Minutes:
The
Committee chose to scrutinise the following Cabinet Board items:
Strategic
School Improvement Programme (SSIP) – Proposal to amend the Council’s 21st
Century Schools Capital Funding Progamme Band B
Projects to include a Scheme for a New Special School.
Members
received an overview of the Strategic School Improvement Programme (SSIP) –
Proposal to amend the Council’s 21st Century Schools Capital Funding
Programme Band B Projects to include a Scheme for a New Special School as detailed in the circulated report.
It
was explained that the proposal was at the initial stage of writing to the
Welsh Government asking for the inclusion of a new 7 – 16 special school for
pupils with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties into Band B of the
SSIP. Details of the proposal would be
developed after a decision had been received from Welsh Government.
Discussion
took place on the need to develop a bespoke provision for children with social,
emotional and behavioural needs. Currently,
support has been developed across the authority in both primary and secondary
schools but additional places had been identified by professionals across the
area.
In
addition, the development of a new build special school would address some of
the aspects of the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act
2018.
Members
asked why the proposal did not include children with Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Officers
explained that Neath Port Talbot has a number of support specialist provisions
available for ADHD. In addition, under the Additional Learning Needs and
Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 schools are required to provide the
necessary support to enable children with learning needs to attend mainstream
education.
Confirmation
was given that the numbers of places in the new build special provision would
be finalised after the outcome of proposal to add the school to Band B had been
received from Welsh Government. A report
would be brought to a future meeting of Education, Skills and Culture Cabinet
Board containing the detail of the new build.
Discussion
took place on the number of children who receive their specialist educational
needs out of county. It was explained
that Officers would circulate the exact figures to the Committee. The figures were very low as the authority’s
policy was to educate all children in mainstream schools which was also a
requirement of the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act
2018.
Attention
was drawn to the Integrated Impact Assessment and why the language designation
of the new school had not been designed.
It was explained that as previously discussed the detail of the new
build would be developed after the proposal had been agreed by Welsh Government
and a detailed report would be brought for members’ consideration.
Following
scrutiny, the Committee was supportive of the proposals to be considered by
Cabinet Board.
Quarterly
Performance Management Data 2018 – 19 Full Year Performance (1 April 2018 – 31
March 2019)
Members
received the full year performance management data 2018 – 2019 (1 April
2018 – 31 March 2019) as detailed in the circulated report.
Concern
was expressed that the Flying Start provision funding was allocated by Welsh
Government on postcodes of areas of deprivation. Discussion took place on the anomalies of
this formula as some families who were not living in the identified area were
economically disadvantaged and needed to be able to access Flying Start.
It
was queried whether younger children could access services provided by the
Youth Service. It was explained that
only young people 11+ can access the provision.
Clarification
was given that 21 of final statements of special educational needs were issued
within 26 weeks which was not 100%. This
was due to parents/carers not agreeing with the draft statement.
In
addition, Members asked for the numbers of children waiting for statements of
special educational needs. Officers
explained that the data only included national indicators that are a
requirement of the Welsh Government but that the information would be
circulated to Members separately.
Members
were pleased with the improvement in the numbers of children participating in
sporting activities.
In
addition, Members asked what the reason was for the number of full day
childcare places not being reached.
Officers explained that work was progressing to achieve the target but
was dependant on the number of childcare places available with private providers.
Discussion
took place on the Communities for Work programme and the difficulty that some
participants living in Valley Communities experience when accessing their
mentor as part of the Employability Programme due to lack of transport
available. Officer explained that
liaison does take place with the voluntary sector to access any available
transport provision but it was an issue in these areas.
Following
Scrutiny, the report was noted.