Agenda and minutes

To welcome Members and Officers to the Meeting and to receive any apologies for absence.

The Chair welcomed Members and Officer to the meeting of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee.

Apologies were received from the following, County Borough Councillor G Stacey, Co-opted Voting Members Ms R Nicholls and Mr L Patterson, It was also noted that Councillor S Powell would be leaving the meeting early and that due to work commitments Councillor H Fychan would be late attending.

To receive disclosures of personal interest from Members in accordance with the Code of Conduct

Note:

1.     Members are requested to identify the item number and subject matter that their interest relates to and signify the nature of the personal interest: and

2.   Where Members withdraw from a meeting as a consequence of the disclosure of a prejudicial interest they must notify the Chairman when they leave.

In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, there were no declarations made pertaining to the agenda.

To receive the minutes of the previous meeting of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee held on 27^th January2021.

It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the 27^th January 2021 as an accurate reflection of the meeting.

Minute No: 49 - The Chair informed Members that theCabinet and Scrutiny Chair engagement Session had yet to take place and would report back to Members once it had been confirmed.

Minute No 50- The Chair informed Members that the data in respect of digital learners and the FSM data would be presented to Members as part of a termly update from officers going forward.

Information is provided in respect of relevant consultations for consideration by the Committee.

The Democratic Services Officer referenced the open consultation links that are available on both the Welsh Government Website and the RCTCBC Website and reminded Members of the procedure that is in place to participate if they so wish.

The Chair reminded Members that on behalf of the Committee the Chair along with Officers input participated in the Welsh Government Consultation in respect of the School Improvement Guidance and explained that as soon as any information has been received Members will be updated with the findings.

 Members RESLOVED to Note the Consultations links provided.

To consider the report of the Head of Access and Inclusion Service in respect of implementation of the ALNET

The Head of Inclusion Services explained that the purpose of the report was to provide Members of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee with an update on the implementation of the ALNET (Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal) Act (2018) along with providing Members with information on the implications of the new legislation for the Council from a local perspective.

Members were reminded that considerable changes are planned in Wales in relation to the statutory provision required to meet the needs of learners within Special Educational Needs (SEN) / Additional Learning Needs (ALN) with the implementation of new legislation, the ALNET Act (2018), in September 2021.The ALNET (Wales) Act 2018 (The 2018 Act) received Royal Assent in January 2018.

The Head of Inclusion Services continued and explained that the new statutory framework is underpinned by three overarching objectives:

·         A unified legislated frame work to support all children of compulsory school age or below with additional learning needs (ALN) and to support young people with ALN who are in school or further Education (FE);

·         An integrated , collaborative process of assessment, planning and monitoring of support provided to ALN learners which facilitates early , timely and effective interventions; and

·         A fair and transparent system for providing information and advice, and for resolving concerns and appeals.

The Officer went on to explain that the new ALN system is expected to be implemented over a three year period. The implementation period is expected to run from September 2021 to August 2024. However Welsh Government is yet to publish its revised implementation timetable following its decision to delay its original implementation over three years from September 2020.

Members were provided with an overview from a local context, it was explained that Local Authorities and all those who work with children and young people with SEN must ensure that they continue to comply with duties placed upon them by the Education Act 1996 and continue to have regard to the SEN Code of Practice for Wales (2002).

 It was highlighted to Members that during the three year implementation period from September 2021 local authorities will need to implement the new ALN system in parallel to the current SEN system which will gradually be phased out. The Officer continued and explained that to support its implementation the act introduces three new statutory roles which took effect from 4^th January 2021 these are:

Ø  Additional Learning Needs Coordinator (ALNCo) ;

Ø  Early Years Additional Learning Needs  Lead Officer (EYALNLO);

Ø  Designated Education Clinical Lead Officer (DECLO).

Members were also informed that Welsh Government is providing financial assistance to support the implementation of the Act through a £20M package funding. A substantial proportion of funding is being used to support workforce development.

The Chair thanked the Officers and opened up the meeting for Members questions and observations.

A Member thanked the Officer for the report and asked for clarity in relation to what the local authority has done so far with regards to preparation for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

To consider the report of the Head of Service Transformation in respect of school admissions in RCT.

The Head of Service Transformation presented Members with a summary of the annual school admissions process. Members were reminded that a report was provided for the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee in February 2020, which detailed the Council’s school admissions process. The Officer continued and explained that the report before them provides Members with an update on developments within school admissions in the last 12 months along with planned development for the next round of admissions.

