Minutes:
Quarterly
Performance Management Data 2019- 2020 – Quarter 1 Performance (1 April 2019 –
30 June 2019)
Members
received information on the Quarterly Performance Management Data 2019-2020 as
detailed in the circulated report.
Members
queried the following:
·
Why was the percentage of 11 – 19 years olds in contact with the Youth
Service not meeting its target? It was
explained that this was due to sickness and vacancies within the team which
impacted on the number of contacts made.
Confirmation was given that this had now been addressed.
·
Was the demand for full-time childcare places being monitored. Confirmation was received that monitoring
does take place and as a result more places had been made available in more
areas. Also, a media campaign had taken
place to ensure that all families entitled to are aware of the offer.
·
It was queried why was Neath Port Talbot 20th in the All
Wales Data for school attendance at primary stage. An explanation was given that there were
links between non- attendance and areas of deprivation. Neath Port Talbot was
one of the highest areas of deprivation.
Educational Welfare Officers were proactive in working with families especially persistent absenteeism. The focus of all schools was the importance
of school attendance. One issue was the
unauthorised absenteeism, this was when parents took children out of school for
holidays. Work was continuing with
financial penalties for unauthorised absenteeism but considering the economic
climate, parents were still taking children out of school for holidays.
·
What is a Capped 9 score?
This indicator was one of the changes introduced by
the Welsh Government. Data was currently
being collected and would be available for the January 2020 meeting.
·
Why were the visits to leisure centres highlighted as red? This was discussed in the Leisure and Culture
Scrutiny Sub Committee where it was explained that the issue was what data was
collected and the inconsistencies between all local authorities. The explanation given to the Sub Committee
would be circulated to the Committee.
SSIP – Proposal to
Establish Specialist Provision for Secondary Age Pupils with Autistic Spectrum
Disorder (ASD)
The Committee received an
overview on the proposal to consult on the establishment of specialist
provision for secondary age pupils with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) at Dwr y Felin Comprehensive School
as detailed in the circulated report.
The following were raised
by Members:
·
How many schools applied to host the new Autistic Spectrum Disorder
(ASD)? Two schools expressed an interest, one withdrew. In addition, the provision already exists in
many schools.
·
Concern was expressed as to whether we were meeting the demand? It was explained that the number of pupils
had increased by 47% across all school ages.
As a result, additional capacity had to be put into schools to address
this increase.
Following
Scrutiny, the Committee was supportive of the proposal to be considered by the
Cabinet Board.
Pupil
Attendance Update
Information
and data was received in relation to Neath Port Talbot pupil attendance as
detailed in the circulated report.
Members
were pleased that the report for consideration today included case studies
which were very informative and highlighted the importance of the early
involvement of the Education Welfare Service.
Members
once again commended officers for the work the Education Welfare Officers did
and recognised their value in raising attendance and managing pupil welfare
issues.
Members
raised the following:
·
Does the data include pupils who were on reduced timetables? Pupils on a reduced timetable were included
in the data but not children whose parents had elected to educate at home. The authority had no responsibility to
deliver their education.
Following scrutiny, it was agreed that the report
be noted.