Agenda item

 

·         Service Improvement Officer to report. 

The Service Improvement Officer (Children and Young People’s Services Directorate) was welcomed to the meeting to provide a presentation on the outcomes of the Education Lifestyle Survey, 2014.  The Improving Lives Select Commission considered the outcomes from the Education Lifestyle Survey (formerly the Lifestyle Survey) each year.  The Lifestyle Survey, 2013, was considered at the meeting held on 12^th March, 2014 (Minute No. 55). 

 

The Service Improvement Officer confirmed that the Survey results for 2014 covered the period prior to the publication of the Jay Report. 

 

The submitted report outlined that the Lifestyle Survey was a valuable piece of consultation to capture the views of young people in Years 7 and 10 and asking their opinions on: -

 

·         Food and drink;

·         Health, activities and fitness;

·         Being in school;

·         Out of school;

·         Young carers;

·         Bullying and safety;

·         Smoking, drinking and alcohol;

·         Sexual health;

·         Local neighbourhood. 

 

In 2014, all 16 secondary schools participated in the survey, although one did withdraw their involvement due to the content of some of the questions.  The issues were addressed but the School felt it was too late to reintroduce the survey. 

 

Overall, 4,123 pupils participated, representing a 63% participation rate.  This was the highest participation rate ever since the Survey’s start in 2006. Neighbouring local authorities had already approached Rotherham for support as the rate of participation was much more favourable here.

 

Additional questions had been incorporated in 2014 following requests from Public Health, the Police and the Healthy Schools’ Consultant.  The new questions concerned safety, sexual health education, internet safety, e-cigarettes and asking participants what they though around alcohol, drugs and smoking.  

 

All participating secondary schools received a copy of the overall Borough-wide report and their individual school report so they could see what their school results were and compare to the Borough-wide response.  The Healthy Schools’ Service received copies of individual school reports to identify which schools needed support in specific areas. 

 

Individual school results were not shared publically but schools may choose to publicise their outcomes.  The Survey was important for schools as a way of demonstrating to Ofsted how their pupils’ voices influenced school matters, including curriculum.

 

The results of each survey were shared with a wide range of stakeholders: -

 

• Public Health;
• Healthy Schools Consultant;
• Safer Neighbourhood Partnership;
• South Yorkshire Police;
• South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive;
• Neighbourhood Crime Manager;
• Young Carers Provider – Barnardos;
• Locality Team(s);
• School Nursing;
• Families for Change;
• Youth Cabinet;
• Rotherham Local Safeguarding Children Board;
• Communications Team – the Service Improvement Officer aimed to release a quarterly good news story related to the Survey demonstrating how it was having a positive impact. 

 

Overall, the 2014 positive outcomes were: -

 

·         More young people participated;

·         More young people said they had breakfast up to 80% in 2014 from 73% in 2013;

·         More young people taking up the option of school dinners - up to 44% in 2014 from 28% in 2013;

·         New question – 98% of young people had been taught either at school or at home about internet safety;

·         Young people who said they had been bullied, reduced to 28% in 2014 from 38% in 2013;

·         Young people reported that they had received help following being bullied increased significantly to 64% in 2014 from 26% in 2013;

·         Young people reported they regularly drank high energy drinks down by 9% in 2014;

·         Increase in the number of young people who said they had never tried alcohol up to 43.5% in 2014 from 41% in 2013;

·         Reduction in the number of young people trying some type of drug.

 

2014 impact and outcomes: -

 

·         Schools appointing Anti-Bullying Ambassadors – improvement with bullying rates, but also increase in those seeking help after being bullied;

·         Specific action plan developed to monitor the safety in and around Rotherham Town Centre including the interchange – Operation Civilise – reportable incidents reduced by 32% in Quarter 3 (Oct to Dec 2014);

·         Promotion event to show young people where they can go in school for confidential health advice;

·         Young Carer’s card now being piloted in 5 schools in Rotherham;

·         9 retail establishments had been issued with warnings about selling alcohol and cigarettes to under-aged young people;

·         New questions added to the survey about young people’s thoughts on smoking, drinking alcohol and taking drugs;

·         Changes made to PSHE lessons in school using the data from 2013 survey around alcohol – targeted lessons to young people;

·         RMBC Public Health Partnership joint working – targeting a community with prevention and education about drug use.