Members were reminded of process in place for routine admissions. It was explained that in September individual letters are annually sent to parent/ carer(s) of every pupil registered in nursery, year 2 in an infant school and year 6. The letter details their User Identification Number and application process that they need to undertake to apply for a school place for the following September. It was also explained that the information is also provided to the Welsh Medium primary schools in Merthyr Tydfil and two schools in the Vale of Glamorgan for children who plan to attend schools in RCT (e.g. Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywyn and Y Pant Comprehensive School).

In relation to application made for academic year 2020 /21 the local authority processed 8782 applications of which 7188 (i.e. 81.85%) were applied for on line. There were 1302 pre- nursery, 2352 nursery, 2534 reception, 71 junior and 2523 year 7 applications.

Members were also reminded that within RCT there are 8 voluntary aided (church) schools and the administration for these schools have been formulated by the schools governing bodies and admission requests are approved by the relevant governing bodies. 

Members were pleased to see that of the 7310 applications made for nursery, reception, junior and year 7 children 98.95% were offered their first preference. Members also considered the pre- nursery figures.

Members were also presented with information in relation to admissions for the year 2020/21. In respect of the all through schools Members were informed that children already attending an all through school, do not need to apply for a secondary school, unless the wish to attend a different secondary school. Children will still have to apply for a pre-nursery, nursery and reception place at the relevant time. Members were given information in relation to timetabling for 2021/2022, waiting lists, admissions at other times, Welsh Medium Transfers and special educational needs.

 The Officer continued and presented Members with information in respect of the Fair Access Protocol this ensures that appropriate protocols are in place for admitting children considered hard to place so that unplaced children, especially the most vulnerable are offered suitable school places promptly. It was explained that in the academic year 2019/2020, 40 children were brought forward to discuss and placements made. Of the 40, 16 were managed moves, 24 were parental in year- transfers.

After scrutinising the information within the report Members presented Officers with questions and observations in respect of school admissions, A Member ask question in respect of the in year  transfer and the number of FSM pupils  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77.

To consider the Joint report of the Director of Education and the Service Director Democratic Services & Communications

The Service Director Legal Services explained to Members of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee the purpose behind the report put before them.

It was explained that at the meeting of the Audit Committee on the 20^th October 2020 Members were presented with ‘Finalised Audit Assignment Report’ where a number of priorities were identified relating to ‘Attendance, Referrals and Intervention’ and post 16 Planning and Funding.

 It was explained that after consideration of the report the Audit Committee agreed that Officers from the Education and Inclusion Services attend the Audit Committee meeting in November to discuss the findings as a result of this discussion Members of the Audit Committee felt that issues regarding attendance and post 16 attendance should be referred to the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee for further consideration.

The Service Director Legal Services introduced the Head of the Attendance and Wellbeing Service who continued to present the report. It was explained that the main concerns from the report surrounded unauthorised absence levels for statutory school aged children and for post 16 settings, settings not always maintaining class registers for academic lessons as well as Key Skills/ Welsh Baccalaureate lessons.

Members were presented with tables which showed Primary and Secondary schools absence rates for Members to consider. Members were also informed that data setting for 2019/20 and 2020/2021 we not complete due to the Covid 19 pandemic. It was explained that as expected during this period, absence levels have increased drastically at the onset of the pandemic and subsequently in this academic year. The Officer continued and explained that various changes have been made to coding guidance during this time from Welsh Government. In respect of the increase in unauthorised absences at both phases officers highlighted that this seems to be a consequence of parental/ pupil anxiety and refusal to return to school , where this refusal has continued schools have begun to unauthorise absences where there are no mitigating circumstances. 

The Head of the attendance and Wellbeing Services outlined the work that has been done within the service to support the key areas. All schools are on a three day rota for visits and staff will attempt to establish contact to determine the reason behind absences/ non engagement and work with families to support them. 

The Head of Attendance and Wellbeing presented Members with an update in respect of post 16 attendance practices.  It was explained that the original audit into this subject was not attendance focused, however a concern raised during the audit that attendance registers were not always completed in academic lessons as well as key skills/ Welsh baccalaureate lesson and learners were leaving site at various times without being challenged.

It was explained that post 16 attendance is not statutory therefore we do not ordinarily report on attendance at this level within annual attendance progress reports and similarly there is no Welsh Government requirement to collect data for post 16 learners. 

The Head of Attendance and Wellbeing continued and explained that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 78.

To reflect on the meeting and actions to be taken forward.

The Chair thanked both Members and Officers for their time and contribution to the meeting and explained that the next meeting would be held on the 24^th April 2021.