Agenda and minutes
Venue: Committee Rooms 1, 2 and 3, Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley, HA9 9HD
Contact: Gayle Fentiman, Democratic Services Officer 020 8937 4617 Email: gayle.fentiman@brent.gov.uk
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Declarations of personal and prejudicial interests |
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Matters arising Minutes: Brent Youth Parliament
It was highlighted that it had previously been agreed that individual name plates be created for Brent Youth Parliament Representatives although this still was to be carried out. It was agreed that this would be addressed.
Page 7, Academies and Free Schools
It was queried whether the letter to the Secretary of State had been progressed. It was explained that the former Chair of the Committee was addressing the issue alongside the Lead Member.
Page 8, Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme
It was noted that the Committee had previously agreed to include poverty implications for children in Brent on future reports to the Committee. Sara Williams explained that reports followed a set template however work would be undertaken to ensure that a section was included in future. |
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Brent Youth Parliament update The committee will receive an oral update on the work of the Brent Youth Parliament. Minutes: The Brent Youth Parliament (BYP) were invited to provide an update and informed the Committee that due to recent exams they had been quieter than usual but were looking forward to getting started.
BYP had recently attended an anti bullying council meeting following a survey carried out highlighting that bullying was a large issue for young persons in Brent. They hoped to achieve a unified bullying policy across schools that was clear and easy to understand, as well as providing training for young people so that they were equipped to address bullying issues. BYP will be attending a session on 29 June 2013 in relation to cyber bullying.
BYP had been campaigning regarding the curriculum for life which included meetings with MP Glenda Jackson, attending workshops following the first of three conventions and discussions with the Westminster Education Forum. It was noted that they hoped to have 10 young people from each school attend the Curriculum for Life campaign that would be taking place on 29 June 2013. Work was currently being undertaken to involve greater support for the campaign at an MP level.
Work to raise awareness of the 16-19 bursary that was available to young person to enable financial support was also taking place. This previously operated successfully as the educational maintenance allowance (EMA) scheme but following research, few young people in Brent were aware of the support available. A promotional video was being produced including interviews from students’ and would be used during a campaign event at the Roundwood Centre on 11 July 2013.
The Eton summer school project would take place from 1 – 6 July with the closing ceremony taking place on 6 July 2013. It was explained that this was the 20th year of the programme following what was intended to be a one off partnership enabling children from Brent the ability to experience the opportunities available to those from privileged backgrounds. Unfortunately funding had been withdrawn and the scheme was currently being run on a volunteer basis from the BYP office staff.
BYP invited all Councillor’s to attend both events, details of which could be found in their quarterly newsletter. |
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School Place Strategy Report PDF 489 KB In August 2012 the Executive approved the strategy for primary school expansion to meet the need for 21 forms of entry (FE) by 2020-21. An update on the SEN requirement was also provided, requiring 192 new places. The strategy for meeting the projected shortfall (19FE) of secondary school places was approved in January 2013. This report provides an update on the school expansion programme to facilitate a discussion of progress and future challenges.
Minutes: The report provided an update on the school expansion programme following the approval of the strategy by the Executive in August 2012. Sara Williams, Assistant Director Early Help and Education informed the Committee of the future proposals, the expansion of the SEN requirement and that some primary school proposals had not gone ahead. Temporary measures were being put in place for the autumn term although 14 children had not been offered a place and 192 children were currently out of school. The secondary school demand anticipated was hoped to met by the potential of free schools being built within the borough. Funding to enable the expansion programme would be provided by the Department for Education.
It was explained that six primary schools had chosen not to expand due to focusing on improving standards and obtaining good Ofsted ratings prior to considering expansion or co-location. During discussion it was noted that only schools that were of an acceptable standard should be expanded however it was recognised that due to the pressure on school places this was not always possible. Cheryl Painting, Programme Manager School Capital Expansion, explained that rolling phases two and three of the programme had already agreed the consultation and started design work, with a large number of schools already within the programme.
During discussions it was queried that although 21 forms of entry had been identified as a future need, the potential to provide 39 forms of entry had been identified. It was clarified that although 39 forms had been identified, not all sites would be possible and they hoped to achieve the 21 forms of entry required. It was further queried what standard of buildings would be used when forms of entry were not provided within the school premises. It was clarified that the buildings would be of a suitable standard, some of which were previously classrooms. The current position on free schools was queried. It was explained that there were potentially two free schools who had shown interest in the borough however the site had not been confirmed with the possibility of DFE offering sites just outside of the borough. Should free schools be built outside of the borough it was still hoped that these would be able to alleviate some of the pressures of secondary school places in 2020. Following queries regarding maintenance at Copland Community School, it was unclear what level of funding had been allocated with a schedule of emergency works drawn up It was unclear whether this included asbestos removal. Cheryl Painting would provide information on the specific works planned at Copland, which would be circulated to the Committee, including whether or not these encompassed asbestos removal. It was explained that due to the co-location of Braintcroft and Manor Primary schools no longer taking place, additional SEN places will be made available at the village school through Queens Park Primary School, it was recognised that further work in creating SEN places was required. Cheryl Painting would also provide the Equalities Impact Assessment ... view the full minutes text for item 5. |
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Inspection of Fostering Service PDF 73 KB The purpose of this report is to provide detail regarding the outcome of the Ofsted inspection of Brent’s Fostering Service, which took place on 12-15 March 2013. The detail is contained within the attached full inspection report. Additional documents: Minutes: The report provided detail regarding the outcome of the Ofsted inspection of the fostering service which took place 12-15 March 2013. Nigel Chapman, Head of Placements, explained that an inspection took place every three years although from September a new regime where all children services will be inspected together will be undertaken with further information to be disseminated in the future. The Head of Placements informed the Committee that the service had received an overall rating of good, with several areas receiving an outstanding rating. The Head of Placements noted that there were several areas which could be improved including creating child friendly profiles of carers, the inclusion of foster children during the recruitment preparation and the development of a curriculum of life skills for when children leave care.
During discussions the Committee queried the number of Brent children being fostered out of the borough and how they could be brought back. Nigel Chapman informed the Committee that there had been a 20% increase of in house foster carers and children that were placed out of Brent were in neighbouring boroughs. He agreed to provide further information regarding the exact numbers. Clarification was sought as to whether children’s views of remaining in the locality were a consideration when placing them with carers. It was explained that although a priority, this was not always possible due to individual circumstances of the case such as safe guarding issues and enabling sibling groups to remain together.
RESOLVED:
Members noted the report |
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Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme PDF 69 KB The Work Programme is attached. Minutes: The Chair drew the committee’s attention to the work programme and welcomed any suggestions for additional items from members. During discussions it was agreed that the following items would be added to the work programme:
· Dental Health – overview report for July to be provided by the Director of Public Health · Careers Advice for Young People – report in the Autumn · Expenditure of Pupil Premium – report for October · Pupil Destination Post School – report for December · Free Schools Education Model – report TBC |
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Date of next meeting The next meeting of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny meeting is scheduled for 17 July 2013. Minutes: The next meeting of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee will take place on 17 July 2013. |
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Any other urgent business Notice of items raised under this heading must be given in writing to the Democratic Services Manager or his representative before the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 64. Minutes: RESOLVED:
i. that an update of the Council structure will be provided to the Committee ii. that Councillors’ be encouraged to visit schools in their ward to support the curriculum for life campaign iii. that parking arrangements for co-opted members of the Committee be confirmed |