Report No. 38/2018 from the Director for People was received.

Mr D Wilby, Portfolio Holder for Lifelong Learning, Early Years, Special Educational Needs & Disabilities and Inclusion, introduced the report, the purpose of which was to approve the Education Framework 2017-20 which sets out the strategic context in which the Learning and Skills Service operates and identifies planned activity to ensure all statutory educational duties for Early Years provision, primary and secondary schools and post-16 settings are met.  Clarification of the overarching strategic direction for education within Rutland over the next three years, would enable the intention to be shared with, and embraced by, all relevant education stakeholders and success achieved. 

During discussion the following points were raised:

1. The document was still in draft, but the final version would be presented to Council;
2. The timescales in appendix A, indicated that some actions had already been implemented and so the decision to approve the plan appeared to be retrospective.  Clarification would be added in the introduction, that some of the actions were statutory duties and so were continuous and ongoing;
3. There was sufficient provision and resilience in respect of childcare sufficiency.  The additional 15 hours childcare provision introduced by government had put significant strain on some providers;
4. The Strategic School Improvement Fund Eligibility Criteria 2017 (Appendix C) were a statutory duty and the criteria were set nationally.

DECISON

1)    Cabinet RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL to adopt the Education Framework 2017-20 as the key driver for sustained education improvement across Rutland education settings.

Reasons for decision

1. It is recognised that areas with better education outcomes develop a higher skill base, higher productivity, greater economic returns and become more attractive to both highly skilled people and investment, building a capacity to improve even further. 
2. The Education Framework 2017-20 contributes to the aims set out within Rutland County Council Corporate Plan 2017-20 and to the achievement of key theme 2 (Fair Society) of Rutland’s Children, Young People & Families Plan 2016-2019. It also reflects the duty for all local authorities to promote educational excellence for all children and young people, being ambitious in setting high expectations for achievement and well-being and in swiftly tackling underperformance.
3. The Framework sets out an approach which builds on the positive partnership between the Local Authority and Rutland schools and early education providers, and provides a platform for further success through the development of a collective responsibility for sustained education improvement which will be achieved through shared responsibility and collective purpose.