To
select appropriate items from the Cabinet Board agenda for Pre-Decision Scrutiny
(Cabinet Board reports included for Scrutiny Members)
Decision:
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.
Minutes:
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 of referrals from schools as children’s
attendance has dropped. Due to the long process in certain circumstances, this
temporary decrease has been flagged to ensure the figures are clear in the long
term.
Members commented that during the current cost
of living crisis, exclusions can be a punishment to parents as well as to the
children due to parents having to take leave.
Members welcomed restorative justice and thanked officers for looking at
alternatives to what is a national problem.
The chair thanked the officers for their work.
Following scrutiny, members noted the item for
information.
Welsh Public Library Standards Assessment
2021/2022
Members requested sight of the case studies that
have been sent to Welsh Government.
Members thanked officers for a good report and
noted that library services are crucial to our education system and communities
and should be supported going forward.
Following scrutiny, members noted the item for
information.
Quarter 1 Performance Indicators 23/24 –
Education Directorate
Officers advised members that some of the graph
representation in the report is presented in a new format, some of the graphs
will provide a clearer picture at the end of the 4th quarter.
Members referred to page 292 of the report and
the 12 month rent free arrangement for Welsh Language Childcare provisions.
Members noted that the number of places in Welsh/bilingual facilities has
increased whilst the number in English medium provisions has decreased and
questioned whether the rent free system will be rolled out to English medium
provisions.
Officers confirmed that this arrangement is
subject to review and a future roll out to English provisions may be an option
for consideration. Officers advised members that early intervention to raise
attendance at Welsh medium childcare provisions is part of the Welsh in
Education Strategic Plan (WESP) and has had a positive impact on attendance at
Welsh medium primary schools. Officers noted that often Welsh medium childcare
provisions are in isolated areas where numbers are small and it is difficult
for businesses to make the facilities viable. Any decrease in the amount of
Welsh child care provisions would have a negative impact on the WESP.
Members expressed concern that many childcare
providers are struggling currently and there needs to be consideration
concerning advantage in some areas and fair competition.
Members referred to page 292 of the report and
asked for clarification on the type of youth interaction that has increased.
Officers confirmed that interaction has increased in all areas and a further
breakdown can be provided if required. Since Covid has lessened, young people
are more willing to engage in activities. Where there is awareness that a young
person may not move on to employment or training, a catch up is carried out.
There is a dedicated homeless worker within the youth service.
Members asked for clarification of the criteria
for accessing help through the Communities for Work Plus programme. Officers
confirmed that this area will be covered as part of the work on employability
that is included on the Forward Work Programme.
Members were pleased to hear that more young
people were attending youth centres, but raised concern over young people
gathering in town centres, parks and public places with involvement in gangs,
county lines and drug addiction. Members asked for information on outreach
youth workers and what support they could give. Officers confirmed that whilst youth
workers carry out work in this area, they are complimented by the Anti-Social
Behaviour (ASB) team and Cynnydd workers. Further work would be required before
a complete overview could be given. The
Chair requested this information be brought back to a future committee.
Following scrutiny, the item was noted.