Agenda and minutes
Venue: Committee Rooms 1 and 2, Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley, HA9 9HD. View directions
Contact: Bryony Gibbs, Democratic Services Officer 020 8937 1355 Email: bryony.gibbs@brent.gov.uk
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Declaration of personal and prejudicial interests Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting any relevant financial or other interest in the items on the agenda. Minutes: Councillor Harrison declared an interest with regard to the item on the Strategy to Provide Primary School Places in Brent up to 2014/15. She advised that she was a governor for Preston Park Primary School, which had been identified for expansion in the report.
Councillor Gladbaum also declared an interest with regard to this item as she was a governor for Capital City Academy.
Councillor Arnold advised that she was a governor for Kilburn Park School.
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Deputations (if any) Minutes: There were no deputations. |
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Minutes of the last meeting held on 12 July 2011 PDF 168 KB Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 12 July 2011 were approved as a correct record subject to the following amendments: -
i. Ms Elsie Points to be included in the list of those present ii. Mr Hank Roberts to be included in the list of those present and it to be recorded that he was attending in place of Mrs L Goudbourne and Ms C Jolinon.
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Matters arising Minutes: Councillor Aden queried whether the recommendations of the Youth Offending task group had been adopted by the Executive. The Chair advised that they recommendations of the task group had been approved by the Executive at its meeting on 19 September 2011.
Councillor Aden further noted that the committee had agreed that a school places update should be a standing item on the work programme but that there was no such item on the agenda for the current meeting. Rik Boxer (Assistant Director, Inclusion and Achievement) explained that he would include this update in the report on the Strategy to Provide Primary School Places in Brent up to 2014/15. |
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Brent Youth Parliament Update (Verbal Report) Minutes: The Chair advised that the representatives of Brent Youth Parliament were unable to attend the meeting and a written report would be circulated during the meeting.
The written update report was tabled at the end of the meeting for the committee's information. |
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Review of the Policy for the Provision of Early Years Full Time Places PDF 151 KB Minutes: Sue Gates (Head of Integrated and Extended Services) presented a report to the committee on the implementation of the council policy on the allocation of full time Early Years places to disadvantaged children. This policy had been agreed by the Executive in February 2010 and as titled, set out criteria to ensure that full time Early Years places (education places for children aged three to four years old) were offered to disadvantaged children. Prior to this time, the criteria for allocating Early Years places had been determined by each school separately. This had often resulted in Early Years places simply being provided to those who were first to apply, with no prioritisation for disadvantaged children.
Sue Gates explained that the implementation of the new policy had initially been delayed following the receipt of advice from the Schools Forum that a wider consultation needed to be conducted. A further delay had resulted from the introduction of a new statutory duty placed on local authorities requiring them to offer places to all children aged two years old who were deemed vulnerable. It had been determined that there were not enough of these places currently available in Brent to meet the estimated demand. Consequently, several options exploring how the Council would meet this requirement were considered and it had been proposed that children aged three to four years old would only be offered places based on their statutory entitlement of fifteen hours per week in order to free up capacity. However, following consultation with the Schools Forum in June 2011 and in consideration of its strong view against the suggested action, the proposal had been rejected in favour of maintaining provision of full time Early Years places for disadvantaged children. Alternative proposals to ensure that the council was able to meet its statutory duty with respect to vulnerable two year olds were currently being explored
Sue Gates further elucidated that following these delays, the implementation of the Early Years places policy was now underway. It was intended that the policy would be in place for September 2012 and Brent schools were currently being consulted on the proposed arrangements for the admissions process. In particular, views were being sought on what role the local authority should take in administering the policy. Responses to this consultation were pending. The proposed admissions process would allow schools to administer the process of managing full-time admissions themselves with minimal central involvement. A summary of the process and an indicative timetable were set out in the report. The timetable aligned the process with that for statutory school age admissions. If a schools full time Early Years places were not oversubscribed, the proposals set out several options of provision including that of offering of mixed provision of full and part-time places and the switching to part-time provision only. Governing bodies, however, would be encouraged to consider the financial and operational implications of these options before deciding on the type of provision to offer parents from September 2012.
