There was submitted a joint revenue & capital budget monitoring report by the Director of Finance & Resources and the Director of Children's Services for the period to 5 January 2024.

The report intimated that the projected revenue outturn at 31 March 2024 for Children’s Services was an overspend of £1.888 million against the revised budget for the year. The projected capital outturn at 31 March 2024 for Children’s Services was an underspend of £0.143 million.

DECIDED:

(a) That the projected revenue outturn position for Children’s Services detailed in Table 1 of the report be noted, and that it be further noted that the forecast position was based on best estimates and confirmed government support at the time;

(b) That the projected capital outturn position for Children’s Services detailed in Table 2 of the report be noted; and

(c) That the budget adjustments detailed in sections 4 and 6 of the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the current capital projects to develop and improve the learning estate.

The report provided an update in terms of the work around the new primary school in Dargavel and advised that the Council had engaged with Space Zero to develop a strategic planning brief which involved engagement with key stakeholders, visioning sessions, focus groups and general data gathering around requirements and expectations for the new school. This work would inform the next key stage in the design process which was the production of an accommodation schedule, which would in turn enable clearer cost forecasting before producing the final brief to be handed over to the architects.

The report also advised that the solution for the internal alterations at the existing Dargavel Primary School had been agreed and that work was expected to take place during the summer of 2024 and be completed prior to the commencement of the 2024/25 school session.  

In respect of Park Mains High School, works to repurpose the existing modular unit were underway, with an expected completion date of April 2024.  Four steering group sessions had been carried out and the feedback from these would be used to finalise the strategic brief.

In respect of Bishopton Primary School, it was advised that work was underway to replace the current classroom block with a permanent facility and work was expected to be completed prior to the commencement of the 2024/25 school session.

DECIDED: That the content of the report be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the performance of the 2022/23 leavers cohort in four key measures: attainment in literacy and numeracy; improving attainment for all; attainment versus deprivation; and leavers’ destinations.

The Scottish Government's evaluation tool, INSIGHT, had been used to benchmark the performance in each of the key measures. It was noted that this cohort were the first since the pandemic who were not impacted by the cancellation of exams in 2020
however their results did include the alternative certification model in 2021.

The report set out the data for each key measure and made comparisons to previous years and the national average. Details on the poverty related attainment gap were provided together with the impact of the work which had been undertaken around improving attainment for all.

DECIDED:

(a) That the content of the report be noted; and

(b) That the efforts of Renfrewshire's young people and the school communities in bringing about these results be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the Council's contribution to early years provision in Renfrewshire through the allocation of funding to support a range of private and voluntary sector organisations which delivered services for families with young children.

The report provided information on the proposed allocation of funding during 2024/25 to out of school care groups in the private and voluntary sector and for early years voluntary sector organisations, playgroups and toddler groups. The proposed awards were set out in full in Appendices 1-3 of the report.

DECIDED:

(a) That the resource allocation to support the delivery of services for children and young people as outlined in Appendix 1 to the report be approved; and

(b) That the proposed allocation of grant funding for out of school care and pre-five voluntary sector, as detailed in Appendices 2 and 3 of the report be agreed, subject to the completion of satisfactory checks and assessments.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the Early Learning and Childcare consultation which was carried out between August and October 2023. The findings of the consultation were set out in full at Appendix 1 to the report.

The report outlined the Council's duty under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 to consult representative populations of parents and carers on how mandatory early learning and childcare, day care, out of school care and discretional services should be made available. This consultation was carried out in 2023 with 723 responses received.  A summary of the key findings were set out in section 4 of the report together with detailed findings and analysis provided at Appendix 1.

DECIDED: That the findings of the Early Learning and Childcare Consultation - 2023, as set out in the appendix to the report, be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to proposed changes to the starting date in terms of 1,140 hours of childcare entitlement for three-year-olds in Renfrewshire.

The report detailed the variance between the Scottish Government’s Early Learning and Childcare Statutory Guidance and the current practice in Renfrewshire which resulted in some children aged three years of age in Renfrewshire accessing their early learning and childcare place in advance of the recommended starting dates. The report proposed an alignment between the Council's practice and the Scottish Government's guidance. 

Councillor Rodden, seconded by Councillor Paterson, moved:

(a) That the proposal to realign child entitlement to 1,140 hours of early learning and childcare to the Early Learning and Childcare Statutory Guidance, July 2021 be approved;

(b) That it be noted that the change to starting dates would take effect from the first day of the new school session in August 2024; and

(c) That the changes to Standard Circular 3a: Early Learning and Childcare Admissions policy guidance for staff to reflect the change to entitlement be noted.

Councillor G Graham, seconded by Councillor McMillan, moved as an amendment that the recommendations set out in Section 2 of the report not be approved.

On the roll being called, the following members voted for the amendment: Councillors Davidson, Grady, G Graham, Hannigan, Leishman, McGonigle, McMillan, Mr Ravinder Singh and Councillor Smith.

The following members voted for the motion: Councillors Adam, Airlie-Nicolson, Ms Bird, Provost Cameron, Councillors Audrey Doig, Hughes, Mylet, Nicolson, Paterson and Rodden.

The following member abstained: Mr Jack Nellaney.

10 members having voted for the motion, 9 members having voted for the amendment
and 1 member having abstained, the motion was declared carried.

DECIDED:

(a) That the proposal to realign child entitlement to 1,140 hours of early learning and childcare to the Early Learning and Childcare Statutory Guidance, July 2021 be approved;

(b) That it be noted that the change to starting dates would take effect from the first day of the new school session in August 2024; and

(c) That the changes to Standard Circular 3a: Early Learning and Childcare Admissions policy guidance for staff to reflect the change to entitlement be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to proposed changes to the Transition of Children and Young People with Additional Support Needs policy.  The policy was set out in full at Appendix 1 to the report.

The report made reference to the Code of Practice (ASL Act 2009) which set out the requirements of Education authorities when planning school education changes for children and young people and summarised the best practice. It was advised that Part 1 of the policy, appended to the report, focussed on the transitions from early years to primary school and from primary school to secondary school and would be complimented by a parent friendly version which was being developed by the Parent/Carer Ambassador Group.  Part 2 of the policy was being developed and would focus on supporting the transition of children and young people with additional support needs from school to adult life.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Transitions of Children and Young People with Additional Support Needs (Part 1) policy be approved; and

(b) That the Director of Children’s Services be instructed to take appropriate steps to ensure the above policy's implementation in all schools and early learning and childcare settings across Renfrewshire.

There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to Renfrewshire children who were cared for outwith their birth family.

The report set out the Council's duty under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 to support children in need of care and protection to live with their families and that this option was sought in the first instance before examining kinship care and either foster carers or residential provision where children could not be safely cared for by their own parents.

It was advised that on 29 February 2024 183 children were cared for outwith their birth family by Renfrewshire Council.  Section 3 of the report provided further analysis around the number of children cared for by the Renfrewshire Fostering Service; independent foster care; internal residential children’s houses; external residential provision; secure care; settings for children with disabilities; specialist therapeutic settings; residential schools; and external residential children’s houses. The report also set out the requirement for all children who were cared for outwith their birth family to have their placement and plan reviewed at least once every six months.

DECIDED:

(a) That it be noted that Children’s Services operated a general duty under Section 22 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 to support children in need of care and support to live with their families;

(b) That the information in relation to children cared for outwith their birth family be noted; and

(c) That it be agreed that information on Renfrewshire’s looked after children be reported to this Policy Board on an annual basis.