Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the meeting held on 16 March 2016 attached

DECISION:

that the minutes of the meeting held on 16 March 2016 be signed as a correct record.

To consider any matters arising from the last meeting where not otherwise covered on this agenda and to report on items considered at the Cabinet.

The Cabinet Member - Children, Schools & Skills reported on continued lobbying for  LA funding on the government white paper on school organisation and on academisation.

DISCUSSION:

The following membership changes were noted:-

Resignation of Mrs Paulette Furnival  - DAG Primary maintained

Election of Mr Alex Walmsley - DAG Primary academy  (new position, see minute 9(b))

Schools Member  (maintained) secondary school governor  - new vacancy

Election of Mrs Bronwyn Cashere - Special School Headteacher wef 1 September 2016

Election of Mrs Cherie White - Special School Headteacher substitute member  wef 1 September 2016

Election of Mrs Maggie Carter - Special School Governor substitute member.

Appointment of Mr Wilson Forster - Early Years Private, Voluntary and Independent substitute member.

DECISION:

that Mrs Paulette Furnival be thanked for her service to the Forum.

ACTION:

County Solicitor (Fiona Rutley)

10.10am            Head of Education & Learning to report.

DISCUSSION:

The Head of Education & Learning reported (summary tabled) on:-

(a)  Persistent Absenteeism

This covered School data on  600 pupils on  a part-time timetable /pupil with 30+sessions of absence during the Spring Term 2016 (breakdown by phase, SEN, pupil premium, gender, completion of part time timetable,  reasons for absence(significant number of anxiety/other mental health/psychological issues)).

Discussion and points raised included:-

-The attention of schools and governors would be drawn to recent statutory guidance duty on     governing bodies to support  young people with physical and mental health medical conditions  and recent advice on mental health and behaviour in schools

-Long gap in attendance  and coming to the attention of the LA where medical needs were not  being supported

-Timely and early solutions required including part time timetables, on line learning

-Importance of linking professionals early on to stop the downward cycle and increased absenteeism

-Schools becoming overwhelmed with the sheer numbers of young people affected and assistance sought from Devon Partnership Trust

-DASH concerns around GPs/CAMHS raising expectations of young people on what schools could provide, as well as the increasing number of vulnerable children receiving Elective Home Education (EHE)

- 42% rise in young people receiving EHE, safeguarding around EHE.  Special Educational Needs families in EHE due to time lag waiting for services

-very positive Early Help 4 Mental Health support and training in primary schools, but concern at the suspension of parental support (further data requested eg to measure interventions success)

-year 6 absenteeism increase

-Bideford learning community  early help resilience programme  (vulnerable pupils and anxiety)

-lack of help for young people over summer school holidays

-significant pressure on high needs block funding.

DECISION:

that a further report be made to this Forum on Elective Home Education (EHE)

ACTION:

Head of Education & Learning (Sue Clarke)

(b) Education & Learning Performance (Quarter 4 - 2015/16)

 This covered Attainment and Attainment Gaps, Closing the Gap, Inclusion, Ofsted Outcomes and Overall Performance.   

Discussion and points raised included:-

-Gap closed significantly  in Keystages 2 and 4

-Significant improvement of take up of early years funding for 2 year olds

-Significant improvement in closing the gap for children in need and looked after children

-Ofsted baseline data measure for Children in Care and national benchmarking database

-Significant improvement in Keystage 5

- 94.7%/ 97.7%  primary/secondary first preferences met  and 98.6%/99.6%  respectively one of preferences met in normal schools admissions round outperforming nationally as well as a high number of in year admissions

-Special Educational Need & Disabilities (SEND)moving SEN statements to EHCPs needed better shared assessment and a multi agency approach to shorten timeframes in collecting information back from agencies and providers as some statutory timeframes not being met

-Devon was a top LA for tracking attendance/persistent absenteeism with year 11 increase due to legal action now being taken up to April/May

-Ofsted outcomes overall % of primary, secondary and special schools judged good or outstanding increased (to 90%) over last five quarters and consistently better than nationally. 

