To scrutinise the elements of the Draft Performance Report which fall within the Committee's remit. A paper copy (excluding tables) is attached for information.
The full draft report is available online using the following link:
https://sway.office.com/XivRETVhVAJB7hDA
Minutes:
· Draft Performance Report – Quarter 2, 2020-21
Issues Discussed:
· Corporate Quarter 2 report. Due to the pandemic end of Key Stage Assessments not undertaken due to the closure and repurposing of schools. Examinations also not undertaken, so comparative data is not available. The quarter 2 information therefore does not have quantitive data but has a narrative in the report.
· The Service has been involved in the corporate response to Covid, working closely with schools in preparation for reopening in September, with all children back in school by 14th September. Work has also been undertaken on the blended learning approach which was required to deliver the curriculum.
· Work has been ongoing on the well-being support to schools (pupils, staff and Education Service staff) as well as moving ahead with the Transformation agenda.
· Questions:
Transformation streams - Can you provide an indication of how well they are tracking the profiles which were expected i.e. ahead or behind schedule |
This is part of the Council's business critical work and momentum has been maintained with work on schedule to bring papers to the Cabinet in forthcoming months. All aspects of the ALN agenda are on track and the pandemic has spearheaded the work on well-being with a new strategy having been launched. Mental health champions being developed in schools. |
When the Hubs were established there was support from the Health Board for mental health and well-being. This was to transition to support at a cluster level. Has that happened and how well is it working. |
Yes, it has happened and there is a Team around the cluster model in place with each of the agencies being involved in that team. |
Will this continue after the pandemic as it is a positive move. |
Yes, this will become a permanent way of multi-agency working. |
Page 19 – Year 11 NEETS. How are young people not in school able to engage with information about where next. Schools are working remotely with pupils, but how is the Service connecting with those that have already left school. |
As pupils were not in school before the summer break, some might have not found places yet in continuing education. The Youth Service is working with these young people to find college courses or employment. |
What are the greatest areas of concern for the Service at present. |
Schools and pupils are concerned mostly about what happens next in terms of assessments. The Minister had announced that there would not be examinations in Wales in 2021, and Geraint Rees who is an Education Consultant has been asked to join a Welsh Government Board to manage that. Following the announcement that assessments will be used in place of examinations, discussions have been held with secondary schools regarding how to identify good practice and webcasts will be set up for pupils to support them through the assessment process. ERW have agreed to support the Service and will identify good practice across all Powys schools and will set up workshops for all schools and pupils to have access to the arrangements for assessments. |
There is a potential for a substantial increase in workloads for teachers in undertaking assessments. Is an approach of appointing one teacher as a topic lead who could then assist others being considered. |
Yes, this is being considered. |
How many full time equivalent staff does the Health Board provide working with clusters. |
There are several members of staff from the Health Board supporting the clusters. There are 13 clusters so 13 areas of need. Some staff may only support one or two clusters e.g. CAMHS service. This is the same for staff from Children's Services or other Education support staff. |
Could the Committee receive a briefing note on the support teams being developed around the cluster. |
This can be forwarded to Members of the Committee. |
Decision not to hold examinations – is it true that pupils sitting examinations from English examination Boards will still be sitting examinations. |
This is correct but it is only likely to impact on private schools as Powys schools would be following the WJEC examination syllabus. There has also not been a decision in England as yet regarding the summer examinations in 2021. |
Is it not the case that Powys schools can pick and mix which examination Boards they use or has this changed. |
It has changed and now it is only the WJEC examination syllabus that is followed in Wales for academic courses. For vocational courses these could be based on English syllabuses e.g. City and Guilds qualifications. |
This is now the second year where there have been no examinations. Will the Service be discussing with Welsh Government if this process using assessments is the way forward in future rather than reverting to examinations. |
This period has provided an opportunity to review how this is done in future. However there is concern for Year 12 pupils who may not have sat a GCSE or AS examination having to revert back to examinations at A level. An accelerated learning plan is in place and schools have identified those pupils that need support. |
