Agenda and minutes

Craffu ar y Cyd / Joint Scrutiny, Learning and Skills Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday, 13th November, 2024 10.00 am

Venue: By Zoom

Contact: Katharine Flanagan-Jones Email: katharine-maria.flanagan-jones@powys.gov.uk

Media

Items

No.

Item

Apologies

To receive apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from:

County Councillors B. Davies, S McNicholas, G Morgan, A Evans

Co-Opted Member: Kathryn Chedgzoy

Officer: E Palmer Chief Executive.

Disclosures of interest

To receive any disclosures of interest by Members relating to items to be considered at the meeting.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest from Members relating to items for consideration on the agenda.

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:

The Committee did not receive any 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.

Additional Learning Needs and Inclusion Strategic Plan PDF 157 KB

To receive and consider the Additional Learning Needs and Inclusion Strategic Plan.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Presentation provided by Simon Anderson.

Points raised by the Panel:

Responses received from Officers or Cabinet Members.

Committee were impressed with the vision and the amount of information shared within the document, but were concerned how closely this vision was linked with the schools transformation programme, which was not moving at pace, or linked with Post 16 Education that seemed to be falling way behind. How could schools work with (Additional Learning Needs) ALN pupils when the basics were not in place.

Concern was raised of the implementation costs to be incurred for the vision shared in the documentation and presentation.

The Transformation and ALN teams have been working closely. The Transformation Strategy is the overarching strategy, where the Inclusion strategic plan aims to deliver part of the overall strategy, through key pieces of work, for example Post 16 in ALN workstream 3. Individual areas could not be looked at in isolation and assurance was given that school reorganisation and school service were fundamental parts of the Transformation Programme and ALN is integral to each part.

Costs were not just about savings that could be achieved but costs may be incurred ensuring Powys has the right programme for our learners. In addition savings may be identified as work progressed.

The Chair on behalf of the committee requested reassurance that under the Transformation Programme all of this can be linked, the Post 16 papers have been delayed for a considerable time and this raises concern.

Transformation Programme is a published programme of works, currently in Wave 2 and was governed by the Transforming Education Programme Board.

Below that are various workstreams that included all relevant officers.

It was important that the strategic plan fits within the programme without contradiction.

A new WG School Organisation Code has recently been published for consultation, and ALN was highlighted as an integral expectation of LA’s Schools Transformation programmes.

The Committee requested more information in respect of the ALN Early Years provision. Settings were in the midst of applications and financial implications from 2025 could impact on their continuing to operate. Transition from Early Years to primary and the provision for parents was fundamental, if not correct, those young children could be lost from the beginning, there was no evidence of either within this document.

Officers in agreement that the Early intervention and transition into Primary was so important and was a focus within the strategy in workstream 1.

The ALN birth to 5 years team also worked with 3+ settings

Part of the Strategic Plan was to invest in transition officers at all stages, these dedicated officers would support settings, children, young people and families through the process. The Schools Service continues to work with Social Care teams, who provide opportunities for parents to learn new skills, and on supporting parenting strategies for example the Take 3 parenting agenda with the Youth Service.

The service empathised and agreed that Early Years provision required looking as a holistic approach to service wide-working work and not in ... view the full minutes text for item 4.

Scrutiny Recommendations

To consider and confirm the Joint Scrutiny Committee Recommendations to Cabinet on the Inclusion Strategy Report.

Minutes:

The Joint Committee discussed and confirmed observations and recommendations to Cabinet.

The Committee welcomed:

The vision and the information held within the document presented.

The Committee requested:

Assurance that Early Years through to Post 16 was clearly linked to the overarching Transformation Plan whilst keeping the most vulnerable of our learners at its core.
Further information from Children’s Services in respect of the numbers of learners with Additional Learning Needs that were in receipt of services and where within the Education system those children were e.g. mainstream, special schools, PRU (Pupil Referral Units).
The LA investigate the possibility of an Invest to Save opportunity within PRU Education.
They receive at the earliest opportunity clarity on the number of Hubs.
Contingencies and potential risks within the Inclusion Strategic Plan need to be expanded upon, particularly in respect of Workstream 3.
Further Information on the long-term investment requirements.

The Committee remained unconvinced about

How closely the Inclusion Strategic Plan was linked to the Transformation Programme.
The indicative timelines set out within the documents in regard to the PRU’s.
The progression measures for those learners with ALN, who are more able and talented, to ensure they continue on their learning trajectories needs to be more explicit within this strategic plan.
The financing of the aspirations held within the Inclusion Strategic Plan. There should have been indicative budgets set alongside the aspirations with clear timelines, stating initial investment costs and clear narrative of expected outcomes and savings.

The Committee expressed concern:

That Post 16 learning was falling behind both the Inclusion Strategic Plan and the Transformation Programme.
That Early Years Education and Transition to the next setting was not clearly defined within the document provided to Scrutiny, with special consideration for those learners with Additional Learning Needs.
That there was no structured provision for Parents and families of learners with Additional Learning Needs evident within the documents provided.
That relevant stakeholders, Schools and partner agencies, do not appear to have been consulted in a meaningful way on the Inclusion Strategic Plan.

Recommendations:

1. The Committee requests clarification on the number of Hubs.

2. The Committee requests that indicative timelines are clearly set out within the Inclusion Strategic Plan and the Transformation Programme.

3. The crossover of ALN and more able and talented learners under Workstream 1, needs to be more explicit in the report, especially as raised previously by Estyn

4. Early Intervention and transition processes within the Strategic Plan need to be clearly documented and clarified.

5. Evidence to be provided that stakeholders, including Schools and partner agencies have been, or will be consulted in a meaningful way on the Inclusion Strategic Plan.

6. There needs to be a clear delivery plan, including indicative budgets and timelines aligned throughout the Inclusion Strategic Plan.

7. Confirmation that the Transformation Programme will not be delayed as there is a clear linkage to the development of the Inclusion Strategic Plan.

8. Contingencies and potential risks need to be expanded upon, particularly in relation to partner agencies ... view the full minutes text for item 5.