Agenda item

The following representatives from LCSP will be attending for this item:-

Laura Froude, LCSP Manager

Malcolm Ramsey, Chair of the Partnership Board, Headteacher at Towers School

Alan Collado, Children's Centre Co-ordinator

(1)               Members received a detailed report that included the background to the Ashford 1 LCSP and its progress since it was launched in September 2008.

(2)               Members were shown a dvd on “One Children’s Workforce” and Mrs Froude gave a brief presentation. 

(3)               Members thanked the officers for the dvd commenting that it was an extremely useful exercise.  Mr Ramsey advised that “Every Child Matters” made this happen.  Mr Ridings felt that the dvd should be included in the Members induction and shown at the CMT. 

(4)               Mr Ramsey highlighted that there was a nil permanent exclusion policy throughout the schools in the Ashford 1 and Ashford Rural areas.  All the Headteachers were convinced that they should work to this policy.  Fixed term exclusions were carried out at school rather than at home to allow the child to gain confidence and improve their learning opportunities.  In the past excluded students were sent to the Beaver and Brook Pupil Referral Units, that funding was now going into schools to make their own provision, for example joined up working with social services.  Mr Ramsey advised that the Leader of Kent County Council had provided money for vocational training in schools.  The schools had been able to manage pupil moves between schools which was working well.  The vocational element was very constructive, i.e. courses in hair, beauty, restaurant work and carpentry, and had improved attendance too.  Mr Adams said that keeping those children in school meant they were still able to have access to other support services which wrap around schools. 

(5)               In response to a question by Mr Horne, Mr Ramsey advised that links with Further Education (FE) in Ashford was difficult because of the current position of the local College.  However, schools worked well together.  He gave the example of North School which offered land based management.  Mr Ramsey added that Tower School offered hairdressing and business studies and these facilities were open to students from other schools.  There was a member from the FE/HE colleges on the Kent Children’s Trust Board. 

(6)               In response to a concern by the Reverend Genders that resources would be directed at particular targets for marginal pupils, Mr Ramsey explained that the resources were moving barriers.  There was a need to focus on the children’s needs and any barriers that needed to be moved.  Mr Adams added that the Partnership was looking to deliver most of what they could but there needed to be a lot of work and focus on the problems within the areas.

(7)               Mr Vye referred to the role of the voluntary sector and requested a report on how commissioning worked.  Officers agreed to provide this report to a future meeting.

(8)               Mrs Herron felt there was a need to establish the location of the voluntary sector services within each area.  Mr Vye suggested that the council for voluntary services had been involved they may be able to assist with this task.  Mrs Ackroyd added that Pathfinders guidance needed to be revised and strengthened so that it was responsive to what voluntary agencies fed back to the Partnerships.

(9)               RESOLVED that the comments made by Members and the report be noted.