Issue - meetings

This report is an update on the work of the Virtual School to support our Children in Care and the challenge of fulfilling the new statutory duties for local authorities arising of the Children and Social Care Act 2017, to be issued March 2018. 

Councillor Liz Hardman asked about the number of children being educated outside B&NES and queried how easy it was to hold these schools to account for the outcomes for children in care. 

The Divisional Director – Safeguarding & Social Care explained that many of the out of authority providers were in fact located very close to the B&NES Authority borders.  The vast majority were at a reasonable distance but this also reflected that some children had family that lived at a distance or needed a particular school outside area.  He concluded by stating that the Authority had been commended for the way it works with Looked After children. 

Councillor Sally Davis commented that a breakdown of the numbers would be useful.

Councillor Liz Hardman asked about the baseline figures on P.158.

The Senior Education Improvement Adviser explained that the amounts were so small that any change produced a dramatic result.

Councillor Liz Hardman asked about the NEETs and how they were getting on.  She was also interested to know if the work on Fixed Term Exclusions was showing signs of success. 

The Senior Education Improvement Adviser explained that exclusion figures were always delayed in coming through.  They could look at this locally, but could also compare with national statistics.  There are changes to how it’s handled so it was tricky to get an accurate picture. 

The Divisional Director – Safeguarding & Social Care responded with regard to the NEETs and explained that they could get further information but also added that there was a small cohort who decline any intervention and, post 18, that has to be respected.  He mentioned the new duty in the Care Act to respond to requests for support from care leavers up to the age of 25.  He informed the Panel that they had recently met the Department for Education lead on care leavers who had been able to give some interesting pointers for the Corporate Parenting Panel.  He has been asked to come back again for 2 days to further assist in establishing a challenge process and a list of areas on which to focus attention.

The Cabinet Member endorsed the need to concentrate efforts in this area as 40% of children in care have special educational needs.  He mentioned the Council Tax relief proposal for care leavers and Foster Carers which was going to Cabinet on 7^th February as an important help.

The Panel RESOLVED to:

i)Note how the Virtual School are responding to the current challenge, including recommendations from the Children’s Services OFSTED Inspection.

ii)  Request that the Headteacher of the Virtual School brings another report to the Panel outlining the increased burdens arising from the Children and Social Care Act 2017 once the statutory guidance is published at the end of March 2018.