Agenda item

Members were presented with a paper providing detail regarding the recent publication of the Doncaster Opportunity Area (OA) Delivery Plan (DP) and funding associated with the OA programme due to be transferred to the Council over the life of the programme (2017/18 to 2019/20). The report also outlined the outcomes from the Cabinet decision made on the 6th of February alongside progress made towards implementation.

It was reported that the Delivery Plan includes 4 priorities:

·         Building solid foundation for all children;

·         Brilliant teaching and leadership for all secondary pupils programme;

·         No career out of bounds; and

·         Opportunities extend to all

Members were informed that each priority was led by a working group made up of local stakeholders and the programme is governed by a Partnership Board (PB) into which all the working groups report.  It was explained that the Board had a significant job in overseeing the implementation of plan and that it had the benefit of a Chair for whom education improvements was his business, with a deep seated commitment to outreach and the community.  It was recognised that it was not a platform that implemented change but engaged wider with stakeholders and made sure that the working groups do what they are supposed to do.

It was reported that to ensure synergy with wider Council activity the Opportunity Area programme work sits within the Learning theme of the Doncaster Growing Together Programme.  It was outlined that the programme will be monitored and progress reported on and dependencies managed with related projects and programme through the DGT programme.

It was explained that detailed plans had been developed since January 2018.

The following was raised as part of the discussion;

Extra-Curricular Activities - In respect of extra-curricular activities benefitting disadvantaged pupils, the Sutton Trust’s 2014 report found that wealthier children and those in private schools were more likely to access and utilise extra-curricular provision.  Members raised concern around the reference to private schools and it was explained that the report had highlighted that employers looked for essential life skills and it had been recognised that children and young people did not get an equal deal.  Reference was made to Expect Youth, who would be delivering the Essential Life Skills element of the programme and an associated mentoring offer.

It was explained that the £1,050k grant to Expect Youth was essential as it was about engaging further with partners.  It was outlined that a challenge had been placed through the board on secondary colleagues to target activity in enrichment time to those who really needed it and therefore using money to lever schools.  It was recognised that a challenge at board would be how can the funding can be applied to where it is needed?  Otherwise it needed to be considered how other partners can be used outside of school hours. 

Bernadette Nesbitt, a Co-optee on the Panel stressed that essential life skills were crucial for children and as they did not always want to stay in schools it was sometimes the case that they learnt best outside of that environment. It was recognised that teachers were not always best placed to provide that nor schools to deliver what children needed. 

Persistent Absenteeism - Members were reminded that when children reached statutory school age they had to attend school.  It was recognised that educational policy had been looked at progressively over a number of governments and that it was making sure that it was applied into the right places. 

It was recognised that this was an opportunity and that schools needed to think about how they structure their day and maximise outcomes not just achievements. It was reported that the money could be used for other activates such as Enterprise Advisers. 

Members were informed that a report could be brought back to the Panel on a quarterly basis, with more detail on expenditure and where they are targeting each of the areas. 

Recommended that the Panel;

      I.        note the decisions that have been taken by Cabinet and the progress made on implementation;

    II.        as part of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Panel 18/19 Workplan, bring an update of the Social Mobility Opportunity Area Delivery Plan  as part of an agreed 6 monthly update on progress (to the July meeting).