In the subsequent ... view the full minutes text for item 6. |
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Strategy to Provide Primary School Places in Brent up to 2014/15 PDF 58 KB Additional documents: Minutes: Rik Boxer (Assistant Director Achievement and Inclusion) introduced a report to the committee detailing the severe shortage of primary school places in Brent and the measures required to address the shortfall. It was noted that this deficit of primary school places in Brent echoed a national trend and one which was particularly acute in London. The report proposed a three pronged approach to this issue, encompassing a robust lobbying campaign to central government, a medium term strategy to deliver a fit for purpose school portfolio, and a short term strategy to maximise the capacity of the existing portfolio. This report had been considered by the Executive on 17 August 2011, at which time the recommendations set out in the report had been agreed.
Rik Boxer advised that it was modestly estimated that by 2014/15, a further fifteen forms of entry would be required in Brent; by 2020 this deficit was predicted to rise to twenty three. It had been determined that £52m of capital would be necessary to meet the predicted shortfall for 2014/15. At its meeting on 17 August 2011, the Executive had agreed that £20m of the required £52m would be provided via the Council's Main Capital Programme and from Section 106 Capital Receipts. It was highlighted to the Committee that the government had announced that an additional £500m would be allocated nationally to fund more school places in areas of greatest need; however, an allocation model had not yet been provided and it was possible that these funds might prove insufficient. Consequently, the Council would be lobbying central government, along with the GLA and London Councils to emphasise the acute nature of the problem and to ensure Brent's case was made with respect to the additional funds to be supplied by the government.
In providing further detail of the council’s approach to the issue of the deficit of primary school places, Rik Boxer advised that for the short term the council was prioritising schools to be considered for permanent expansion by September 2012. A short list of schools (included at Appendix 6 to the report) had been compiled based on criteria including risk, shortage of places in the local area and availability of funding. Of these, four schools had been selected as being most suitable for expansion and would be subject to feasibility studies. These plans for short term expansion were being developed in the context of the council's longer term strategy for providing primary school places. This strategy would be underpinned by a set of proposed planning principles, set out at paragraph 8.19 of the report, and would include a review of the entire education portfolio and consideration of new models for schools, including five form entry primary schools, all-through schools and 'urban' style schools.
Rik Boxer concluded his introduction to the report by drawing members' attention to the recommendations agreed by the Executive at its meeting on 17 August 2011, set out at paragraph 2 of the report.
During members' discussion several queries were raised. ... view the full minutes text for item 7. |
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2011 Education Standards (Verbal Report) Minutes: Faira Ellks (Head of Services to Schools) provided a verbal report to the committee outlining the education standards achieved for 2011 in Brent Schools. A supporting document was tabled for members' information. Faira Ellks noted that education achievement in 2011 had been largely good. The committee received a brief overview of achievement for each key stage from Early Years Foundation Stage to Key Stage 1 through to Key Stage 5. Faira Ellks also provided the committee with an analysis of education attainment by ethnic group and for those children in receipt of free school meals.
· Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
Faira Ellks advised that there had been a significant improvement in EYFS outcomes in 2011 against the two main performance indicators. The first of these performance indicators examined the percentage of children scoring 78 points or more across all areas of learning. Performance against this indicator had improved from 43% in 2010 to 57% in 2011, which brought Brent into line with the 2010 national average (the 2011 national average was not yet available). The second key indicator measured the gap between the lowest achieving 20% and other children. This gap had narrowed from 35.2 in 2010 to 32.1 in 2011, representing a significant improvement. The national average in 2010 was 32.7.
Faira Ellks noted that key priorities for EYFS for 2011/12 and the measures required to achieve these were set out on page 3 of the supporting document.
· Key Stage 1
The committee was advised that performance at Key Stage 1 had improved, with attainment for Level 2 broadly in line with national averages. Whilst attainment for Level 2B remained slightly below the national average, it was highlighted that improvement was evident across all three areas of reading, writing and mathematics. Faira Ellks added that achievement at Level 2B was a good indicator of achievement at Level 4 at the end of Year 6.
· Key Stage 2
Faira Ellks noted that the number of pupils attaining Level 4 and above in both English and mathematics had fallen from the unusually high figure of 77%, achieved in 2010, to 73% in 2011. When is adjusted to account for recent arrivals to Brent schools, it was expected that it would rise to bring Brent into line with the national average of 75% for 2011. In addition, progress rates from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 2 were at 85% for English and 83% for mathematics, as calculated under the new formula introduced for 2011 by the Department for Education (DfE); these figures were above the national averages for 2011.
