Agenda item

Sarah Whitby to report.

Recommendation(s):- (1) To receive the report and note the contents.

(2) To agree to receive an annual update on the use of reduced timetables.

Consideration was given to a report presented by Sarah Whitby, Head of Service – Access to Education, which provided context and understanding of the use and prevalence of Part Time Timetables across Rotherham settings. 

It was noted that the Local Authority had a statutory duty to monitor and report on pupil’s missing out on full time education. 

Data referenced within the report focused on data provided from the 2023-24 return.  It was recognised that systems for returning information across Rotherham had not been as robust as the service would have liked however the service had worked hard to embed and strengthen those systems.  

Of the 120 settings across the Borough, 61 schools provided a return from the 2023-24 academic year and of those schools 56 reported the use of part-time timetables.  Five schools reported a nil return each month and the position was unknown for the remaining 59 settings.  

A new collection system, which was now in place, would prompt all schools to make a return, including nil returns, to provide assurance that details of all children accessing part-time provision was captured. 

The Forum noted that the use of part time timetables had increased in Secondary settings with a peak at KS4.  The highest use of part-time timetables in Primary settings was for reception aged pupils, recognising that some children in Reception would not yet have achieved statutory school age. 

It was also noted that 79% of students reported were on the SEND register and 43% had an EHCP.  Forum Members were advised that to keep the use of part-time provision for students with an EHCP in close focus relevant information was also shared where needed with the EHCP team.  

In 2023-24 22% of children reported had an open Social Care involvement and 47% had a least one open Early Help involvement within the academic year. 

A relaunch of the part time timetable guidance alongside new reporting arrangements would take place later this month and it was suggested that this also included SENCO networks and the Secondary Heads Forum. 

Termly analysis of data would begin alongside the distribution of child level data to relevant teams to share awareness and strengthen collaborative working practices.  Proposals were also shared on the commencement of annual reporting on the Use of Part-time Timetables to Schools Forum.

Discussion ensued on the potential linked financial implications of the use of part-time timetables. 

Forum Members also expressed an interest in understanding the numbers of children reported using part-time timetables that were on the SEND register that were awaiting special school provision and whether this information could be included in the annual report going forward. 

It was recognised that there were several strands to this area of work with a number of wider issues to consider. Understanding the drivers behind the use of part-time timetables was crucial and consequently dialogue with settings would take place if it was identified that part-time timetables had been used inappropriately within a setting. 

Forum Members enquired if there was any national data on the use of part-time timetables to be able to compare against Rotherham’s position.  The Head of Service for Access to Education confirmed that there was no national data available as this data was not published in the same way as attendance and exclusion data.  

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

(2)  That a report on the use of Part-time Timetables be presented to the Schools Forum on an annual basis.