 

2014 areas for attention: -

 

·         Pupils feeling good about themselves had reduced in a number of areas;

·         Safety issues similar to 2012 and 2013 – Town Centre and Public Transport where pupils feel least safe;

·         Local shops identified as a place where young people in particular Year 10 could obtain cigarettes;

·         Young Carers slight increase in reported rates;

·         Crisps had replaced fruit as the most popular snack at break time;

·         Less young people say that they regularly participated in sport;

·         Young people feeling their school council made a difference had reduced;

·         Cyber Bullying was what young people felt was the main risk of using the internet;

·         Sexual Health – number of young people not using contraception.

 

2014 areas for improvement: -

 

·         Self-harm pathway had been developed for front-line workers who had contact with young people age (9 to 25);

·         Young Person Forum (Youth Cabinet) were working jointly with the Police and South Yorkshire passenger transport in making recommendations to improve safety and perceptions of safety in and around Rotherham Town Centre and there would continue to be involvement in a transport user group;

·         Smoking and Alcohol/Drug Strategy Groups to carry out work with young people against the peer pressure – questions added in 2014 for young people: – ‘Do you think it is OK to smoke, drink, use drugs?’ results show they do not in particular at the Year 7 age group;

·         Substance Awareness week planned for 20th April 2015;

·         Review of Young Carer’s Card scheme;

·         Sexual Health strategy group had a priority to work with young people and consultation with Youth Cabinet had endorsed the approach of the strategy;

·         Healthy School Consultant was working with each school PSHE Lead to highlight the priorities for each school based on their Survey outcomes.

 

Discussion followed on the information presented and the following questions were raised: -

 

·         Councillor McNeely asked whether the outcomes showed which five Secondary schools were involved in the Carers’ Card scheme, and also asked for a copy of the Card – The Service Improvement Officer agreed to provide this information;

·         Councillor McNeely asked about school reception of smoking in general, and, more recently, e-cigarettes? -  The Service Improvement Officer referred to a commitment to make all of Rotherham’s Schools no smoking premises, including e-cigarettes and including the wider school grounds.

·         Councillor Roddison asked to see the questions that were asked and the responses received.  This information presented was a bit vague and made it hard to challenge the actions of agencies following receipt of the Survey outcomes.  -  The Service Improvement Officer agreed to email out the questions to the Improving Lives Select Commission and to include the questions in future years’ reports.

·         Councillor J. Hamilton noticed that a very high response of children and young people wanted more fun and interesting lessons.  What was happening here? -  The Service Improvement Officer confirmed that the results did go to Schools each year so they were aware of what was being requested.  Since 2006, this answer had consistently requested more fun and interesting lessons.  It could be the way that the question was asked and/or the answer options that were provided.

·         Councillor J. Hamilton referred to bullying via social media.  -  The Service Improvement Officer confirmed that each School had a Healthy Schools Consultant who was addressing this.  Fear of the internet was consistently reported.  Future Surveys could ask pupils to provide more information about this in the ‘other’ box.

·         Councillor Reynolds asked how widely the survey outcomes were shared.  Did they go to the Police and did they act on them?  – The Service Improvement Officer outlined the agencies who received the outcomes.  The survey did go to the police and they did act on the outcomes in a positive way.  For example, work between the police and individual schools was continuing to try to identify the areas where shops were selling cigarettes to children and young people.  Councillor Reynolds commended this tangible action of the survey. 

 

The Senior Scrutiny and Member Development Adviser referred to a presentation being provided at the next meeting of the Improving Places Select Commission on Town Centre safety, including young people’s perceptions as taken from the Education Lifestyle survey.

 

Councillor J. Hamilton felt that the Action Plan as a document that showed how the Education Lifestyle Survey was used to inform services would be a useful document for the Improving Lives Select Commission to look at.  It would also be useful to look at the previous year’s response to compare the most recent year’s outcomes to see what was changing, improving and getting worse. 

 

Resolved: -  (1)  The Improving Lives Select Commission noted the actions of the Cabinet on 14^th January, 2015, in noting the Education Lifestyle Survey report, 2014, and noting and agreeing the action plan which would be used to ensure that issues were actioned following completion of the survey.

 

(2) The Improving Lives Select Commission requested that future reports would include the questions and answers from the Survey from the current year and previous year so that the direction of progress and trends could be seen and monitored. 

 

(3)  That the smoking leaflets referred to regarding illicit tobacco be distributed to all of Rotherham’s Elected Members to increase awareness and for potential circulation.