Agenda item

This report outlines the proposed methods for carrying out the review of the Extended Schools Agenda and asks Members to formally agree the scope and timetable for completion of the review.

Members considered a report outlining the proposed methods for carrying out the review of the Extended Schools Agenda and were asked to agree the timetable for carrying out the review and the methodology.

It had been proposed that the survey would be sent to all families within the city who have a six-year-old child. Discussion took place as to whether it would be appropriate to extend the survey to include parents of children of other ages in order to ensure that the information received was not focussed solely on childcare issues and suggestions were put forward for how to do this.

Members agreed that the questionnaire should include a question to enable families to give their views on whether the extended schools provision was meeting their needs in respect of other children (of different ages) in the family as well as the 6 year old.

Members questioned whether it was possible to acquire information directly from schools. Officers advised that in most cases the extended schools facilities were coordinated through external partners and there was no requirement for schools to hold specific information on the services although it was agreed that some schools would hold some information.

It was noted that there was a requirement to carry out a childcare sufficiency audit on an annual basis. The Assistant Director of Partnerships and Early Intervention explained that future audits could include questions on extended school provision although this would not be in time for this scrutiny review.

Consideration was given to the questions to be included in the survey and Members agreed that these should focus on the following issues.

·        What services do families require?

·        Does the provision enable those who were not in employment to return to work and does it allow people to work part time/irregular hours.

·        Demographic information in regard to service users and specifically whether it reaches socially disadvantaged people and if not why.

·        Reasons for not taking up the provision which may include, cost or quality of provision

·        Are the services provided sufficiently comprehensive?

·        Whether parents are satisfied with the quality of the provision

Members were asked to consider which (if any) Member of the Committee would be its representative on the Multi-Agency Steering Group. The Assistant Director of Partnerships and Early Intervention explained that a review of the composition and constitution of the Steering Group was taking place to ensure that its functions were fit for purpose in driving forward the Extended Schools Agenda. He reported that one option under consideration was to establish a smaller strategic steering group and for the existing body to be retained as a consultative group. Members agreed that as the scrutiny review was due to be completed by April 2009 it was not suitable for a Member to be appointed as a formal representative on the Group however that it would be beneficial for a Member to attend the next meeting of the Group which was due to take place in November in order to feedback to the Committee.

Members discussed the proposal to hold an informal meeting to discuss findings with external providers and gather information on issues raised by providers. Members suggested that this informal meeting should commence at 6pm following the scheduled formal committee meeting on 24 February 2009.

RESOLVED:            

(i)         That Members note the contents of the scoping report and formally agreed the methodology and timetable for carrying out this review as set out in paragraph 12 of the report.

(ii)        That Councillor Funnell and Councillor Brooks attend the next meeting of the Multi Agency Steering Group on 4 November 2008 as observers and that Mr Schofield (Co-opted Member) be asked if he is available to attend the meeting as a governor of a primary school. ^{1   2}

(iii)       That the Scrutiny Officer liaise with Members regarding specific questions to be included in the survey to families with a 6 year old based on the issues discussed at the meeting. ³

(iv)       That the Committee visit the after school clubs as detailed below:

·        Yearsley Grove Primary School - 24 November between 4pm and 6pm

·        Wheldrake and Fishergate Primary Schools - 5 December 2008 between 3.15pm and 6pm. ⁴

(v)        That the Scrutiny officer liaise with Members regarding questions to be put to existing users of Extended Schools Services and the service providers during the site visits and that these questions be based on those used in the questionnaire. ⁵

 (vi)      That a letter be sent to all primary schools asking them what data they hold with regard to the needs of families in relation to childcare and extended school activities for the 5 to 11 year age range and areas that they are trying to develop.⁶

Reason:          To progress this review in line with the timeframe agreed for this review.