Agenda and minutes

At this point Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on this agenda. A list of general personal interests previously declared are attached.

Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business on the agenda, in addition to the list of general personal interests circulated with the agenda.

There were no additional declarations of interest.

To approve and sign the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on 28 October 2008.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes from the meeting held on 28 October 2008 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the Committee’s remit can do so. Anyone who wishes to register or requires further information is requested to contact the Democracy Officer on the contact details listed at the foot of this agenda. The deadline for registering is Tuesday 2 December  2008 at 5.00 p.m.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

This Interim report looks at the Extended Schools Agenda and Members are asked to note and provide comments, agree any further information required for the first objective and agree any amendments to the annexed documents A and B.

Members considered an interim report on the scrutiny review on the Extended Schools Agenda as registered by Councillor Merrett. The remit for the topic had been agreed in September 2008 and a scoping report had been considered in October 2008. Details of the methodology and timetable agreed were set out in paragraph 4 of the report.

Those Members who attended the first meeting of the Multi Agency Steering Group held on 4 November 2008 reported that there had been wide representation from Children’s Services and the PCT at the meeting but no private sector partners and only one school (although it was noted that normally a private sector representative would be present). Members concluded that the Multi Agency Steering Group worked well as an internal briefing session but not in terms of fulfilling an external partnership function.

The Committee recognised that the meeting format, membership and timing of meetings could affect attendance levels and therefore agreed that this needed to be addressed through clear research with private sector and other partners on how to reach them in order to maximise attendance. 

They also noted that the separate Strategic Steering Group would provide an opportunity to include more private providers and the first meeting of this group was scheduled to take place in March/April 2009..

Members discussed and agreed amendments to the draft  parents survey and covering letter and requested that these be sent out as soon as possible prior to the Christmas school holiday. Members also made some amendments to a draft letter to schools and agreed to write to all private sector service providers inviting them to attend the consultation event on 24 February 2009. It was agreed that both these letters be sent out in early January.

Members discussed the informal consultation session scheduled for 6pm on 24^th February 2009  and were advised that Eddie Needham from ContinYou (Government Advisors on Extended Schools) would be attending to give a presentation.

Those Members who had visited the after school club at Yearsley Grove Primary School on 24^th November reported that they had met with the  head teacher who had explained the range of after school clubs on offer, visited the after school club on site and discussed issues surrounding the operation, cost and future of these clubs. Further visits to after school clubs at Wheldrake Primary School and Fishergate Primary School were due to take place on 5^th December.

RESOLVED:

(i)         That the report be noted.

(ii)        That in respect of the first key objective “Examine the proposed role and composition of the Multi Agency Steering Group to confirm its functions are fit for purpose and that the appropriate partners and Directorates are involved” further information on the Strategic Steering Group be requested from the Assistant Director of Partnerships and Early Intervention and this be included in the final report on the review. ¹

(iii)       That the amendments to the parents survey and covering letter (Annex A) discussed at the meeting be agreed and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

This report provides Members with an update on the implementation of recommendations made as a result of a previously completed scrutiny review of ‘Early Years Education & Childcare Provision’.

Members received a report updating them on the implementation of recommendations made as a result of the previously completed scrutiny review of “Early Years Education and Childcare Provision”

The two acting heads of the Early Years and Extended Schools Service attended the meeting and answered Members questions regarding the implementation of the recommendations from the review.

RESOLVED:

(i)         That the report be noted

(ii)        That all the recommendations be signed off as having been fully implemented.

REASON:

To update Members on the implementation of recommendations made as a result of the scrutiny review of ““Early Years Education and Childcare Provision”

To consider and agree the updated work plan of the Education Scrutiny Committee and to receive an extract from the Executive Forward Plan of items for the Executive Member for Children and Young People’s Services and Advisory Panel.

Consideration was given to the work plan for the Education Scrutiny Committee and to an extract from the Executive Forward Plan of items for the Executive Member for Children and Young People’s Services and Advisory Panel.

In respect of the work plan, the Scrutiny Officer reported that the Executive Member for Children and Young People’s Service would not be able to attend the January meeting of the Committee to which she had been invited to discuss findings on the Extended Schools Agenda. She asked for Members views on whether there would be sufficient time at the February meeting for her to attend. Members agreed that it would be worthwhile inviting her to both the formal meeting on 24^th February and the informal consultation session following it.

RESOLVED:             That the Executive Member for Children and Young People’s Services be invited to attend the formal meeting of the Committee on 24^th February 2008 and the informal consultation session which is scheduled to follow that meeting. ¹

REASON:                  In order that Members can discuss issues arising from the review of the Extended Schools Agenda.