Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Julian Wooster, Director of Children's Services and education representative Bruce Marr.

There were no declarations of interest.

A Vice-Chair for the municipal year needs to be elected from within the panel

membership.

It was proposed by Councillor Purvis and seconded by Councillor Stagg that Councillor Paul Godier be appointed vice-chair of the panel and this was agreed.

A copy of the minutes of the Education, Children and Young People (ECYP) Scrutiny Panel meeting of 15 May 2014 are attached for approval.

RECOMMENDED that that minutes of the Education, Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel held on 15 May 2014 be agreed as a correct record of the meeting.   

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Education, Children & Young People Scrutiny Panel held on 15 May 2014 be confirmed as a correct record.

The Education, Children and Young People (ECYP) Scrutiny Panel

members are asked to suggest and give consideration to potential review

topics for submission to the next meeting of the Scrutiny Management Panel

(which is due to meet on 25 July 2014).

Suggestions so far include:

(i) Pupil Premium

(ii) Home to School Transport

(iii)Child Sexual Exploitation

(iv)Troubled Families Programme

(v) School Catchment Areas

Any other areas of interest members would be interested in looking into that

are within the panel's remit are welcomed.

RECOMMENDED that the ECYP Scrutiny Panel makes prioritised

suggestions of suitable review topics for consideration by the Scrutiny

Management Panel.

The panel was advised that the Scrutiny Management Panel were due to meet on 25 July 2014 to allocate and prioritise review topics for this scrutiny panel.  Julian Wooster had put forward some suggested topics on the agenda, some of which had been topics the panel had considered last year. 

The chair of the panel, Councillor Purvis invited the panel to put forward any additional topics for review. 

Councillor Godier suggested that a review into school induction days for children moving to new schools might be an interesting area for the panel to review.  The panel agreed to put this forward to the Scrutiny Management Panel (SMP) as a topic.  Councillor Godier also suggested that the panel may wish to review the EMAS service as he had been advised there were a limited number of staff to provide support for the whole city.  Julien Kramer advised he could circulate a briefing note to the panel on the service. 

Councillor Purvis suggested that the provision of special education needs in the city might also be a topic to review.  He said this was touched upon within the school governance review last year and Councillor Stagg added that this was topical in particular with the future relocation of the Harbour School.  Julien Kramer said that there was an incomplete pattern of special education provision in the city and the panel could review how children with special educational needs are provided for in special schools compared to those in main stream schools.  The Panel agreed to put this forward to the SMP. 

Julien Kramer added that the panel might wish to review school improvement as a topic. 

Julien Kramer, Interim Head of Education and Kelly Nash, Corporate Performance Manager were invited to comment on the proposed topics put forward on the agenda:

(1)  Pupil Premium - this was a topical theme and officers advised the panel may wish to consider outcomes, best practice and how schools are making the best use of this money. The panel agreed this was a relevant topic to put forward.  Councillor Purvis suggested this review could initially consist of a workshop style format inviting head teachers to share how they are using the money.  This could be followed up by two or three meetings for the panel to form their recommendations.  Schools could be asked to submit a report on what they are spending the money on.  Julien Kramer added that this information is available and he could provide this for the panel. 

(2)  Home to School Transport - Officers advised that the new policy comes into effect in September so any processes and any potential savings will not be embedded/realised at the moment.  The panel agreed that it would not be appropriate to review this at this time and this could be a topic for next year. 

(3)  Child SexualExploitation - Kelly Nash advised the panel that the Safer Portsmouth Partnership were finalising the Child Exploitation Strategy.  Therefore their aspirations would not yet be firmly embedded  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

The panel has previously met on Monday evenings at 7pm, on a monthly

basis during the review periods. Once the next review topic is confirmed by

the Scrutiny Management Panel a scoping document will be prepared for

submission to the panel.