Minutes:
Mrs Fordham (Cabinet Member for Education and Skills) and Mrs Williams (Deputy Cabinet member for integrated Children’s Services) were present for the item:
1.Mrs Fordham and Mrs Williams updated the Committee with the following:
a) Outlined visits undertaken during the summer period to a range of educational settings, including specialist schools and a number of newly established Special Resource Provisions (SRPs) within mainstream schools.
b) Highlighted the development of provision at Turner School (Folkestone) due to open in September, Richmond School (Sheerness) Avery provision and The Downs School (Walmer) and emphasised the value of ensuring that children and young people were able to access specialist support within mainstream settings where appropriate. Members wereadvised that further visits would be undertaken as the provisions became fully operational and that Members would be invited to attend future visits.
c) Referred to GCSE and A-Level results activity across the county and highlighted visits undertaken to schools during results periods. The Cabinet Member advised that the visits had provided an opportunity to engage directly with young people as they considered progression into further education, apprenticeships and employment. The Cabinet Member highlighted the St George in Gravesend and the Leigh Academy in Ebbsfleet as notable GCSE performers.
d) Discussed visits to post-16 and vocational providers, including specialist provision for young people with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), where a strong emphasis had been placed on practical skills development and employer engagement. The Cabinet Member highlighted the importance of strengthening links between employers and educational settings in order to improve outcomes for young people and support future workforce needs.
e) Members were informed of the significant work undertaken by admissions, fair access and inclusion teams during the summer period to prepare for the commencement of the academic year. The Cabinet Member also referred to attendance at careers engagement events (Future in Works) and highlighted the importance of exposing young people to a broad range of future employment opportunities and career pathways.
f) Councillor Baker updated on his visit to the Kent and Medway Communication and Assistive Technology (KM CAT) team and the important work undertake. The Member suggested that all Members look to attend in the future so the can see first hand the important work that the team completes.
g) Mrs Williams presented a verbal update on behalf of Mr Webb, Cabinet Member for Integrated Children’s Services. Members were advised of visits undertaken to a range of children’s services settings, including reception centres for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, residential homes and family hubs. The update also highlighted attendance at events celebrating the achievements of children in care and care leavers and summer activities organised for foster carers and young carers.
h) Members were informed of the opening of family hub facilities in Sittingbourne and Queenborough after a major refurbishment, the attending of the Kent Carers Activities even in August and the visiting of a newly opened children’s home in Ashford, which formed part of the Council’s continued investment in support services for children and young people.
2.In response to Members questions the following aspects were discussed:
a) In response to Members questions, the Cabinet Member confirmed that representatives from the two newly merged universities (Previously Kent and Greenwich) had contacted the authority regarding work on reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) and advised that discussions would be taking place to explore potential opportunities for collaborative working.
b) Officers advised that NEET data was recorded through a nationally prescribed process and measured participation rather than attendance. Members were informed that young people enrolled within further education provision would generally be recorded as participating irrespective of attendance levels and that attendance information was not routinely collected by local authorities for post-16 learners. Officers noted that there was no equivalent statutory attendance requirement beyond compulsory school age.
c) In response to concerns regarding post-16 SEND transport still outstanding for a number of students, officers advised that whilst transport policy arrangements had seen a significant change, eligibility threshold had remained unchanged. Officers confirmed that all applications received by the published deadline had been processed.
d) Officers explained that transport arrangements were finalised as close as possible to the start of the academic year in order to maximise route efficiency and minimise costs. It was agreed that information regarding notification timescales would be provided outside the meeting.
e) Highlighted recent national reporting relating to autism and ADHD diagnosis, Officers advised that EHCP decisions were based upon assessments of individual need rather than diagnosis alone. It was highlighted that the Council’s statutory responsibilities were discharged through consideration of a wide range of evidence and that decisions were made on a case-by-case basis.
f) The Cabinet Member reminded Members that a report concerning Post 16 SEND transport and appeals was scheduled to be considered at a future meeting of the Committee.
g) Following discussion regarding specialist education providers such as Salt college, the Cabinet Member agreed that officers would look to assist Members of the committee with signposting providers to available grant and funding opportunities where appropriate.
h) Questions regarding isolation practices within schools were raised, officers advised that the local authority did not collect data relating to pupil isolation and that behaviour management policies were matters for individual schools. Members noted that Sandwich Technology School continued to implement changes associated with school improvement activity and emphasised the importance of establishing clear expectations and consistent behaviour policies. The school had been placed in special measures and had seen key staff leave. The Chair acknowledged the concerns but suggested that if Members had continued concerns that they reach out to the school directly to discuss.
i) Officers further advised that schools were expected to maintain robust behaviour management systems supported by a range of interventions, including pastoral support, family engagement, detention processes, isolation and even exclusion. Members were advised that consistency and proportionality remained key principles underlying those approaches.
j) Responding to questions regarding attendance, officers advised that schools continued to operate first-day contact arrangements and that attendance remained a significant safeguarding and educational priority. Officers outlined the range of support and enforcement measures available where attendance concerns persisted.
RESOLVED that the verbal updates be noted.