Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest made at this meeting.

There were no questions from members of the public or the press.

There were no matters referred from the Youth Cabinet.

There were no communications to report.

(Referred from Cabinet Member, Lifelong Learning meeting held on 10^th June, 2008)

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Director of Learning Services containing information about the results of the statutory assessment at the end of Key Stage 3 in 2007. The report stated that schools are required to assess the attainment of all pupils in each of the National Curriculum subjects at the end of each key stage at age 7 (Key Stage 1), age 11 (Key Stage 2) and at age 14 (Key Stage 3). Statutory assessment includes statutory tests in the core subjects (English, mathematics and science) together with teacher assessment in all subjects.

The following issues were raised during the Scrutiny Panel’s debate:-

- the national focus on joint attainment in English and in mathematics;

- provision and support for higher achieving pupils, both academically and in sports and activities;

- continuing learning until age 18/19;

- use and cost of consultants and school improvement partners, to support the raising of pupils’ attainment;

- comparison of Rotherham’s performance with that of similar local authorities;

- vocational education;

- funding for pupils with special educational needs.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That the improved levels of performance in English and mathematics at the end of Key Stage 3 be noted.

(3) That all schools be encouraged to continue to improve their results and strive to achieve outcomes at least in line with national average rates of improvement.

(4) That this Scrutiny Panel endorses the drive to:-

- reduce the gap between Rotherham’s performance and the national average performance in the core subjects;

- improve boys’ attainment, especially in English;

- improve the performance of black, minority ethnic (BME) pupils; and

- improve the attainment of Looked After Children.

(5) That the Director of Learning Services submit a report about funding for pupils with special educational needs, to a future meeting of this Scrutiny Panel.

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Acting Strategic Director, Children and Young People’s Services, stating that the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) had awarded Children and Young People’s Services a European Social Fund grant of £1.5 millions to support the delivery of 16-19 NEET activity in Rotherham.

The overall aim of Rotherham’s 16-19 NEET Fund Management co-ordinated response is to reduce the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) by providing a coherent delivery network, which will meet the needs of the target groups, by increasing the numbers of young people receiving intensive and key worker support and providing a range of needs-led provision for them to progress into. 

The LSC required each Fund Manager (ie: the local authority) to establish a commissioning process, to procure a range of innovative activity designed specifically to meet the needs of the target group and to be delivered by a wide range of relevant providers. The report outlined the commissioing process which has already been endorsed by the Learning and Skills Council.

The Learning and Skills Council requires Rotherham, as Fund Manager, to deliver the following outputs:-

- provide enhanced support to assist 500 young people in the development and implementation of their Individual Learning Plans by March 2010;

- 325 Young People progress into education, employment or training by March 2010;

- a reduction of 300 NEETs by March, 2009;

- a reduction of NEET young people in Rotherham to 7.1% by March 2010

- 325 Young People obtaining basic skills and employability skills by March, 2010

- 200 Young People obtaining vocational skills accreditation at entry level 1 and 2.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and the information noted.

(2) That this Scrutiny Panel supports the establishment of a 16-19 NEETs Fund Manager Commissioning Process.

(3) That a progress report on this matter be submitted to this Scrutiny Panel during Autumn, 2008.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Business Manager (Children and Young People’s Services) concerning the proposal for a business support structure for Children and Young People’s Services to be planned alongside integrated children’s teams. Following the consultation on integration and the subsequent move to locality teams, progress has been made to develop a business support function for Provider Services. This phase of the work should conclude in September 2008, at which time the focus will move to develop the business support function for the remainder of Children and Young People’s Services. 

The report stated that bringing together different agencies’ support and administration functions into a single service is a complex piece of work.  In addition, the report summarised the work being undertaken by the Primary Care Trust to achieve an integrated business support function.

The Scrutiny Panel noted that the establishment of the new integrated functions was expected to be achieved within existing budget limitations.

Resolved:- That the report be received and the progress of the development of business support for integrated children’s services be noted.

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Service Manager (Provider Services) stating that the Ofsted Inspection of Adoption Services in Rotherham had taken place in January 2008. The inspection concluded that Adoption Services in Rotherham were “Good” overall. Only two areas were designated as in need of action in order to meet statutory requirements and a number of recommendations for service improvement were made.

The report provided details of the action plan, devised in response to the Ofsted Inspection report and listed the action to be taken on each of the Inspection report’s key recommendations. Members noted the role of the post of Letterbox Co-ordinator, established to promote positive contact between adopted children and their birth family.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That this Scrutiny Panel supports the actions, now reported, to be taken in response to the Ofsted Inspection report of Rotherham’s Adoption Services.

Resolved:- (1) That the minutes of the previous meeting of the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel, held on 6^th June, 2008, be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chairman, with the inclusion of Councillor Sims in the list of Members who had sent their apologies for absence for that meeting.

(2) That, with regard to Minute No. 5(1) (Co-opted Members), it be noted that Mrs. A. Lidster is to be considered for membership of the Looked After Children Scrutiny Sub-Panel, instead of this Scrutiny Panel.

(3) That, with regard to Minute No. 8 (Work Programme 2008/09), the Chairman (or substitute) and Mrs. T. Guest be nominated for the Scrutiny Review group about breast feeding.

- 23^rd May 2008  (copy attached)

- 13^th June 2008 (copy attached)

Resolved:- That the contents of the minutes of the meetings of the Performance and Scrutiny Overview Committee held on 23^rd May, 2008 and 13^th June, 2008, be noted.

The following items are likely to be considered in the absence of the press and public as being exempt under Paragraph 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended (information likely to reveal the identity of an individual)

Resolved:- That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended (information likely to reveal the identity of an individual).

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Service Manager (Provider Services), containing details about Looked After Children in Rotherham. The report also included information about the capital building works programme for children’s homes.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That the report be referred to the Looked After Children Scrutiny Sub-Panel for further consideration.

(3) That Members be invited to the Performance Clinic, to be arranged, in respect of Looked After Children.

Consideration was given to the Annual Report, presented by the Complaints Manager (Children and Young People’s Services), outlining performance for complaints in Children and Young People’s Services for 2007/2008, along with comparison to 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 data and future developments.

The number of complaints received were:-

- 101 people have made 220 complaint points at Stage 1

- 7 people made 42 complaint points at stage 2

- 3 people made 23 complaint points at Stage 3.

The Annual Report provided details about the comments and complaints received during 2007/08 by the Children and Young People’s Services Complaints Service. The report highlighted details of the performance in complaints and identified areas where improvements are developing or need to improve further.  In addition, the report included information about the way comments and complaints are being recorded and reported using the corporate complaints system, Siebel.

Resolved:- That the Annual Report for Comments and Complaints 2007/08, for Children and Young People’s Services, be received and its contents noted.