To confirm the record of the meeting of the People (Children) Scrutiny Panel held on 04 May 2017 (previously circulated).

The minutes of the meeting of the People (Children) Scrutiny Panel held on 4 May 2017, copies of which had been previously circulated, were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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The Chairman gave the following notices before moving on to the next agenda item:

i)      Scrutiny Commission were looking to review the Scrutiny function at RCC using an evaluation framework which would be shared electronically with Members.  Members were asked to provide any feedback they had directly to Mr Begy.

ii)     Members were asked to have due regard to requirements concerning conduct during the meeting as prescribed in the RCC Procedure Rules and Members Code of Conduct.

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In accordance with the Regulations, Members are invited to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have and the nature of those interests in respect of items on this Agenda and/or indicate if Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.

i)      Mrs L Stephenson declared a personal interest in agenda item number 9 as she was a teacher at Leighfield Primary School.

ii)     Mr B Callaghan declared a personal interest in agenda item number 9 as he was a Governor at Casterton College.

iii)    Miss G Waller declared a personal interest in agenda item number 9 as she was a Governor at Ryhall Academy.

To receive any petitions, deputations and questions received from Members of the Public in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 217.

The total time allowed for this item shall be 30 minutes.  Petitions, declarations and questions shall be dealt with in the order in which they are received.  Questions may also be submitted at short notice by giving a written copy to the Committee Administrator 15 minutes before the start of the meeting.

The total time allowed for questions at short notice is 15 minutes out of the total time of 30 minutes.  Any petitions, deputations and questions that have been submitted with prior formal notice will take precedence over questions submitted at short notice.  Any questions that are not considered within the time limit shall receive a written response after the meeting and be the subject of a report to the next meeting.

No petitions, deputations or questions had been received from members of the public.

To consider any questions with notice from Members received in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rules No 219 and No. 219A.

No questions with notice had been received from Members.

To consider any Notices of Motion from Members submitted in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule No 220.

No notices of motion had been received from Members.

To consider any matter referred to the Panel for a decision in relation to call in of a decision in accordance with Procedure Rule 206.

No matter was referred to the panel in relation to the call-in of a decision in accordance with Procedure Rule 206.

To receive Report No. 111/2017 from the Director for Resources.

(Report circulated under separate cover)

Report No. 111/2017 was received from the Director for Resources.

During discussion the following points were noted:

i)     Miss Waller hoped that the underspend in the Capital Allocation Project Board for North Luffenham School would be appropriately allocated as soon as possible;

ii)    Miss Waller requested information regarding the underspend in School Governor Training and highlighted how important this training was to the success of schools. Mrs Curtis confirmed that there had been a delay in getting this training booked, but that a series of training sessions had been arranged since the end of the financial year.  There was also work with Rushey Mead Academy, which had received accreditation in Governor Training, to deliver further training in September on Safeguarding and Special Educational Needs and Disability reforms.  Information on these training sessions would be circulated through Chairs and Clerks;

iii)   Mr Callaghan highlighted the importance for Governors in training to understand and read figures and statistics.  Mrs Curtis confirmed this training had been arranged for the Autumn; and

iv)   Miss Waller requested clarification regarding the arrangements for the funding for the Community Centre at North Luffenham and whether this could now be reviewed as the situation was not satisfactory and it had been the subject of much discussion but no solution had yet been found.  It was agreed that this was a very specific area and would require further discussion outside of the meeting.

AGREED

That the Panel NOTED the report.

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Mrs D Greaves left the meeting and did not return.

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To receive Report No. 98/2017 from the Director for Resources.

(Report circulated under separate cover)

Report No. 98/2017 was received from the chief Executive.

During discussion the following points were noted:

i)     Mr Begy noted that there was more granular data available which was not included in this report.  It would be more relevant to receive the performance data that related specifically to the area within the remit of the Panel; and

ii)    Mr O’Neill confirmed that data which provided more specific analysis was available and currently went to other meetings, there was no reason why this data could not be provided to the Children and Young People’s Panel in future.

AGREED

That the Panel NOTED the report.

To receive Report No. 120/2017 from the Director for People

Report No. 120/2017 was received from the Director for People.

Dr T O’Neill, Director for People, introduced the report the purpose of which was to present draft Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) and Inclusion Strategy and provide an update on the transformation programme and the work that was ongoing to ensure that children’s individual needs were central in providing the right support, in the right environment to ensure that the right outcomes are achieved for each child.  SEND and Inclusion services were subject to Peer Review which would take place in July 2017 and Ofsted and CQC inspections.

Mr K Quinn, Service Manager – Early Intervention and Inclusion, delivered a presentation to update Members on the SEND Inclusion Transformation a copy of which is appended to these minutes.

 During discussion the following points were noted:

i)     Part of the strategy would be to invest funds currently spent on expensive specialist school settings to enable some children to be supported in main stream school settings.  Miss Waller was concerned that schools did not currently have the resources to manage special educational needs requirements within the classroom setting and that it would be paramount to involve schools in expressing what they would need to make this possible;

ii)    Mr Quinn confirmed that Schools would be fully involved in the consultation on any changes;

iii)   Mr Wilby, Portfolio Holder for Lifelong Learning, highlighted that good communication between schools and academy’s and the local authority to ensure that any issues are dealt with effectively and efficiently;

iv)   Early Intervention for children requiring educational support was very important, but Mr Quinn explained that before putting children through lengthy assessment programmes it was important to have some evidence regarding the specific additional needs, so that there was a referral to correct service;

v)    Health Services were also involved in early identification with Health Visitors obliged to notify the Local Authority should any concerns arise at the 2 year check;

vi)   Feedback had been received that Primary Schools had concerns about children moving from the smaller and more intimate primary school setting to larger setting at secondary school and this was the reason that more referrals were being seen at year 6.  These referrals could often be received quite late as moving on plans were not being developed, in spite of issues being known about for some time;

vii)Re-direction of funding to schools would mean that schools would need to adapt and demonstrate that outcomes are being met and there is sufficient information in Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP) to ensure that all aspects are being catered for;

viii)                The increase in EHCP’s was a national trend which made early intervention more critical, but it was important to apply the right type of intervention which may mean taking the time to consider the most appropriate support, rather than rushing into a plan which would be in place until the age of 25;

ix)   Diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorders were on the increase and it  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75.

To consider Scrutiny issues to review.

Copies of the Forward Plan will be available at the meeting.

The Chair asked members of the Panel to look at the Cabinet Forward Plan, but also to consider other areas and issues that they would like to review or look at in more detail and provide feedback directly to him regarding possible future agenda items.

To receive any other items of urgent business which have been previously notified to the person presiding

There was no other urgent business.

Thursday 7 September 2017 at 7 pm

Agenda Items:

1.    Future Planning for the Educational Psychology Service

2.    Children’s Mental Health/CAMHS

3.    Q1 Performance Management Report

Thursday 7 September 2017 at 7 pm

Agenda Items:

1. Future Planning for the Educational Psychology Service
2. Children’s Mental Health/CAMHS
3. Q1 Performance Management Report