Venue: Council Chamber - County Hall. View directions
Contact: Elizabeth Patterson
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Apologies To receive apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors G Breeze and B Davies.
In attendance: County Councillor M Alexander (Portfolio Holder for Learning and Welsh Language), A Davies (Portfolio Holder for Finance, Countryside and Transport) C Turner (Chief Executive and Director of Education), A Clark (Head of Education), I Bhatti (Senior Manager, ALN and Inclusion), S Quibell (Strategic Programme Manager ALN), E Patterson (Scrutiny Officer) |
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Declarations of interest To receive declarations of interest from Members. Minutes: No declarations of interest were received. |
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Declarations of Party Whip To receive disclosures of prohibited party whips which a Member has been given in relation to the meeting in accordance with Section 78(3) of the Local Government Measure 2011.
(NB: Members are reminded that under Section 78 Members having been given a prohibited party whip cannot vote on a matter before the Committee.) Minutes: No declarations of party whips were received. |
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To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of the following meeting(s) as a correct record: · 28th March 2019 · 26th April 2019
Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair was authorised to sign the minutes of the meetings held on the 26th March 2019 and the 26th April 2019 as correct records. |
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Additional Learning Needs and Inclusion Transformation Programme PDF 111 KB To receive an update on progress of the Additional Learning Needs and Inclusion Transformation Programme. Additional documents: Minutes: The Senior Manager ALN and Inclusion introduced the paper updating progress on the ALN Transformation programme.
The Transformation Programme results from changes by Welsh Government to the ALN Act which has meant the Code of Practice for SEN has changed the ALN Code for Wales. Policy and practice is been amended to reflect this change. Since last attendance at scrutiny in December 2018 the main changes have been: · The new Code of Practice was published in December in draft together with supporting documents outlining how pupils will be supported and how education services will work with social care and health services. · The Senior Manager ALN has undertaken a large amount of public engagement since December fulfilling his promise to get an understanding of how services are currently provided · The Powys ALN Parent Carer Forum has been set up · Meetings of the workstreams within the ALN Transformation have taken place · The team are working with ERW to regionally co-ordinate the change from SEN Statements to IDPs (Individual Development Plans). ERW has had its own problems but every attempt has been made to ensure that this joint working continues · Regionally Powys is recognised as a model of best practice for process and project management and the region is currently discussing which Las will lead on which priorities and it is suggested that Powys lead on parent and pupil engagement and awareness raising.
Difficulties that have been encountered: · Six of the workstreams are dependent on Welsh Government providing information which is not being produced with enough pace. · The recent changes with ERW have proved difficult but work regarding ALN Transformation is ongoing
The Head of Education explained that regional co-ordinators for ALN had been seconded from ESTYN and the ERW secondee was returning to their substantive role. ERW are discussing how this key role will be filled.
In 2020 the ALN Act becomes law and in 2023 arrangements for ALN will supersede those for SEN. Are schools aware of what they will need to do from September 2020, one academic year away? Welsh Government have published a timetable of changes. The changing from SEN statements to IDPs will be phased over a period. Welsh Government have yet to decide when the changes to Post 16 will come in but it is expected to be either 2020 or 2021. There will be an overlap between the two arrangements between 2020 and 2023.
What are the difficulties in providing training? The team are working back from 2020 to ensure training is offered ahead of the changes. The team are producing training modules but Welsh Government have indicated they wish local authorities to use nationally produced training modules which have yet to be provided.
When is training expected to commence? The team would plan to start training in September 2019 but the lack of clarity around the content of the Welsh Government training means it is difficult to plan. If the national training modules are not produced soon it may be necessary to locally produce the ... view the full minutes text for item 5. |
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Learning and Skills Scrutiny Committee Annual Report 2018-19 PDF 383 KB To receive the Learning and Skills Scrutiny Committee Annual Report 2018-19. Minutes: The Learning and Skills Scrutiny Committee Annual Report 2018-19 was approved and would be sent to Full Council for information. |
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Chair's Briefing To receive a verbal update from the Chair of the Learning and Skills Scrutiny Committee. Minutes: All matters had been included within the agenda. |
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To consider the scrutiny work programme. Minutes: The work programme was noted subject to the following changes:
Schools Major Improvement Programme was deferred to the 14th June 2019. However, the 14th June 2019 clashed with the OVO Women’s Cycling Tour congestion and road closures would take place across the county. The Scrutiny Officer was instructed to find an alternative date for this meeting. |