· Key Stage 3
Faira Ellks advised that pupils were not required at this stage to take a statutory test and therefore, progress at Key Stage 3 was measured via teacher assessment. Consequently, due to a high degree of variation in the assessments conducted, this data did not create an accurate overview of performance in Brent at Key Stage 3. Currently, the data indicated that Brent’s performance for English, mathematics and ... view the full minutes text for item 8. |
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Provision of Services for Children with Disabilities (Verbal Report) Minutes: A verbal update report was presented to the committee by Rik Boxer (Assistant Director, Achievement and Inclusion) on the provision of services for children with disabilities. Rik Boxer noted that this item had been added as a standing item on the committee's work programme, following the decision taken by the Executive at its meeting on 23 May 2011 to restructure the short term break offer provided by the Council. The restructure of the service encompassed the closure of the centre at Crawford Avenue and the provision of an enhanced service at the centre on Clement Close. He further clarified that the report did not aim to revisit the decision of the Executive but rather to update members on the implementation of the decision.
Rik Boxer informed the committee that on 23 August 2011 a judicial review had been filed against the decision of the Executive to close the centre at Crawford Avenue and restructure the provision of services for children with disabilities. The judicial review had since been concluded and notice of the outcome was expected imminently.
The schedule for implementation of the Executive's decision had been delayed as a result of the judicial review. It had been intended that the expanded service at Clement Close would be in place by October 2011 and in order to achieve this, a comprehensive staff training programme and a series of capital works had been planned. However, until the results of the judicial review were known, the centre at Crawford Avenue had remained open and the staff training programme and capital works had been put on hold. As part of the implementation of the Executive's decision, it had been intended to secure an independent adviser to provide advice and guidance to parents in choosing the most appropriate service options for their children. The committee was advised that an independent adviser was now in place.
The committee was reminded that the restructure of these services reflected the council's longer term strategy to concentrate the council's short break service for children with disabilities in a single site, namely that of the Village School. This centre was due to be open in late 2012 and the development of the site was currently on schedule. The building would be finished by early 2012 to allow sufficient time for the required Ofsted inspection to be conducted, which could take up to six months to complete.
During members’ discussion, Councillor Harrison sought further information with respect to the implications of the staff at Crawford Avenue having been notified of their redundancy but the centre currently remaining open. Rik Boxer confirmed that the redundancy notices were issued to staff prior to the judicial review being submitted. The nine members of staff to whom these notices had been issued currently had the option to take their redundancy and discussions had been held with each staff member. Any individuals that did leave whilst the centre remained open would have to be replaced in order to maintain service delivery and a decision as ... view the full minutes text for item 9. |
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Items on the Forward Plan in relation to Children and Young People PDF 59 KB Minutes: Andrew Davies (Policy and Performance Officer) advised that the attached issue of the Forward Plan showed those items of relevance to the committee. He added that a new issue of the Forward Plan had been published since the agenda for the committee had been distributed.
The Chair sought further details regarding the report entitled 'future of Children's Centre childcare provision'. Councillor Arnold noted that a consultation was currently being held and a report would be brought to the Executive in December 2011 for a decision.
RESOLVED: -
That the items on the Forward Plan of relevance to the committee be noted. |
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Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme PDF 66 KB The Work Programme is attached. Minutes: Andrew Davies (Policy and Performance Officer) noted that there were several items listed for the next meeting of the Panel and suggested that a meeting be held with the Chair and Rik Boxer to agree which reports should be included on the agenda for the next meeting. The Chair added that there were a number of additional reports, arising out of the current meeting which would also need to be added to the agenda for the next meeting and/or the work programme.
Rik Boxer advised that the council was currently subject to an inspection around looked after children and safeguarding. The outcome of this inspection would be available by the next meeting of the committee. Councillor Arnold (Lead Member for Children and Families) advised that the council had also recently had an inspection on Youth Offending which might be of interest to the committee.
RESOLVED: - that the work programme be noted. |
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Date of next meeting The next meeting of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny meeting is scheduled for 7 December 2011 Minutes: Several members of the committee noted that they may not be able to attend the next meeting scheduled for 7 December 2011 as it clashed with a meeting of the Schools Forum. It was subsequently agreed that the date of the next meeting would be changed to avoid a clash of dates with the Schools Forum meeting. |
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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: None. |