Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Item 12 (Cabinet Agenda)

Cllr. Rebeca Phillips – Personal - School Governor at YGG Trebannws and Pontardawe – has dispensation to speak and vote.

Cllr. Sonia Reynolds – Personal - School Governor at YGG Gwaun Cae Gurwen - has dispensation to speak and vote.

Marie Caddick – Personal - School Governor at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School (Neath) and family member attends St Joseph’s Comprehensive School - has dispensation to speak and vote.

Adam Amor – School Governor and family member attends Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera Bro Dur and YGG Rhosafan - has dispensation to speak and vote.

Cllr. James Henton – School Governor at Ysgol Tregeles - has dispensation to speak and vote.

Cllr. Phil Rogers – School Governor at Catwg Primary and Llangatwg Community School - has dispensation to speak and vote.

Cllr. Robert Wood – School Governor at Ysgol Bae Baglan - has dispensation to speak and vote.

Cllr. Peter Rees – School Governor at Crynallt Primary and Cefn Saeson Comprehensive School - has dispensation to speak and vote.

Cllr. Dave Whitelock – School Governor at Ysgol Cwm Brombil - has dispensation to speak and vote.

Cllr. Wayne Carpenter – School Governor at Melin Primary School and Gnoll Primary School. Family member works at Cefn Saeson Comprehensive School - has dispensation to speak and vote.

Item 14 (Cabinet Agenda)

Cllr. Sonia Reynolds – Trustee of Canolfan Maerdy – has dispensation to speak and vote

The chair confirmed that the committee would be scrutinising Cabinet Board agenda items 7, 12, 13 & 14

Item 12 (Cabinet Agenda)

Cllr. Rebeca Phillips – Personal - School Governor at YGG Trebannws and Pontardawe – has dispensation to speak and vote.

Cllr. Sonia Reynolds – Personal - School Governor at YGG Gwaun Cae Gurwen - has dispensation to speak and vote.

Marie Caddick – Personal - School Governor at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School (Neath) and family member attends St Joseph’s Comprehensive School - has dispensation to speak and vote.

Adam Amor – School Governor and family member attends Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera Bro Dur and YGG Rhosafan - has dispensation to speak and vote.

Cllr. James Henton – School Governor at Ysgol Tregeles - has dispensation to speak and vote.

Cllr. Phil Rogers – School Governor at Catwg Primary and Llangatwg Community School - has dispensation to speak and vote.

Cllr. Robert Wood – School Governor at Ysgol Bae Baglan - has dispensation to speak and vote.

Cllr. Peter Rees – School Governor at Crynallt Primary and Cefn Saeson Comprehensive School - has dispensation to speak and vote.

Cllr. Dave Whitelock – School Governor at Ysgol Cwm Brombil - has dispensation to speak and vote.

Cllr. Wayne Carpenter – School Governor at Melin Primary School and Gnoll Primary School. Family member works at Cefn Saeson Comprehensive School - has dispensation to speak and vote.

Item 14 (Cabinet Agenda)

Cllr. Sonia Reynolds – Trustee of Canolfan Maerdy – has dispensation to speak and vote

·        25^th May 2023

·        6^th July 2023

The minutes of the meetings held on 25th May 2023 and 6th July 2023 were approved as a true and accurate record.

The minutes of the meetings held on 25th May 2023 and 6th July 2023 were approved as a true and accurate record.

Members agreed that the Education Skills and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee note and endorse the Annual Report 2022/2023 attached at appendix 1 and commend to Council.

Members agreed that the Education Skills and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee note and endorse the Annual Report 2022/2023 attached at appendix 1 and commend to Council.

This item was noted.

The Head of Support Services and Transformation and scrutiny committee members thanked the catering staff involved in the successful roll out of the programme.

Members enquired whether there had been any feedback from parents/guardians on the roll out. Officers confirmed that no negative feedback had been received which was a positive.

This item was noted.

To select appropriate items from the Cabinet Board agenda for Pre-Decision Scrutiny (Cabinet Board reports included for Scrutiny Members)

Increased Planned Places Blaenhonddan Primary School – Back from Consultation

Following scrutiny, members were supportive of the recommendations to be considered by Cabinet Board.

School Exclusion Update

Following scrutiny, members noted the item for information.

Welsh Public Library Standards Assessment 2021/2022

Following scrutiny, members noted the item for information.

Quarter 1 Performance Indicators 23/24 – Education Directorate

Following scrutiny, the item was noted.

Prior to pre-decision scrutiny, a member raised concern regarding the breadth of the items to be considered by the Education, Skills and Wellbeing Scrutiny committee.

The statement was noted

Increased Planned Places Blaenhonddan Primary School – Back from Consultation

Officers confirmed that this report was the second of three reports in the school re-organisation proposal and there had been limited responses to the consultation. Another report will be brought before members before the final decision is made at the end of the year.

Members asked for assurance that Maesmarchog Learning Support Centre would not close if pupil attendance numbers dropped. Officers advised members that long term assurances could not be made but confirmed that autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) numbers were increasing not decreasing. There are no plans or discussions around closures at this time but the future situation cannot be predicted.

Members asked for an estimate of transport costs. Officers advised that this would not be possible, transport costs have risen and the situation is changeable. It is not known what areas the children will travel from which could affect the costs greatly. Officers confirmed that on average taxis cost up to £350 a day but it was hoped that the introduction of the Personal Travel budget would help to lower this cost.

Members questioned whether there were plans to move qualified staff from other schools to set up the new provision, considering the difficulties in recruiting qualified support staff with ASD qualifications. Officers acknowledged that working in a unit was a more specialist role compared to mainstream classes. As part of the recruitment process, candidates will be asked for additional experience /qualifications in the field. Officers reassured members that on the opening of a new unit, a training package is put in place and transition activities are planned for the children. Staff are supported to ensure any early difficulties, lack of skills or gaps in their knowledge are filled.

Members questioned whether, non-class based staff such as taxi drivers, escorts and catering staff will receive ASD training. Officers confirmed there are two travel trainers, who work with children through transition and also specialist staff within the inclusion service. Taxi drivers and escorts are not employed by the authority so training cannot be mandatory.

Members questioned whether support staff could have the option to carry out in-house training on a voluntary basis. Officers noted this suggestion.

Following scrutiny, members were supportive of the recommendations to be considered by Cabinet Board.

School Exclusion Update

The Head of Education Development confirmed that the report was in relation to a request from members for more information regarding all types of exclusions.

Members referred officers to paragraph 13, page 251 and sought to clarify the mention of a temporary reduction in fixed term exclusions for Special Educational Needs (SEN)/Additional Learning Needs (ALN) pupils. Officers confirmed that the temporary reduction was a data capture issue related to the change over from the previous SEN system to the new ALN system. Covid has affected the amount  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

This item was noted.

This item was noted.

This item was noted.

This item was noted.

Any urgent items at the discretion of the Chairperson pursuant to Section 100BA(6)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

There were no urgent items.

There were no urgent items.