Page 9 – 1144 parents – have they received free school meal vouchers for their children. How many children are eligible for free school meals and do those that are eligible receive free school meals. |
All schools hold this information and they do send information to parents about eligibility. It is then for the parents to apply. |
It is likely that there will be an increase in numbers seeking Council Tax reduction. Is there anything within that process to trigger the applicant to find out if they are entitled to free school meals. |
The Council needs to ensure that there is signposting of individuals to the eligibility criteria for free school meals. The Service during the period has been working to identify those pupils eligible for free school meals and working with the Income and Awards Section to identify those families for free school meals, uniform grants, or any other grants available. Learners have also been provided with digital devices to ensure they can access their learning. |
Grants. School uniform grant 413 contacts from families were received but only 328 claims made. Child Looked After Grant, 102 families made contact but only 19 claimed. What does this tell us. |
The contact came from the Service on a number of occasions, and working with schools, and then it is up to the families to claim. However, the Service would also be looking to support families in making a claim. |
Is the process for applying for the grant too onerous. |
Even though the family has been contacted it does not mean that they are all eligible for the grant. Some may also not wish to take up the grant even though they are entitled to it. |
Page 9 – Detached Youth Work - 183 young people between 16 and 25 needing support – is this the holistic figure. |
The detached youth team work with young people on a one to one basis, working with young people that might find themselves homeless, or requiring support. This is the figure of young people that have been supported during this period. The numbers are currently rising and there are an increasing number of pupils who do not wish to return to school at this time or whose parents do not want them to be returning to school currently. |
Is there staff capacity to deal with the increasing numbers. |
The Youth and Schools Services are working closely to identify those young people who require such support. There is capacity currently within the Youth Service. |
How many detached youth workers are there, are there teams north, mid and south. |
Yes. There is the Open Access Youth Service and the Detached Youth Team. The Detached Youth Team work within schools. Every Secondary School has an Open Access Youth Worker attached to it. |
Meals vouchers and clothing allowances – do Youth Workers undertake work with families who have been identified as potentially eligible for these grants to support them in claiming the grants. |
Youth Workers do work with individual young people. Open Access Youth Workers have also been undertaking outreach work during the period of the pandemic to support young people. Youth Workers and all avenues open to the Council should be used to encourage families to take up the available grants. |
Can the briefing note distinguish the differences between the team around the cluster and team around the family. |
The team around the family and early support is very different from the team around the cluster. The team around the cluster is informal support / communication to ensure that all schools understand the services available to them. Professionals also have a direct link to schools. Individual and family support is in addition to this. |
The figures for face to face Child Protection visits and Child Looked After visits added together are 2305. This has a significant impact on schools as the schools are dealing with and supporting those children. What are the normal figures and are these skewed by the pandemic. |
This is a question which needs to be referred to Children's Services for a response. The Portfolio Holder advised the Committee that of these visits 96% had been achieved within the required timescale which was an achievement during the pandemic. |
As there is no formal examination data available, does the Service have any information on where pupils are in terms of achievement. |
Estyn made a recommendation about improving standards in schools. The Service is working closely with schools looking at blended learning, speaking to learners to obtain qualitative data about where schools are positioned in terms of standards. Even though comparative data is not available the Service does have an idea of where schools are in terms of standards. Work has been undertaken with schools on the assessment and moderation processes. Schools did undertake rigorous assessment and moderation, outcomes were challenged and a very evidence based process took place. |
Outcomes:
Action |
Action By / Completion Date |
Briefing note on the support around the cluster to be circulated to Members |
WR |
Chair to request relevant Portfolio Holder(s) to confirm that individuals are signposted to the eligibility criteria for free school meals. |
PR |
Service to provide a report outlining the support provided to vulnerable families for a future meeting. |
LL |
That the question regarding Child Protection and Looked After Children visits be referred to the Head of Children's Services for a response. |
WR |
Supporting documents: