Council and councillors

Report No.219/2018 was received from the Strategic Director for People.

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 provide Cabinet with assurance that there was a comprehensive approach by the Learning and Skills Service that contributed to the Council meeting Section 11 of the Children Act 2004 requirements. These requirements placed a duty on the Council to ensure that their functions, and any other services that they contracted out to others, were discharged having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

During discussion the following points were raised;

i.      Mrs Stephenson noted that access by providers to online safety training was at 82% and that it would be good to see this number increase;

ii.    Mrs Curtis, Head of Learning and Skills, confirmed that a conference to include online safety was being planned for spring 2019 and would be aimed at parents and early years providers; and

iii.   The subscription to CareKnowledge had been well received and provided access to training sessions and information on safeguarding and other information regarding the care of young children and people.

DECISION:

1)    Cabinet NOTED the actions and priorities for Safeguarding through Education identified within the report.

Reasons for the decisions

The report provided elected Members with an overview of the activities undertaken by the Learning and Skills Service, in partnership with Children’s Social Care to provide all childcare providers and school staff with training and guidance, so that they know and understand how to keep the children in their care safe and from harm.

Through regular review of this aspect of the Learning and Skills Service role, assurances could be made regarding the effectiveness of the work undertaken and would enable planned actions to be timely, relevant and leading to continued quality of support for education providers.