Agenda item

The Board received a presentation on the current response to the Covid-19 Pandemic and how service delivery had been altered to respond to initially Tier 3 and now lockdown restrictions.

Following the Education part of the presentation, Members queried:

The morale of teaching staff and how this had been affected during the Pandemic – staff were feeling the strain due to the need to catch up on teaching lost due to students and teachers not being in school during periods of isolation.  Remote learning was challenging for some teachers and students and some teachers were now teaching in the classroom and remotely as well.

Positive feedback had been received from schools who felt that they had been well supported.  Staff were understandably anxious and school leaders were feeling the stress.  To help prevent burn out they were encouraged to encourage distributive leadership and put a greater emphasis on health and wellbeing.  The Council’s Education Team had made themselves available at any time to provide advice and support, schools had been provided with regular briefings and there had been weekly meetings with each of the school groups to discuss and address any emerging issues.  Additionally, the Health Improvement Team, Behaviour Support and the Educational Psychologists were available as part of the support offered.

How was the morale of Headteachers – The Council was trying to support Headteachers and offered advice from Senior Officers when support was needed.   Ofsted inspections in the near future could be difficult to manage with staffing levels changing, so they had been requested to defer these.  Weekly meetings were taking place with headteachers from primary, secondary and special schools to discuss emerging issues and share good practice.  Tp date thirty-two schools had been audited by Health and Safety colleagues and advice and guidance had been provided to headteachers.   It was noted that The Heath Academy had received a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspection with support provided by Health and Safety colleagues.  There were no recommendations for improvement.

How has Covid-19 effected school budgets – at the start of the Pandemic some costs were covered by additional Government funds, however supply teaching cover was not included.  It would not be clear for some time how schools’ finances would be effected by the Pandemic.   

            Following concerns over the lost time for Year 11 students and the likely impact on their GCSE’s, Members were advised that a letter had been sent from the leaders of the LCR authorities to the Head of Ofsted, the Head of Ofqual and the Secretary of State for Education, requesting flexibility with exam timetables and Ofsted inspections in the region. 

            The Board was also advised of the some unintended benefits since the Coronavirus had taken hold, such as the increases in pupil attendance; the increased attendance in early years settings with 86% of them remaining open in Halton during the Pandemic; no large increases in the number of pupils being home educated compared to last year and the reduction in exclusions.

            Following the Children Social Care and Early Help part of the presentation, Members queried:

Staff morale and welfare in the care sector and effects of self-isolation on the service – very few staff needed to self-isolate as early on in the Pandemic office based staff had formed bubbles in specific groups to include a manager and supervisor.  If self-isolation was required, the impact was manageable.  The welfare support provided helped staff enormously and they knew they could meet face to face if required.  It was commented that although the sickness level had dropped during the Pandemic and the staff were generally healthy, they would be monitored and support services would continue.

            It was noted that the financial information for quarter two of 2020-21 was unavailable at the time of publishing so this would be sent to the Board when it was completed.

            Members welcomed the positive feedback received and agreed that staff had coped very well during this difficult and challenging time and gave their thanks.  It was understood however that more challenging times lay ahead as the demand for social care referrals, child protection plans and children in care placements were ever increasing.

RESOLVED:  That the presentation be received.