Agenda and minutes

The Minutes of the meeting held on 12 November 2018 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

The Board was advised that no public questions had been received.

The minutes relating to the Children, Education and Social Care Portfolio that had been considered by the Executive Board since the last meeting of this Board, were attached at Appendix 1 for information.

EXB42 – Land Acquisition for a Special Free School Bid for Pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs – Key Decision

Members advised that the land identified for the proposal was on Naylor Road opposite Warrington Road Children’s Centre in Widnes and the outcome of the bid still unknown.  The budget for the High Needs funding for 2019-20 was explained.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes are noted.

The draft minutes relating to the Halton Children’s Trust meeting held on 6 December 2018 were presented to the Board for information.

Members requested to know if there was any update on the future arrangements of the Halton Safeguarding Children Board (HSCB).  Officers advised that the recommendations from the consultation events had now been sent to the HSCB.  The Strategic Leads would be the Chief Officers from the Local Authority, Halton CCG and the Police.  An Executive Group would then form the main Board, consisting of 3 sub-groups (as detailed in 2.1 of the minutes). 

It was hoped that the new structure and multi-agency arrangements would be published in June 2019 and be in place by September 2019.

RESOLVED:  That the draft minutes be noted.

The Board received the final draft of the Children’s Services contribution to the Council’s Business Plan for the coming financial year.  As this document was tabled it would be published following the meeting. 

It was reported that in 2016 Management Team endorsed the annual preparation and production of a unified Council Business Plan, which was structured as a series of extracts which were themed around the 6 strategic priorities of the Council.  Each of these extracts contained details of objectives / milestones and key measures / targets which were most relevant to that particular priority. 

In respect of the Children Services Business Plan 2019-20, this focussed upon the key medium-term issues as opposed to providing an extensive narrative on the work of each Department.

The Chair requested that the Business Plan be sent out electronically to Members, so that they were given the opportunity to make any final comments prior to its submission to the Executive Board. 

RESOLVED:  That the Children and Young Peoples Services Business Plan for 2019-20 be accepted.

The Board received the annual update of the education outcomes for Halton’s Children in Care 2017-18.  Appended to the report was the paper End of Key Stage Attainment and Progress Report for Halton Children in Care 2017-18, which provided detailed data, analysis and impacts for the following groups and officers provided supporting commentary to explain the attainment results for each one:

·       Reception;

·       Phonics;

·       Key Stage 1;

·       Key Stage 2;

·       Key Stage 4;

·       Attendance and Exclusions; and

·       Education, Employment and Training

Members raised the following queries / comments:

The phonics results were low is it because the cohort is predominantly boys?

The data does say that boys in care struggled at this stage.  The speech and language development of the pupils was being looked at.

What support is available for teachers dealing with disruptive behaviour due to social, emotional and mental health issues of CIC?

Training was provided to teachers of CIC to help them understand the issues faced by them.  The Pupil Premium Plus factor funding was used to fund this.

It was clarified that the outcomes referred to in the covering report (paragraph 3.3) were the statutory outcomes the Authority had to use.  However, with regards to an individual’s education targets (GCSE’s for example), a Personal Education Plan (PEP) was compiled in a meeting with the pupil at school and then assessed by the Virtual School to check its appropriateness for the pupil.

The Chair thanked the Officer for the detailed report and explanations.

RESOLVED:  That the Board notes the report.

The Board received updates from the Operational Director – Education, Inclusion and Provision and the Operational Director of Children’s Services, on a recent meeting with OFSTED. 

The meeting was held to discuss Children’s Social Care, Education and SEN issues in the Borough and regionally.  It was noted that based on the discussions, it was unknown if Children’s Social Care services would receive a focussed visit or a full inspection in the near future as these were unannounced.

RESOLVED:  That the update be noted.

The Board received the Performance Management reports for quarter 2 of 2018-19 (1 July 2018 to 30 September 2018 ) and were requested to consider and raise any questions or points of clarification in respect of these.  The reports had been forwarded to Members in advance of the agenda on 29 November 2018, after they were finalised.

It was noted that the key priorities for development or improvement in 2017-18 were agreed by Members and included in the Local Authority’s Business Plan, for the various functional areas reported to the Board as follows:

·       Education, Inclusion and Provision Services; and

·       Children and Families Services.

The reports detailed progress made against objectives and milestones and performance targets and provided information relating to key developments and emerging issues that had arisen during the period.

Members discussed:

·       the increasing demands on Children’s Social Care;

·       out of Borough fostering placements and fostering marketing activities in Halton;

·       the announcement by Liverpool City Council of their recruitment drive for 160 social workers and social care staff over the next 2 years; the implications were discussed and Halton’s response to this; and

·       clarity around Residence Orders and Special Guardianship Orders was provided.

The Chair requested an agenda item on child neglect in the Borough for the next meeting.

RESOLVED:  That the quarter 2 performance management reports be received.