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Meeting Details

Meeting Summary
Education and Children Policy Board
19 Jan 2017 - 13:00 to 15:00
Occurred
Council Chambers (Renfrewshire)
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Documents

Agenda

Agenda
Notification
Standard Items
Further Information
This is a meeting which is open to members of the public. 

A copy of the agenda and reports for this meeting will be available for inspection prior to the meeting at the Customer Service Centre, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley and online at www.renfrewshire.cmis.uk.com/renfrewshire/CouncilandBoards.aspx

For further information, please either email
democratic-services@renfrewshire.gov.uk or telephone 0141 618 7112.
Members of the Press and Public
Members of the press and public wishing to attend the meeting should report to the customer service centre where they will be met and directed to the meeting.
Chair

Councillor Henry, Convener, presided.

In Attendance

P Macleod, Director of Children’s Services; P Quinn, Assistant Director – Schools, D Hawthorn, Head of Childcare and Criminal Justice, G McKinlay, Head of Schools, J Trainer, Head of Early Years and Inclusion and J Murray Head Teacher, Houston Primary School (all Children’s Services); and G McLachlan, Senior Finance Manager and D Low, Senior Committee Services Officer (both Finance & Resources).

Items Of Business
Apologies
Apologies from members.
Councillor McQuade and Mr Keith and Mr Nellaney.
Declarations of Interest
Members are asked to declare an interest in any item(s) on the agenda and to provide a brief explanation of the nature of the interest.
There were no declarations of interest intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting. 
1 Revenue Budget Monitoring Report
Joint report by Directors of Finance & Resources and Children's Services.
1
There was submitted a joint revenue budget monitoring report by the Directors of Finance & Resources and Children's Services for the service for the period 1 April to 11 November 2016.  

DECIDED:

(a)  That the budget position be noted; and

(b)  That it be noted that since the last report there had been a number of budget adjustments resulting in a net increase of £152,816 primarily relating to a budget increase for Employability and the transfer of Disclosure Scotland budgets from Finance & Resources.  The increases were partially offset by the transfer of budgets for Corporate Landlord maintenance and Healthy Lifestyles.
 
2 Capital Budget Monitoring Report
Report by Director of Finance & Resources.
2
There was submitted a capital budget monitoring report by the Director of Finance & Resources for the service for the period 1 April to 11 November 2016.

DECIDED:  That the report be noted.  
 
3 Presentation - Gender Based Violence
Presentation by Head of Child Care and Criminal Justice.
3
D  Hawthorn, Head of Childcare and Criminal Justice, gave a presentation on gender-based violence including details of what gender-based violence was, the number of people affected by it, Renfrewshire’s multi-agency response to the issue and ongoing and specific actions being undertaken to tackle gender-based violence.

DECIDED:  That the presentation be noted.
 
4 Changes to Education Scotland Inspection Model
Report by Director of Children's Services.
4
There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the revision of the Education Scotland inspection model to one which utilised four quality indicators including leadership of change; learning, teaching and assessment; raising attainment and achievement; and ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion, all as set out in the fourth edition of ‘How Good is our School?’ and ‘Child at the Centre’.

The report intimated that the reports on the findings from educational establishment inspections, now known as ‘letters to parents’ would form part of future reports to this Policy Board and would include information on the strengths of the school, areas for development and the quality indicator evaluations.  Board reports would also indicate if the inspection had taken place at short-notice and/or was of a shorter duration.

DECIDED:  That the changes to Education Scotland inspection models and the changes to the reporting format of these inspections to this Policy Board be noted.
 
5 Joint Inspection of Houston Primary School and Nursery Class, Houston
Report by Director of Children's Services.
5
There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the inspection by Education Scotland and the Care Inspectorate of Houston Primary School and Nursery Class, Houston undertaken during October 2016, as part of a national sample of early education and childcare.   

A copy of the letter to parents was appended to the report, and it identified five key strengths of the school and nursery class whilst two areas were identified for further improvement.  The areas identified for further improvement would be the subject of an action plan which would be monitored by Children’s Services staff and a report would be prepared within two years of the original inspection informing parents of the progress made by the school in addressing the main points of action.  The letter to parents also advised that Education Scotland and the Care Inspectorate would make no further visits in connection with the inspection.

DECIDED:  That the key strengths and the areas for improvement in the Education Scotland and Care Inspectorate report on Houston Primary School and Nursery Class be noted.
 
6 Annual report of the Adoption and Fostering Panels 2015/16. Update on Developments for Looked After Children.
Report by Director of Children's Services.
6
There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the annual report of Renfrewshire Council’s Adoption and Fostering Panels 2015/16. 
  
The annual report, attached as an appendix to the report, set out the work that had been dealt with by the Adoption and Fostering Panels between 1 October 2015 to 31 September 2016 and set it in the context of the broader issues pertaining to looked after and accommodated children. The report made reference to the progress being made regarding Renfrewshire’s own foster carers with five new carer households being approved in 2015/16.     
    
The report also set out the future work of the panels, the continued work on improving timescales for adoptive placements and the outcome of the inspection of the Fostering and Adoption Service by the Care Inspectorate and provided details of a project being undertaken in partnership with Who Cares? Scotland relative to building relationships with looked after young people before starting to engage in awareness-raising work with the wider school community, pupils, teachers and parents.         

DECIDED:

(a)  That the contents of the Fostering and Adoption Annual Report 2015/16 be noted; and

(b)  That the continuing partnership with Who Cares? Scotland on issues relating to care-experienced young people be noted.
 
