Children’s Services Cabinet Member – minutes – 8 April 2009

107 (55) OFSTED INSPECTIONS – The Service Director Learning, Schools and Communities submitted a report on the outcome of Ofsted inspections at the following schools:

  • Berkeley Junior School
  • Grange Lane Infant School, and
  • St Bede’s Catholic School – A Mathematics and Computing College

The schools had been inspected as part of the routine Ofsted inspection cycle of schools. Full copies of the reports had been placed in the political group offices.

Resolved – (a) That approval be given to continue supporting improvements in the schools inspected above, and (b) that the Cabinet Member writes to the schools and makes suitable comments on the reports.

108 (56) POST 16 TRANSPORT POLICIES 2008/09 – The Service Director Learning,Schools and Communities submitted a report seeking approval to the post 16 transport policies for students attending college or 6th form during the academic year 2008/09.

The post 16 transport policy was reviewed each year, the policy for the new academic year must be published by the preceding 31 May.

Contributions for new students were increased from £30 to £180 in 2008/09, equivalent to £1 per day. The council currently charged, on average, £3 per day per student, which equated to a subsidy of £2 per day per student.

Councils had a statutory duty to provide the transport support they considered necessary to facilitate the attendance of students 16-19 at further education colleges and school 6th forms. Councils were expected to extend that support to students with disabilities until they were at least 21 years old.

Students from low-income households were entitled to Education Maintenance Allowances, some of this which could be used for their transport costs.

Resolved – (a) That the policy, as set out in the report and appendix be approved, and (b) that the level of subsidies and charges be reviewed in more detail for 2010/11.

109 (57) APPOINTMENT OF LOCAL AUTHORITY SCHOOL GOVERNORS – The Service Director Children, Strategy and Partnerships submitted a report seeking approval of the appointment of Local Education Authority (LEA) School Governors.

Resolved – (a) That the following persons be appointed LEA School Governors on the schools listed, subject to the relevant CRB checks:

Baysgarth Mr D Johnson
Crosby Primary Mrs J Holder
Huntcliff School Mr E Gibbs
John Harrison CE Primary Mr P Swann
Leys Farm Junior Mr K W Kaye
Lincoln Gardens Primary Mrs J Sanders
Oakfield Primary Mrs C Kupfers
Riddings Junior Mr J A Harlow
Scunthorpe CE Primary Cllr M Ali
Saints Bede’s Catholic Mrs M Waldron
South Axholme Community Mrs M Gray
Vale of Ancholme Mr A Worrell
Westcliffe Primary Mr J F Smythe

110 (58) REVISION TO THE ADOPTION SERVICE STATEMENT OF PURPOSE – The Service Director Children, Strategy and Partnerships submitted a report seeking approval of the annual revisions to the Statement of Purpose for adoption in North Lincolnshire.

The Adoption Service was required by The Adoption Agency Regulations 2005 and the National Minimum Standards (Adoption) to have in place a Statement of Purpose that was reviewed on a regular basis and updated as appropriate.

The Statement of Purpose was an integral component of the three yearly inspections of the service undertaken by OfSTED. The next inspection of the service was due to happen this year.

Following the yearly review of the Statement of Purpose for the adoption service, revisions had been made which ensured they reflected current practice. These included; the current level of financial support to adoptive carers, the numbers of children placed for adoption and the revised adoption support groups.

Resolved – That the revised Adoption Service Statement of Purpose be approved.

111 (59) REVISION TO THE FOSTERING STATEMENT OF PURPOSE – The Service Director Children, Strategy and Partnerships submitted a report seeking approval of revisions to the Statement of Purpose for Fostering Service in North Lincolnshire.

The Fostering Service was required under the Care Standards Act 2000, incorporating the Fostering Services Regulations 2002, to have in place a Statement of Purpose. The National Minimum Standards for Fostering Services specify that the Statement of Purpose was reviewed and updated annually.

The Statement of Purpose described the role of the fostering service in meeting the ‘5 Outcomes’ as highlighted in Every Child Matters and The Children Act 2004.

Following the yearly review of the Statement of Purpose for the
fostering service, revisions had been made to ensure it included the ongoing improvements to the service and reflected current practice. These included the current fostering allowances payable to foster carers and updates to the staff who work in the service.

Resolved – That the revised Fostering Service Statement of Purpose be approved.

The following items contain exempt information as defined in paragraphs and 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

112 (60) REVIEW OF THE ADMINSTRATIVE SUPPORT TO SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AND LEARNING SERVICES BASED AT HEWSON HOUSE – The Service Director Learning, Schools and Communities submitted a report seeking approval to implement the recommendations following a review in order to meet the needs of the School Improvement Service.

The role of the administrative support team had changed and developed in order to meet the changing demands placed on the school improvement service. New demands on the administrative function included the delivery of the National Primary and Secondary Strategies, the delivery of the new 11-19 transformation agenda and the budget management for all aspects of the service.

Full details of the review, including financial implications, were set out in the report and accompanying appendices.

Resolved – (a) That the proposals for the implementation of the review be noted, and (b) that the report be forwarded to the Corporate Services Cabinet Member for approval.

113 (61) COMMUNITY SERVICES AND YOUNGER CHILDREN EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION STAGE SEN/INCLUSION STAFFING – The Service Director Learning, Schools and Communities submitted a report seeking approval to various changes to the establishment of the Early Years SEN/Inclusion staffing.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) SEN/Inclusion Team comprises the Portage Home Visiting Team, the EYFS Education Team, the Education Preparation Unit, the EYFS Area SENCO Support Team and the Early Support Co-ordinator. Following one of the posts in the team becoming vacant, it was considered appropriate to review staffing levels in light of changes to the teams, as an increase in team membership meant that a higher level of administrative support was required.

The brief review identified that it would be more efficient and beneficial to the service if one administrator took responsibility for more complex tasks, with an assistant undertaking general administration tasks at a lower grade working to their supervision.

Resolved – (a) That the changes to the establishment of the Early Years SEN/Inclusion staffing, as set out in the report, be endorsed, and (b) that the report be forwarded to the Corporate Services Cabinet Member for approval.

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Where there is no report this is because it is exempt, as it contains information which is considered to be of a confidential nature, as detailed in the Local Government (Access to Information) Act.