Agenda item

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 the framework. He confirmed that a report on the Change for Kent Children Project would be brought to the Children’s, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee in January 2019.

4.          RESOLVED that the verbal updates be noted.