7 Response to Scottish Government Consultation to Changes to National Care Standards
Report by Director of Children's Services.
7
There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the Scottish Government’s consultation on changes to national health and social care standards.  A copy of the Council’s proposed response to the consultation was appended to the report.

The report intimated that the Scottish Government proposed the introduction of seven new care standards based on a person’s circumstances and treatment, with statements in each standard referring to the five underpinning principles of dignity and respect; compassion; be included; responsive care; and support and wellbeing.    

DECIDED:

(a)  That the contents of the report be noted; 

(b)  That it be noted that the report would also be submitted to the Integration Joint Board; 

(c)  That the response which would be submitted to the Scottish Government by 22 January 2017 be approved; and 

(d)  That it be agreed that Renfrewshire Council continue to participate in the development of new care standards.
 
8 A Blueprint for 2020: The Expansion of Early Learning and Childcare in Scotland - Consultation Response
Report by Director of Children's Services.
8
There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the Scottish Government consultation on its intention to increase the entitlement to free early learning and child care by 2020, increasing the current level of 600 hours to 1140 hours on an annual basis.

To meet the consultation deadline of 9 January 2017, a working group had been established to review the consultation document and prepare a response which had been submitted by the Director of Children's Services by the consultation deadline.  A copy of the response was appended to the report. 

DECIDED:  That the action of the Director in submitting the response to the Blueprint for 2020 consultation relating to the expansion of early learning and childcare to the Scottish Government be homologated.
 
9 School Estate Management Plan (SEMP) - Revision to Proposal to relocate Spateston Pre-5 Centre to the St Anthony's School Building
Report by Director of Children's Services.
9

There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to a proposed revision to the School Estate Management Plan by providing a new-build Spateston Pre-5 Centre and refurbishing St Anthony’s Primary School rather than the original proposal of relocating the Pre-5 Centre within the primary school.

 


The report set out the reasons for the revision to the SEMP and provided a timescale for the revised proposal, with the completion of the new Spateston Pre-5 Centre and phase 1 of the refurbishment of St Anthony’s Primary School being anticipated as summer 2019.

Councillor Henry, seconded by Councillor M Sharkey, moved that it be noted that the SEMP proposal of 21 January 2016 to relocate Spateston Pre-5 Centre to a refurbished and extended St Anthony’s Primary School was no longer considered to be viable; that the revised proposal to build a new Spateston Pre-5 Centre on the site of the existing Centre, augmented by an area of Council-owned land immediately adjacent to the centre, at Churchill Avenue in Johnstone be approved; and that the revised proposal to refurbish St Anthony’s Primary School be approved.

Councillor Cameron, seconded by Councillor Andy Doig, moved as an amendment that the Policy Board continue consideration of the report until the next Education and Children Policy Board, allowing for further public consultation on the revised proposals.

On the roll being called, the following members voted for the amendment: Councillors Cameron, Andy Doig, Lawson, Mylet and Perrie.

The following members voted for the motion: Councillors B Brown, Glen, Henry, Hood, M Macmillan, I McMillan, Murrin, J Sharkey, M Sharkey and Williams.

The following member abstained: Reverend Clark.

10 members having voted for the motion, 5 members having voted for the amendment and 1 member having abstained , the motion was accordingly declared carried.

DECIDED:

(a)  That it be noted that the SEMP proposal of 21 January 2016 to relocate Spateston Pre 5 Centre to a refurbished and extended St Anthony’s Primary School was no longer considered to be viable;

(b)  That the revised proposal to build a new Spateston Pre-5 Centre on the site of the existing Centre, augmented by an area of Council-owned land immediately adjacent to the centre, at Churchill Avenue in Johnstone be approved; and

(c)  That the revised proposal to refurbish St Anthony’s Primary School be approved.

 
10 Risk Management Plan 2016/17 - Mid-year Update
Report by Director of Children's Services.
10

There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to progress on the Children’s Services Risk Management Plan 2016/17 approved at the meeting of this Policy Board held on 12 May 2016. The complete risk register showing risks, planned actions and progress was appended to the report.

The report intimated that a new risk had been added relative to the Council’s provision of care for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children due to the specialist support which may be required and the complex legal situation. 

 

 

DECIDED:

(a)  That the addition of a risk relating to the care and support of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children be approved; and

(b)  That the contents of the report otherwise be noted.

 
11 Educational Excursion Policy (Amendment)
Report by Director of Children's Services.
11

Under reference to item 7 of the Minute of the meeting of this Board held on 18 August 2016, there was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to a proposed amendment of Section 12 ‘First Aid’ of Standard Circular 33 – Educational Excursions.

 

The report intimated that following the approval of the Educational Excursion Policy further discussions had taken place with teaching staff and Health & Safety officers relative to the requirement for a trained first aider to be present on all overseas and residential excursions.  It was subsequently agreed that a detailed risk assessment should be carried out by the trip leader which would then be discussed with the head teacher to decide if the location and activities to be carried out on the trip merited a trained first aider to be present.  A revised section 12 “First Aid” of the Educational Excursion policy was attached as Appendix 2.

 

 DECIDED:  That the amendment of Section 12 ‘First Aid’ of Standard Circular 33 attached as Appendix 2 to the report be approved.

 

Declarations of Interests

Member NameItem Ref.DetailsNature of DeclarationAction
No declarations of interest have been entered for this meeting.

Visitors

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