Agenda item

To receive a report which provides an update on progress in relation to the priorities set out within Kent’s Strategy for Vulnerable Learners 2017-2020 and apprises Members of progress in relation to the Pupil Premium Select Committee recommendations.

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

1.          Mr Abbott and Mr Roberts introduced the report which set out an update on progress in relation to the priorities set out within Kent’s Strategy for Vulnerable Learners 2017-2020 and apprises Members of progress in relation to the Pupil Premium Select Committee recommendation.

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

a)    Mr Abbott talked about the national increase in demand in relation to high needs funding and Kent County Council’s intention to continue to lobby with government in a bid to tackle high needs funding issues in Kent.

b)    Mr Gough talked about the wide-range of provision that was available in Kent and the intention to reduce out-of-county independent sector placements and meet the needs within Kent’s maintained sector and reiterated Mr Abbott’s comments in relation to the increase in demand for high needs funding and Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP).

c)    Mr Dunkley highlighted the advantages and disadvantages of school performance tables (league tables) and the different ways in which performance within a school could be judged. He talked about the performance measures that were in place within Kent secondary schools at Key Stage 4 and how best to address performance gaps.

d)    Mr Roberts talked about the positive partnership working arrangements that were in place between TEP and Kent Teaching Alliances and sub-groups to seek to address school performance gaps.

e)    Mr Dunkley talked about school performance in relation to vulnerable learners and the strategies that were in place to support vulnerable learners and gather data relating to the performance of vulnerable learners. He said that Kent had hoped to work more closely with the Education Endowment Foundation to analyse and gather data relating to vulnerable learners more effectively.

f)     Mr Roberts talked about the good level of development that had taken place in 2018 in relation to the Early Years Foundation Stage and Free School Meal eligibility.

g)    Mr Dunkley referred to the take up of Pupil Premium and said that it was extremely difficult for Kent County Council to support families in relation to Pupil Premium eligibility unless they self-identified.

h)    Mr Dunkley talked about the range of offers that were available in relation to receiving an education if a child had been excluded from school.

i)     Mr Collins referred to the pilot programme that was being carried out in the North of the county to help families who were vulnerable to the effects of knife crime and gang culture which was funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and said that the programme was not part of The Troubled Families programme.

j)     Mr Roberts said that an interdependent approach was being taken with Kent County Council, children centres and nurseries in Kent to address the variety in take -up in relation to the Free for Two scheme across Kent.

k)    Mr Roberts talked about the work that had been undertaken in relation to reviewing pupil premium focus groups and communicating with families through children’s centres, nurseries and early years providers to engage with families in relation to Pupil Premium.

l)     Mr Dunkley confirmed that he would provide additional information to Members of the Committee outside of the meeting in relation to Pupil Premium figures and Kent test figures.

2.          The Chairman suggested that a report on the Pupil Referral Unit consultation be brought back to a future meeting of the committee, Members of the Committee supported this.

3.          RESOLVED that the report be noted.