People Cabinet Member – Minutes – 26 February 2015

195      (62)  RECONSTITUTION OF BRUMBY JUNIOR SCHOOL  BOARD OF GOVERNORS The Director of People submitted a report which sought approval of the instrument of government to allow the board of governors of Brumby Junior School to be reconstituted.

At the full board of governors meeting of Brumby Junior School, held on 2 February 2015, the governors voted to reconstitute the board of governors to bring it in line with the School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2012 and the School Governance (Constitution & Federations) (Amendment) Regulations 2014.

Appendix 1 of the report set out the constitution of the board of governors in the form of an instrument of government, as requested by the governors of Brumby Junior School.

Resolved – That the new instrument of government for Brumby Junior School be approved.

196      (63)  RECONSTITUTION OF BUSHFIELD ROAD INFANT SCHOOL  BOARD OF GOVERNORS The Director of People submitted a report which sought approval of the instrument of government to allow the board of governors of Bushfield Road Infant School to be reconstituted.

At the full board of governors meeting of Bushfield Road Infant School, held on 23 September 2014, the governors voted to reconstitute the board of governors to bring it in line with the School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2012 and the School Governance (Constitution & Federations) (Amendment) Regulations 2014.

Appendix 1 of the report set out the constitution of the board of governors in the form of an instrument of government, as requested by the governors of Bushfield Road Infant School.

Resolved – That the new instrument of government for Bushfield Road Infant School be approved.

197      (64)  CREATION OF A SAFEGUARDING OFFICER POST (EDUCATION) – The Director of People submitted a report which sought approval to create a Safeguarding Officer post within the education division of the People Directorate to strengthen the Council’s approach for working together to safeguard children.

North Lincolnshire Council had a strong track record on taking action to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm. The statutory requirements placed on local authorities and the principles outlined in Working Together to Safeguard Children required effective safeguarding arrangements to be underpinned by:

·           safeguarding as everyone’s responsibility: for services to be effective each professional and organisation should play their full part; and

·           a child centred approach: for services to be effective they should be based on a clear understanding of the needs and views of children.

Section 175 of the Education Act 2002 placed a duty on local authorities (in relation to their education functions and governing bodies of maintained schools and further education institutions, which include sixth-form colleges) to exercise their functions with a view to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children who were pupils at a school, or who were students under 18 years of age attending further education institutions. The same duty applied to independent schools (which included Academies and free schools) by virtue of regulations made under section 157 of the same Act.

An opportunity had been identified to further strengthen the links between families, schools, other education settings, children’s social work services and other agencies; thereby ensuring that the understanding of each child’s educational needs was understood in the context of assessing needs and providing help.

Resolved – That the creation of a Safeguarding Officer Post within the Education division of the People Directorate at NJC grade 10 be approved with immediate effect.

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