow for the opportunity to ensure that the model had the right focus on early help and would mirror the positive aspects of the current pathway, whilst addressing the issues that led to the challenges faced.

c)    Ms Johnson stated that the delays in relation to the safety of young people that had been referred into the service had been prioritised at the beginning of the contract. She added that NELFT were undertaking national recruitment campaigns to recruit to senior clinical posts within the service.

d)    Ms Burns reiterated Ms Johnson’s comments in relation to the delays and talked briefly about the increasing number of referrals and funding levels across the country. She said that NELFT would continue to focus on working closely with Kent County Council in relation to early help intervention.

e)    Ms Sharp explained the differences between option two and three within the report and said that Kent County Council had used its financial leverage very strongly within the contract. She confirmed that providers had hoped to more radically change the contracting arrangements to move to a model that conformed to service demand.

f)     Mr Wickings explained the three different options that were highlighted within the report and the desired outcomes for the contract.

3.          Mr Dunkley said that although option three was the most favourable option, it was important to ensure that potential risks were managed.

4.          The Chairman requested that a cross-party member briefing be held, prior to the decision report being submitted to the Cabinet Committee in January 2019.

5.          RESOLVED that the report be noted.

To receive a report which summarises the activity taken to commission and mobilise a new contract for the provision of Independent Adoption & Special Guardianship Order (SGO) Support Services.

Ms Sharp (Head of Commissioning Portfolio Children and Public Health) was in attendance for this item.

1.          Ms Sharp introduced the report and summarised the activity taken to commission and mobilise a new contract for the provision of Independent Adoption & Special Guardianship Order Support Services.

2.    In response to a question, Ms Sharp confirmed that Kent County Council was very satisfied with the performance of Barnados.

3.          RESOLVED that the report be noted.

To receive a report from the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education and the Corporate Director of Children, Young People and Education which sets out the directorate’s performance scorecard, which now includes Education, Early Help and Specialist Children’s Services.

1.          Mr Dunkley introduced the report which set out the Children, Young People and Education performance management framework and the targets and milestones for each year up to 2020, set out in the Strategic Priority Statement, Vision and Priorities for Improvement, and service business plans.

2.          RESOLVED that the report be noted.

The Committee is asked to note an information item setting out data on Ofsted results.

The information circulated with the agenda was noted without discussion.

To receive the report from General Counsel that gives details of the proposed Work Programme for the Children’s, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee.

RESOLVED that the Work Programme for 2019/20 be noted.