Issue - meetings

This report informs members of the Pathfinder award of new flexible entitlement for 3 & 4 year olds, requests approval to extend posts within the service and seeks agreement on the membership of the Pathfinder Project Board and the creation of a Headteacher Reference Group.

Members considered a report detailing the Pathfinder award of new flexible entitlement for 3 & 4 year olds which had increased from 12.5 hours to 15 hours of nursery education provision for 2006/7 and 2007/8.

The report highlighted the aims and objectives of the project which included:

·         the delivery of 15 hours of free and flexible early learning and care across the hours of 8-4 or 8-6

·         the participation in a national evaluation and giving access to selected settings as part of that process

·         acting as a beacon of good practice for other local authorities

It was noted that the intention was to form a Pathfinder Project Board from the existing NEF multi-agency group, which would fit into the existing reporting structure but with a widened remit and purpose.

Members were informed that participation in the pathfinder initiative would require the creation of three new temporary part-time posts.  Funding for those posts had been identified and any extension of them would need to be reviewed at the end of the pathfinder.

The report also highlighted the need for a new reference group made up of five headteachers from Primary schools with education nursery provision together with HR, Early Years and Finance staff from the local authority.  The intention would be to work on finding a new formula for schools funding for early years.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

i.                          To approve the membership of the Pathfinder Project Board

ii.                        To approve the creation of three additional posts

iii.                      To approve the creation of the Headteacher Reference Group

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED:  That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and   endorsed.

REASON:          i.To ensure that the membership is reflective of the aims of the Pathfinder and that all key stakeholders are involved 

ii.         To co-ordinate and manage the Pathfinder to ensure maximum efficiency

iii.       To ensure equity across all settings

Members considered a report detailing the Pathfinder award of new flexible entitlement for 3 & 4 year olds which had increased from 12.5 hours to 15 hours of nursery education provision for 2006/7 and 2007/8.  The report detailed the aims and objectives of the project which included:

·         the delivery of 15 hours of free and flexible early learning and care across the hours of 8-4 or 8-6

·         the participation in a national evaluation and giving access to selected settings as part of that process

·         acting as a beacon of good practice for other local authorities

Members noted the intention to form a Pathfinder Project Board from the existing NEF multi-agency group, which would fit into the existing reporting structure but with a widened remit and purpose.  Members expressed concern that if the board became too large it would become unwieldy and hinder progress.  In an effort to prevent that from happening, the board’s remit would need to be properly defined and focused and ways of consulting with a wide range of parents would also need to be identified.

It was recognised that participation in the initiative would require the creation of three new temporary part-time posts.  Funding for those posts had been identified and any extension of them would need to be reviewed at the end of the pathfinder.

The report highlighted the need for a new reference group to work on finding a new formula for schools funding for early years.  The group would be made up of five headteachers from Primary Schools with education nursery provision, together with staff from the local authority.

It was noted that the challenge would be to strengthen the relationship between the private, voluntary, independent and maintained sectors to ensure that all viewed themselves as equal partners aiming to provide high quality nursery education.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to approve:

i.                          The membership of the Pathfinder Project Board

ii.                        The regular review of the size of the Board and consideration of different consultation structures

iii.                      The creation of three additional posts

iv.                       The creation of the Headteacher Reference Group

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED:  That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and   endorsed.

REASON:          i. To ensure that the membership is reflective of the aims of the Pathfinder and that all key stakeholders are involved 

ii.         To ensure effective decision making

iii.       To co-ordinate and manage the Pathfinder to ensure maximum efficiency

iv.       To ensure equity across all settings