The Committee scrutinised the following matters:-
Cabinet Board Proposals
2.1 Report from the Director of
Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning re: Y Cynllun
2016/17
Members considered the report that required Member approval
of the Business Plan for the Directorate of Education Leisure and Lifelong
Learning covering the period 1st September 2016 to 31st August 2018.
Officers highlighted that the Business plan
attached at appendix 1 to the report, identified the outcomes required to
achieve excellence. The strategies that were required to gain that ambition
were detailed in individual service delivery plans that sit beneath the
Business plan. Members were advised that whilst the main outcomes were included
within the plan if all the associated actions were included then the plan would
run to over 200 pages. Members were asked to note that monitoring of the
implementation of the plan would be done through the year via consideration of
service specific service report cards.
Members queried whether plans had been put in place
to review that all staff within Schools were up to date on Disclosure and
Barring Service (DBS) Checks. Officers highlighted that the responsibility sits
with the schools and Admin Officer’s within each School would have the
responsibility of checking that all DBS checks were up to date. Officers stated
that if DBS checks were not being undertaken then the Internal Audit Department
of the Council would pick this up.
Officers highlighted to members that due to the
nature of a Business plan the data contained within it would instantly be out
of date and therefore, an update plan would come back to a future meeting of
this Committee.
Members noted that there was a target to increase
the number of seven year olds taught through the medium of Welsh from 18.5% in
2015 to 18.6% in 2018. Members raised concern that this target was small
particularly as the Welsh Government had set a target of 1m welsh speakers in
wales by 2050. Officers advised that this could change as it was based on the
previous Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) and that a new WESP was
currently being consulted on and could change which may mean this plan would
have to be updated also.
Members asked how the Council will know if it has
sufficient numbers of practitioners to deliver welsh
medium education. Officers advised that it was difficult to work out the number
as it is dependent on take up. Members were asked to note that it is often
difficult to get welsh speakers from colleges and universities to come and
teach in our schools.
Members noted the ambitious Strategic School
Improvement Projects and that savings have been delivered through the removal
of surplus school places. Members then asked whether we are putting a cap on
welsh medium education when we could be see an
opportunity of demand outstripping supply. Officers stated that this was not
the case and the Department had recently received confirmation that Welsh
Government had agreed future projects including a new welsh ... view the full minutes text for item 2.
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