Agenda item

(Report of the Select Committee and covering report by Mr Graham Gibbens, Cabinet Member for Public Health, Dr Tony Robinson, Cabinet Member for Children and Family Services and Mr John Simmonds, Cabinet Member for Education and School Improvement)

(Ms Jane Cribbon, Chairman of the Select Committee and Mr Roland Tolputt were present for this item)

(1)       This report considered the findings of the Select Committee established by the Children, Families and Education Policy Overview Committee to look at the issue of children’s health, focussing in particular on aspects of Personal, Social and Health Education.

(2)       Ms Cribbon paid thanks to her fellow Members of the Committee and also to the officers who had supported it in its work.  She also paid thanks to the professionals who had given the Committee their advice and guidance.  Ms Cribbon commended the recommendations of the Select Committee in full and hoped that they would be implemented within the recommended timescales.  She said that the approach of the Select Committee had been to provide young people who are considering embarking on sexual relationships with timely guidance which was based on good quality education and information aimed at helping young people make informed choices.  Young people themselves are asking to be provided with good quality PHSE advice but wanted that to be provided in a straight forward, uncomplicated and practical way and at an early stage.  Ms Cribbon said that the Dutch model described within the Select Committee’s report showed what could be achieved and what we should be working towards.

(3)       Mr Tolputt also extended his thanks to officers.  He said that the current situation with PHSE in Kent was unacceptable.  Access to clinics needed to be improved and they had to be opened at times when they could be readily accessed by young people.  There was a lack of sex education in most secondary schools and young people were being failed by parents and others in authority who were not providing them with good quality sex education so they could make informed choices.  He also spoke about the UK rate of teenage pregnancies being the highest in Europe and work being undertaken on the Isle of Wight which demonstrated what could be done to reduce the rate of teenage pregnancies.  Mr Tolputt commended the viewing of the video “Let’s Talk Sex” from Channel 4 which reflected much of what the Select Committee found during the course of its work.  He also spoke about the financial costs of teenage pregnancies and the range of state benefits which teenage mothers can receive in terms of housing benefit, council tax benefit, child allowance and social security.

(4)       The main cost to KCC of the Select Committee’s proposals would be to implement courses for PSHE teachers, but a consequent reduction in teenage pregnancies would make that self financing in the medium term.  In his conclusions, Mr Tolputt urged the County Council to press Government to make PSHE a core part of the curriculum.  He said he had spoken with several senior teachers, youth fora and local magistrates and they all supported the Select Committee’s proposals and recommendations, and he commended them to the Cabinet for its support and endorsement.

(5)       Ms Cribbon read a statement from Mrs Featherstone in which she supported and endorsed the recommendations put forward by the Select Committee.  Parents found it hard to talk to their children about sex education and therefore there was a clear responsibility on schools to give accurate and timely information.  Giving young people sound advice on relationships and sex education not only secured better health but also provided the foundation for future families.  Mrs Featherstone hoped there would be an improvement in the provision of relationship and sex education and that the skills of professionals working in this area would be better appreciated and valued.

(6)       In concluding, Ms Cribbon recommended the Channel 4 video “Let’s Talk Sex” should be seen by Members as it set out the issues which the Select Committee had been looking at very clearly.  On that point, Mr Carter said that he would arrange for extracts for the video to be shown when the County Council considered the Select Committee’s report.

(7)       Mr Badman said that the report was timely and it highlighted many of the problems being experienced in society when dealing with the issue of sex education.  He spoke about the inter-agency work which was being undertaken within this field and said that he took seriously the recommendations which the Select Committee was putting forward.  A Parenting handbook had now been published and this complemented and gave emphasis to the findings of the Select Committee, especially around the role of parents and professionals in the teaching of sex education.  Meradin Peachey also said she welcomed the report and its recommendations.  She particularly welcomed the emphasis placed by the Select Committee on the work being undertaken in schools and the role that they have in helping to raise awareness and provide sound advice and guidance.

(8)       Mr Gilroy said that much of the advice given to young people relied on the assumption that parents and teachers are naturally competent to give such advice.  It was also important for those advising on sex education matters to be more dynamic and interactive with the media when it came to promoting health and sex education matters.  He also supported the adoption of the Dutch model for the teaching of sex education.

(9)       Cabinet welcomed the report and supported its recommendations.  Members particularly emphasised the important role which parents have in the teaching of sex education.  In particular, Mr Simmonds said whilst professionals in the fields of education and health have their part to play, parents had to play their part just as much and there should be more focus and support around that fact.  Mr Simmonds also spoke about a study being undertaken in two of Kent’s most deprived areas.  He confirmed as part of that study an assessment was being undertaken of the housing issues and whether housing benefits led to there being perverse incentives which in turn added to the number of teenage pregnancies.

(10)     In concluding the discussion, Mr Carter said that he welcomed the findings of the Select Committee and supported the views which had been expressed by Cabinet Members.  In taking this matter forward he recommended the report should be considered at the special meeting of the County Council taking place in July specifically to discuss health issues.  The opportunity would also be taken at that meeting to show the Channel 4 video.  In the meantime, Cabinet would consider further the findings of the Select Committee with the possibility of it putting forward some of its own suggestions and proposals.