Present:-

Councillors Smith (Chairman), Barker, Brook, Clarance, Clatworthy Gribble, Hook, McMurray and Walters

Teignbridge District Council

Councillor Haines

Devon Association of Local Councils

-

Apologies

DCC: Councillors Connett and Mrs Fry

DALC: Councillor Swain

*83 Election of Chairman

RESOLVED that Councillor Smith be elected Chairman for the ensuing year.

*84 Election of Vice-Chairman

RESOLVED that Councillor McMurray be elected Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.

*85 Minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 15 March 2012 be signed as a correct record.

*86 Early Years and Childcare Services (EYCS Termly Update)

The Committee considered the written update from Mrs Sue Bolt, EYCS on new facilities/closures, outstanding Ofsted reports, Children s Centres and other news. Mrs Bolt, accompanied by Ms Tania Skinner (Children s Centres) also reported on the new Ofsted categories and implications for pre-schools. Early Years Foundation Stage government changes from September 2012 affected all Early Years and Childcare providers registered on the Early Years register and aimed to reduce paperwork and bureaucracy. It enabled professionals to focus more strongly on the areas of learning most essential for children s readiness for future learning and development, strengthen partnerships between parents and professionals and introduce a progress check at age 2 to provide for early intervention if needed. Some Early Years settings felt disadvantaged at the point children became eligible to attend school (Single Offer Point) and parents could choose whether to leave their existing setting, attend school part time (funded for 15-21 hours), or attend school full time (25 hours a week).

Children Centres in Teignbridge had elements of their service plan targets based on Payment by Results (for which Devon was a pilot study).

Devon had developed the 2gether programme and was part of a national scheme to offer flexible, free childcare places for 2 year olds living in households with low-income. Devon Children s Centres were taking part in this scheme with a reach target of 20% of 2 year olds and plans for a reach of 40% of 2 year olds by September 2014. Currently parents could be part of the scheme if one parent was receiving one benefit from income support, child tax credit at the higher rate, income based job seekers allowance, working tax credit relating to disability or pension credit.

Ofsted inspections of Childrens Centres had recently become more stringent and were an opportunity to plan for future Ofsted inspections, notwithstanding that no centre inspected in Teignbridge had been found to be of serious concern.

It was hoped that in the long term Childrens Centres and the coordination of a comprehensive range of various initiatives (including the new Troubled Families Programme to help the more vulnerable children/families and sharing of meaningful data across agencies would show real results and improved parenting skills leading to a better outcome for the child , school and more.

The EYCS termly newsletter and further information about the 2gether programme were available at:-

http://www.devon.gov.uk/eycs

http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/childrenfamilies/disc_services/disc-childcare/disc-2gether.htm

*87 School Places and Designated Areas

In accordance with Standing Order 23(2) Councillor McMurray had requested the Committee consider this item.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning, Transportation Environment (PTE/12/47 - text only | pdf PTE/12/47) presented by Mr Simon Niles on the policies and protocols for the management of school designated areas and an overview on the implications of the emerging Teignbridge District Council Local Plan (likely to need additional school places around Newton Abbot, Kingsteignton and SW of Exeter).

Councillor McMurray was concerned at the number of out of area pupils attending a non-designated school (eg Shaldon primary) and consideration of whether due consideration was given to whether a designated area was fit for purpose and equitable by Local Learning Communities (LLCs) and the involvement of local members. Officers worked very closely with LLCs and would also be happy to review the stage when local members were involved.

Free schools and academies had greater flexibility in respect of designated areas. The Local Authority retained the strategic responsibility for the commissioning of school places. There were ongoing discussions with the South Dartmoor Academy for additional places which would support the release of the site currently identified for primary provision.

RESOLVED that Mr Niles be invited to address the Committee when the impact of the Teignbridge core strategy on school admissions and other provision in the area was known.

*88 Members Development Steering Group

The Committee received the minutes of the meeting held on 21 March 2012.

*89 Future Meetings

(a) Dates (agreed within the County Council Calendar)

Thursday 15 November 2012

Thursday 14 March 2013

All meetings to be held at 10.00am at Forde House, Newton Abbot.

(b) Work Plan/Items for Future Discussion

- Impact of the Teignbridge core strategy on school admissions and other provision

(minute 87, 5 July 12)

- Devon Youth Service (Teignbridge)

- 14+ Update

- Early Years and Childcare Service (termly)

- Liaison with Torbay Council eg tourism

- Youth Parliament Update

*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 11.30am and finished at 12.30pm.

The Minutes of the Teignbridge County Committee are published on the County Council s Website at:-