-Overall performance showed  Devon LA had almost reached  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

10.30am            Report of the Head of Education & Learning and County Treasurer (DEF/16/04) attached

DISCUSSION:

The Forum considered the report of the Head of Education & Learning and County Treasurer (DEF/16/04).  There was a correction to the last paragraph of paragraph 1.1, schools carry forward balances, comparing with £20.9m (instead of £20.4m), a net increase of £2.8m (instead of £2.3m).

The Forum also noted the respective minutes of the Schools Finance Group (SFG) of 11 May 2016. 

The report (DEF/16/04) covered:-

- DSG (Dedicated Schools Grant) and Schools Funding Outturn 2015/16

- Allocation of carry forward from 2015/16 and

- Mutual Fund Update.

In relation to members’ comments:-

- the DASH underspend of £157,000 was planned for leadership and induction programmes;

- it was noted that there was ongoing  work relating to how future funding may be used to address the pressures on the high needs block.

DECISION:

(a)  that the DSG 2015/16 outturn position (subject to Statement of Accounts sign off) be noted;

(b) that  the allocation of the carried forward under spend from 2015/16 as set out in section 2, table 5 of report DEF/16/04 be approved as follows:-

10.50am            Report of the Head of Education & Learning and County Treasurer (DEF/16/06) attached

DISCUSSION:

The Forum received the report of the Head of Education & Learning and County Treasurer (DEF/16/06).  FIPS was an officer group scrutinising budgets and recovery plans of schools at financial risk at an early stage, also considering requests and signposting schools to support strategies for long term financial viability planning.   The report also contained an analysis of submissions and outcomes for 2015/16.  

With a challenging fiscal environment and the prospect of the National Funding Formula, significant changes to the way in which schools were funded and a cash flat DSG settlement, the role of FIPS had become much more proactive.

11.10am            Report of the Head of Social Care Commissioning (DEF/16/05) attached

DISCUSSION:

The Forum considered  the report  of the Head of Social Care Commissioning (DEF/16/05) regarding new rights under The Children and Families Act for care and support for Young Carers under the age of 18 and LA duties to assess and identify young carers and their support needs.

The most recent census showed around 4,700 carers aged 0-24 in Devon (2,628 of which were aged 0-18.  This figure was likely to be a significant under estimate with further work to identify the full numbers .  

Devon  was one of six trailblazers across the country for the Step Change Project ,ending March 2016  with a report due to be published in July 2016.     A main recommendation for Devon was to improve joint working between adult and children’s services to better identify and support young carers whose cared for had a learning disability, mental health issue, substance misuse issue or were physically unwell.

The report also detailed work with schools and colleges including Devon Carers as part of a national pilot in relation to Young Carers in schools awards.

DECISION:

that the Head’s Liaison Group be requested to consider representation from DASH, DAPH, DAG and SHAD or other educational provision on the Young Carers Partnership Steering Group .

ACTION:

Head of Education & Learning (Heidi Watson-Jones)

11.50am            Recommended :  to note for information.

 Newsletter from the Director of Public Health attached

DISCUSSION:

The Forum received  the Newsletter (April 2016) from the Director of Public Health on the first six months of the EH4MH initiative; School Support  & training;  Direct  support to young people through Young Devon and Xenzone (via KOOTH.com) on-line counselling and support) and Parenting Support.  The impact so far had been good, although parenting support had been suspended due to Public Health grant reduction but Children’s Centres continued to deliver a range of evidence-based parenting programmes.

It was noted that schools and children centres were encouraged to work with their local partnership steering group (rather than Local Learning Community) .

