Children, Families and Learning Cabinet Member – Minutes – 12 August 2016

8 (8) RECONSTITUTION OF CROSBY PRIMARY SCHOOL BOARD OF GOVERNORS – The Director of People submitted a report seeking approval to change the instrument of government to allow the board of governors of Crosby Primary School to be reconstituted to be effective from 1 September 2016.

At the full board of governors meeting of Crosby Primary School held on 27 June 2016, the governors voted to reconstitute the board in line with the School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2012 and the School Governance (Constitution) (Amendment) Regulations 2014.

The above regulations set out the options available to schools in terms of the overall number of governors, the categories of governor and the guiding principles for the constitution. The regulations gave the board of governors more flexibility with their constitution and stated that boards should be no bigger than they needed to be to carry out their statutory duties.

The constitution of each board of governors was laid down in a document known as the instrument of government. A board of governors may at any time request changes to its constitution, in accordance with the regulations, by varying its instrument of government.
Resolved – That the new instrument of government for Crosby Primary School be approved.

9 (9) APPOINTMENT OF LOCAL AUTHORITY SCHOOL GOVERNORS – The Director of People submitted a report which considered the appointment of suitable candidates to serve as Local Authority Governors.

Boards of governors were the key strategic decision-making body for schools.  It was the board’s role to set a school’s strategic framework and to ensure that all statutory duties were met.  There were currently 72 boards of governors within North Lincolnshire serving both schools and academies.  A number of schools were federated, which meant that a governing body oversaw the running of two schools.

In accordance with the School Governance Regulations (2012) maintained schools’ boards were constituted from the following governor categories:

• Parent Governors
• Head Teacher
• Staff Governor
• Local Authority Governor
• Foundation Governor

When a Local Authority vacancy occurred, the relevant board identified the necessary skills, knowledge and experience that would be required of the successful candidates.  The council was then able to match the board of governors’ needs against the perspective candidate’s application.

Resolved – That the named persons as listed in appendix one of the report be appointed as Local Authority Governors on the school listed, subject to the relevant DBS checks.
10 (10) OFSTED INSPECTION OUTCOMES FOR SCHOOLS IN NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE – The Director of People submitted a report updating the Cabinet Member on the new Ofsted inspection framework for schools and academies, which came into force on 1 September 2015, and informing the Cabinet Member of the outcomes of the short (section 8) inspection of Crowle Primary Academy and the full (Section 5) inspections of Winterton Junior School, Oakfield Primary School, Westwoodside CE Academy and Oasis Academy Parkwood.

A new Ofsted framework for schools came into force on 1 September 2015.  The main change from the previous framework was the introduction of short (Section 8) inspections, once every three years, for schools whose overall effectiveness was judged to be good at their last Section 5 inspection.
Resolved – That the Cabinet Member writes to the Head Teacher or Chair of Governors of the schools regarding the outcome of their inspection.

The corresponding report of the following item (Minute 11 refers) contains exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

11 (11) REVIEW OF IN HOUSE NURSERY PROVISION – The Director of People submitted a report which sought approval to combine two Scunthorpe North nurseries under one single Ofsted Registration. In addition the Cabinet Member was asked to consider a review of the existing staffing structures across both settings, including the establishment of a new management structure. Further details were contained in appendix one of the report.

Resolved – (a) That approval be given to combine the registration of the two Scunthorpe Nurseries under the single Nursery Registered Ofsted and (b) that the new staffing structure as outlined in appendix one to support the two sites  be approved.
12 (12) SERVICES FOR CHLDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE COMMISSIONING STRATEGY 2016-18 – The Director of People submitted a report which sought approval to publish the Refreshed Services for Children and Young People Commissioning Strategy 2016-2018.

The Services for Children and Young People Commissioning Strategy set out North Lincolnshire Council’s commissioning intentions to support children, young people and their families. It complemented the North Lincolnshire Strategy – Aspiring People, Inspiring Places and aligned to the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy, Children and Young Peoples Plan, the Local Safe Guarding Children’s Board (LSCB) Business Plan and the priorities of the People Directorate.

The report highlighted that commissioning was about reshaping, creating and developing the right services, at the right time, in the right place and delivered by the right workforce in response to the changing population and population needs. The strategy identified key commissioning activities for 2016-18 to meet local need, transforming services to ensure that the council had:

• Safe children and vulnerable adults
• Supported families and carers
• Transformed lives

The Commissioning Strategy included the council’s vision, outcomes and ambitions to transform services for children and young people and how the council would work with organisations to develop local provision and services for the future.

Resolved – That the publication of the Refreshed Services for Children and Young People Commissioning Strategy 2016-18 be approved.

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.