Agenda and minutes

Venue: Virtual meeting through Microsoft Teams

Contact: Christine Rothwell  Senior Governance Officer

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for absence

2.

To consider the extent, if any, to which the public and press are to be excluded from the meeting.

Minutes:

None.

3.

Declarations of Interest, if any.

Minutes:

There were no declarations made.

4.

Minutes of the meeting held on 17th September 2020 pdf icon PDF 84 KB

Minutes:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 17th September, 2020 were agreed as a correct record.

5.

Public Statements

(A period not exceeding 20 minutes for statements from up to 5 members of the public on matters within the Panel’s remit, proposing action(s) which may be considered or contribute towards the future development of the Panel’s work programme).

Minutes:

There were no public statements made.

6.

Organisation of Learning Provision Strategy 2020 pdf icon PDF 301 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Assistant Director for Education, Skills, Culture and Heritage provided an overview of the Organisation of Learning Provision Strategy 2020 that sets the future learning landscape for Doncaster.  It was explained that the report addressed ensuring the right number of school places, in the correct locations were available across Doncaster and place projections moving forward.

 

The following areas were addressed in detail by the Panel:

 

Local Authority influence on Academy Trusts – A Member referred to the changing pattern in Doncaster meaning that there were a number of schools where the governing body was increasingly autonomous with regard to pupil places and admissions policies and questioned what influence the Local Authority had in this regard.  In response, it was explained that in Doncaster there was considerable collaboration and good relationships between the Borough’s schools and the Local Authority, with the response to Covid-19 highlighting such positive connections. 

 

Members were reminded that Academies by definition were independent in their own right, however, the Local Authority retained certain statutory responsibilities, particularly with regards to safeguarding.  The Local Authority was effectively the Commissioner to ensure appropriate and sufficient school places were available across the board.

 

Funding for school repairs – in response to a question raised,it was explained that an annual review was undertaken on each school to prioritise refurbishment work funded from the capital condition funding allocation, available for community schools.  With regard to voluntary aided schools, it was confirmed they had their own budgets for this purpose and Academies were required to make an annual bid for refurbishment works.

 

Capital Funds for expansion – It was explained that a programme of expansion works was undertaken through a number of funding opportunities available.  This included applications through the annual allocation, Section 106 fund and more recently funding streams that were made available, for example, to build the new Bader SEND school that had been fully funded by the Department for Education and sponsored by the NEXUS Academy Trust.

 

Bader SEND school – The Strategy identified that there was a demand for places in SEND schools.  It was confirmed that the Local Authority had the responsibility to provide sufficient places that met the needs all off children with individual needs. Reference was made to the New Bader school, opening on 1st September, 2020 and provided places for children with social emotional mental health support.  The school was based in the Edenthorpe area and provided 100 places for children with high functioning autism. 

 

Growth demand of school places – specifically relating to special needs provision, it was questioned whether there was adequate capacity as the gap between this and the actual number was narrowing each year.  It was the opinion that alternative provision when a child transferred from a normal to special school, provision had not always been adequate.  It was explained that the document provided addressed learning provision and not school organisation, it took into account both SEND provision and children who required additional support. 

 

It was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Education, Skills and Curriculum Recovery - themed report pdf icon PDF 540 KB

Minutes:

NOTE:  At this point the Chair, Councillor Gethin left the meeting and Councillor Gilliver, Vice-Chair assumed the Chair.

 

The Assistant Director for Education, Skills, Culture and Heritage presented the report outlining developments in Education and Skills during the initial lockdown phase of Covid-19 and the joint effort provided by the Local Authority, schools and partners. 

 

The Panel noted that during this time Doncaster for the first time was able to publish the complete pathway of transitions online across all provisions, early years into infants, infants into junior, then into secondary and post-16.  The work undertaken on the welfare of children was also highlighted, including welfare calls which could not have been achieved effectively without all partners working together.  Members acknowledged that there had been very innovative practices established during the Covid-19 lockdown period during the spring and summer months.

 

NOTE:  At this point Councillor Gethin re-joined the meeting and assumed the Chair.

 

Members highlighted that they appreciated the innovative work, co-ordination and development required to provide a place based education approach between March and July 2020, reopening of schools in September and resetting education priorities.  

 

The Co-optee representing the Catholic Diocese and on behalf of school headteachers outlined her thanks to the Local Authority for the exceptional support to schools, following the initial National lockdown in March and subsequent work undertaken since. 

 

The following areas were addressed by the Panel, in detail:

 

Elective Home Education (EHE) – the Panel learnt that numbers had increased quickly, in line with the national trend, but was pleased to note that engagement with parents was being undertaken to ensure the curriculum requirements and quality of teaching were being addressed.  Concern was highlighted that some children being home educated may be finding it hard to keep up with the curriculum and not receiving support from their school. 

 

The difference between genuine EHE and the anxiety faced by some parents of children returning to school was accepted, and the work being undertaken by schools and Public Health in promoting schools as a safe place and Covid compliant, was welcomed.  It was acknowledged that it was important to capture parental perceptions in relation to how safety and Covid bubbles were being managed.

 

Hard to reach families – Members acknowledged the continuing partnership approach being undertaken to address this issue.  With regard to school specific concerns it was explained that the Welfare group was continuing to undertake personal visits and phone calls. 

 

With regard to areas of significant pockets of EHE children, concern was expressed that in these areas, plugging the knowledge gap would have a significant impact on some schools that may have high numbers, when children started to return to class.  It was stressed that having evidence of this nature could assist schools moving forward, particularly with evidencing attendance figures.  Members noted that this was an area that could be forensically addressed to support the wider welfare provision that may be required, and acknowledged that this would be a unique set of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Overview and Scrutiny Work Plan and Council's Forward Plan of Key Decisions pdf icon PDF 710 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Senior Governance Officer presented the Overview and Scrutiny work Plan and Council’s Forward Plan of key decisions.

 

Following discussion undertaken as part of the item on the Organisation of Learning Provision Strategy, it was agreed that Alternative Provision be added as a topic to the 2021/2022 work plan.

 

RESOLVED:  that the report be noted and Alternative Provision be detailed on the 2021/2022 work plan.