ACTION: Director of Public Health (Virginia Pearson)

11.55am           

(a) To review action for the Forum from its groups and to receive minutes:-

(i)  Schools’ Finance Group

Minutes of the meetings held on 11 May 2016 , attached

Also available at

http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/learningschools/schoolsforum/schoolsfundinggroup.htm

                    (ii) Schools Organisation, Capital and Admissions Forum

            Minutes of the meeting held on 7 June 2016, attached

            Also available at

            http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/learningschools/schoolsforum/soca.htm

(iii)  DEF Proportionality

DAG is amending its composition to 3 maintained  primary governors and 1 primary academy representative  (instead of 4 maintained primary governors) to reflect primary academy pupil numbers. 

(a)  The Forum received the following minutes of its standing groups:-

(i)  School Finance Group (SFG)

Minutes of the meeting held on 11 May 2016 (considered under Finance Update minute 5   above).

(ii) Schools Organisation, Capital and Admissions (SOCA)

(replacing Schools Organisation and Policy Forum and the Local Admissions Forum)  

DISCUSSION:

Devon had reviewed its charging for conversion costs in line with other LAs. Actual costs were in the region of £12,00-15,000 per conversion, estimating  on current projections a total of £3.9m - £5m which the LA did not have the funding for.

The Forum was also mindful of its minute 697(b), 25 June 2014:-

that costs relating to asset transfer for LA maintained schools transferring to Academy status after 1 April be met by the individual school on the basis that the costs can be met from start-up support grant provided by the Education Funding Agency to the convertor school specifically to help with costs of converting;

DECISION:

that the LA’s intention to request a contribution of up to £8,000 from all schools converting to academy status to support LA costs, from funds released to their academy conversion be noted.

(b) DEF Proportionality

DECISION:

that the amendment to the DAG composition on the Forum  to 3 maintained primary governors and 1 primary academy representative* (instead of 4 maintained primary governors) to reflect primary academy pupil numbers be noted. 

*academy representation not necessarily restricted to principals, senior staff or governors  (EFA Code)

ACTION:

County Solicitor (Fiona Rutley)

11.30am           Report of the Head of Education & Learning (DEF/16/07) attached

DISCUSSION:

The Forum considered the report of the Head of Education & Learning (DEF/16/07) Post 16 Education and Skills draft vision,  that DCC wanted to ensure with all its key partners in education, further education, higher education, employers and businesses that every school leaver was given the maximum opportunity to achieve their fullest potential in work and employment.  Post 16 Employability and Skills had resurfaced as a national and local priority.

The report set out  DCC’s six point action plan.

Discussion and points raised included:-

-LA duty to promote participation and tracking NEETs (Not in Education, Employment & Training) to support young people

-DCC’s unique position linking all providers and the holder of young people’s data

-Vulnerable NEET young people currently included 96 young mothers and 140 young people with learning disabilities out of 1002 (approx. 2000 pa but large proportion NEET for a part year only)

-single accountable body to be established with three work streams (qualifications, employment & training and community living & learning (voluntary sector)

-Local Enterprise Partnerships and devolution plans lack of emphasis on post 16

-vulnerable young people tended to prefer small sixth form provision

-financial constraints and sustainability of  school 6^th forms due to national funding change

-6^th form provision was affecting some parental  year 7 secondary transfer preferences 

-support required for small business apprenticeships

-there was not a shortage of apprenticeship vacancies but high calibre vacancies were not easy to fill

-work plan smart approach

-sector by sector approach in compiling vision document.

 DECISION:

that a further report be brought to this Forum on apprenticeship levy and funding and the impact on schools.

ACTION:

Head of Education & Learning (John Peart/Kristine Norton)

-

Wed 19 October 2016

Monday 16 January 2017

Wed 15 March 2017

12.05pm CLOSE

Wed 19 October 2016

Monday 16 January 2017

Wed 15 March 2017.

DISCUSSION:

Mr Ian Courtney MBE, Chairman was attending his last meeting of the Forum.

DECISION:

that Mr Ian Courtney MBE be formally thanked on behalf of the Forum and Devon County Council for all his work as Chairman  over recent years and for his support given through the Devon Association of Governors and National Governors Association.

ACTION:

County Solicitor (Fiona Rutley)