Minutes:
1. Mr Love provided his Cabinet Member Verbal Update as follows:
1.1. Kent Test Results
Results were received on Wednesday 18th October. 17,037 children sat the Test this year. 11,170 of these lived in the Kent and the remainder were from other local authority areas. 5,050 children from Kent were assessed as being suitable for a grammar school place, however this was not a guarantee of a grammar school place. Congratulations were offered to all those who passed.
Thanks were offered to all the school and KCC staff who worked hard to ensure the process ran smoothly. Kent also had many non-grammar schools that offered an excellent standard of education. The secondary school application deadline was 31 October and school places would be offered on 1 March 2024
1.2. Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Roadshows
The SEND Information Hub Advice and Guidance Roadshows continued to take place across Kent as part of the commitment to improving SEND services for Kent families. They included speakers from the SEND Information Hub Team, Kent PACT and healthcare navigators, to help families learn more about the support available to them. The next session would be on 8 December at the Poppy Children’s Centre in Herne Bay. Information about all upcoming events would be shared with subscribers to the SEND parent newsletter, and details were available on the KCC website.
1.3. Elective Home Education
Congratulations were extended to the Elective Home Education Team who were awarded with a Silver Kit Award by the home education charity Education Otherwise. The award was based on nominations made by families in recognition of excellent practices across the department.
1.4. Roseacre / Bearsted Climate Action Network visit
Mr Love attended an exhibition organised by Roseacre Junior School and the Bearsted Climate Action Network on 10 November. Local councillors and Helen Whately MP were also in attendance. The children exhibited a range of eco-inspired artwork and held a question and answer session.
1.5. SEND Accelerated Progress Plan
The Department for Education (DfE) and NHS England carried out a six month review of the SEND Accelerated Progress Plan on 15 November. Thanks were offered to the partners across Kent who have worked collaboratively to improve the service for parents, carers and children.
1.6. Kent Association of Leaders in Education Annual Conference
Mr Love attended the Conference on 16 November. It offered a chance to hear about educational issues from a number of Kent’s headteachers.
A special briefing had been arranged on 24 November. It would discuss the arrangements for the separation of the school into two smaller academy schools. The chief executives of both academies would outline their vision for education on Sheppey. Members were encouraged to attend.
2. Mrs Chandler provided her Cabinet Member Verbal Update as follows:
2.1. Foster Carer Awards 2023
Mrs Chandler opened the Kent Fostering Service’s Award Ceremony at Detling Showground on 10 November. 294 nominations for foster carers and staff were received. Mr Cooke, Chair of KCC, and Mr Ross, Chair of the Corporate Parenting Panel, presented 37 awards to foster carers, supported homes hosts and staff. Congratulations and thanks went to every winner and nominee.
2.2. Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) Update
78 UASC have arrived during the month up to 17 November. The total number of arrivals for 2023 was 2,049. Three new reception centres had been identified and were awaiting funding from Government. The centres would be staffed by KCC employees and there would be stringent security and safeguarding controls in place. The centres would offer temporary accommodation and care for UASC, until they were transferred to another UK local authority.
2.3. Change in Legislation
In October new legislation required all providers of accommodation for children in care and care leavers up to age 18, to submit a review to Ofsted every six months. Ofsted would also conduct at least one inspection every three years. Inspections would begin in April 2024. The change was welcome and could lead to improved standards and outcomes for children and young people.
2.4. Funding for Children’s Services
A joint letter from the Leader and four other county councils, was sent the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 8 November. The letter requested additional funding in 2024/25 to help balance the rising costs of Children’s Services. A combined overspend of £74,000,000 was forecast for Children’s Services across the five councils by the end of the year.
2.5. Visit to Avenue of Remembrance
On 14 November Mrs Chander visited the KCC offices at the Avenue of Remembrance in Sittingbourne. She met with staff from the Swale unit of Children’s Services, Children in Care and Early Help, and was impressed by their hard work and dedication. Thanks were extended to the team for their warm welcome on the day.
2.6. Christmas Appeal
KCC partnered up with the Young Lives Foundation for the annual Kent Corporate Parenting Christmas Appeal. It aimed to raise £20,000 that would be used to provide every care leaver with a £10 gift voucher. The campaign had raised over £3,100 so far and thanks were offered to all the donors. Details of how to donate were on KNet and the Young Lives Foundation website.
3. Further to questions and comments from Members, it was noted that:
· Three new UASC reception centres would be good, however many local authorities were too slow to accept the children from the centres. Mrs Chandler would arrange for Mrs Dean to be sent further information about how long UASC stayed in the reception centres.
· Parents and carers of children in Sheppey were encouraged to attend one of the briefing sessions held by the new academies. Thanks were offered to the local councillors who had worked hard to keep the project progressing to this point.