Members will be asked to make any declarations of interest in respect of items on this agenda.

In accordance with the Code of Conduct, the following declarations were made, as follows –

The panel will be asked to confirm the minutes of the meeting on 20 September 2012.

Agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 20 September 2012 were approved as a correct record.

To receive reports on business that, in the opinion of the Chair, should be brought forward for urgent consideration.

There were no chair’s urgent business.

The Panel will monitor progress on previous resolutions.

Tracking resolutions were either progressing, completed or covered in the agenda today.  The Chair reported that two parent governor representatives had been elected, Edith Bayley and Jenny Collins who will sit on the panel in January 2013.  The Chair also welcomed Dylan Morris and Harry Samuels as the Young Person Representatives for this panel meeting.

The Panel will consider its work programme for 2011/12.

Jayne Gorton, Lead Officer gave an update on the work programme.  It was reported that -

a.     primary and secondary school attainment would be reported to the panel in January, this would allow the panel to receive an update on latest data;

b.    the Chair and Lead Officer met with John Miller, Head of Integrated Youth Support and Stuart Palmer, Head of Service to discuss the panel undertaking a task and finish on youth services.  It was agreed that a task and finish was not required at this time as the youth service were undergoing a restructure.   Panel members were invited to sit on a sub group to make a contribution to moving youth service forward and reports would come back to the panel in January and March 2013;

Agreed that the work programme to include dates for the following items –

·                    early interventions;

·                     Youth Justice Plan;

·                     sickness levels;

·                     Government Policy Changes;

·                     Youth Service to be looked at in January March 2013.

The Chair moved this item up the agenda to facilitate good meeting management.

The panel to receive a report on bursary funding.

Councillor Beer chaired this item in absence of the Chair and Vice-chair who declared an interest.  John Bale, Leadership Adviser gave an update on 16 – 19 Bursary Fund.  It was reported that –

a.     the bursary fund was part of traded services provided to schools;

b.    700 young people previously applied for a bursary and this year around 900 young people had applied.  This has incurred additional work for the team to process the applications;

c.     after the first half term applications for bursaries reduced significantly.  There was a pro-rata system in place for students who commenced a course after September;

d.    a criteria was used to decide how much would be awarded to a young person such as an income based assessment or in receipt of free school meals.  Category One was set nationally and if you fell within that category you were entitled to the full amount;

e.    discussions were taking place with secondary heads on how the bursary scheme was run.   They were looking to review how the scheme was operating and how it could be improved by more corporate approaches to support young people by looking to provide them with a bus pass and meals.

In response to questions raised, it was reported that -

f.      foster parents receiving a foster carer allowance for young people would receive the top allowance.  Looked after children were part of the national guaranteed group, so in effect they would receive a double payment;

g.     all income was taken into consideration including disability living allowance.  If they fall into Category One they were allowed the full amount;

h.    this was national government money placed in one central pot and shared across the city.  Payment was made direct into the young person’s bank account and we have no control over what the money was spent on;

i.      it was feasible to implement a smart card or voucher system to ensure young people utilised the money more effectively;

j.      we have to follow national guidelines even if a young person with wealthy retired parents were in receipt of Category One funding, we accept that that there are flaws in the system but can look into this.

Agreed that a report on how the bursary fund could best support young people would come back to the panel once discussions had taken place with secondary heads.

Councillors Bowie, Casey and Jordan declared a personal and prejudicial interest and left the meeting for this item.

The panel to receive a report on Alternative Complementary Education (ACE) provision.

Carol Henwood, Principal Adviser and Sarah Gillett, ACE Headteacher gave an update on Alternative Complementary Education (ACE) Provision.  It was reported that –

a.     a reform had been undertaken on the services provided in Plymouth to support our most vulnerable children;

b.    Ofsted were satisfied with the changes made to the service and recognised that it would take time for improvements to be made;

c.     weekend classes, workshops and social trips were organised for the children to ensure social interaction with peer groups;

d.    there was a growing culture nationally with parents choosing to exercise their rights to educate their children at home and this was on the rise.

In response to questions raised, it was reported that –

e.    primary and secondary schools were good at supporting long term sickness;

f.      all year 11 children were entered to undertake GCSEs and every child left with a least 5 GCSE with 40 per cent achieving A*;

g.     they were judged on achieving the national standard of 95 per cent and above for attendance.  This was an issue for children on long term sick.  A rigorous tracking system was in place for any child that fell below the standard to ensure that the evidence was in place to support the reasons behind the low attendance and how the child was supported;

h.      if a school identified a child that needed help and support, that child would undertake a 6 week intensive package working on attendance, core subjects and communication.  It was about teaching the young person to make different choices and how to engage adults in a more positive way.

The panel will receive a report on the commissioning of school libraries.

Chris Goddard, Library Service Manager and Anne Akile, Senior Library Adviser gave an update on the commissioning of school libraries.  It was reported that –

a.     there were 8 members of staff, not all fulltime within the library service;

b.    they were looking to incorporate Microsoft Librarian into the standard package offer to schools;

c.     schools were able to borrow costumes in relation to a variety of topics;

d.    secondary schools do employ their own librarians at various scales.  Very few primary schools can afford this the library service were able to provide help and support;

e.    there was no direct cost to the taxpayer as the service was fully funded by the schools.  Once we know what package was required, resources and advisory time would be allocated.  The standard package would incorporate unlimited resources from next year;

f.       they were taking a more proactive approach in attracting schools outside the Plymouth area and currently have one school from Cornwall buying into the service.

The panel to receive an update on children’s emotional wellbeing and mental health task and finish.

Steve Waite, Chief Executive and Cindy Willcocks, CAMHS Interim Manager gave an update on Children’s Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health task and finish.  It was reported that waiting lists had been maintained and the outpatients unit was almost complete.  They recently attended the Headteachers conference which was an opportunity to engage across all the schools.   They were also working with Sentinel on referral processes.

In response to questions raised, it was reported that -

a.     a lot of work had been undertaken on internal systems and discharge plans were in place;

b.    a significant amount of work undertaken on capacity planning and how the service was supported;

c.     the CAMHS outreach service was available to young people seeking help and advice while waiting for a referral;

d.    they were looking to link with agencies and partners to market the CAMHS Outreach Service.  This would include providing training to a number of professionals to build capacity within schools and to involve young people to make sure the information is out there and accessible;

e.    Steve Waite welcomed the support of this committee to reduce the waiting times to 4 – 6 weeks.  The current 18 week waiting time was a national target;

f.      a marketing company was currently looking at their advertising and website.  Also exploring other options such as social networking and modernising how we communicate with young people.  A marketing company had been recruited because the NHS in the past were not successful with the promotion of services and access to services;

g.     the educational psychology  team and TAMHS would deal with young people dealing with exam stress and keeping young people mentally healthy throughout their exams;

h.    they were exploring youth forum and parents forum as part of a wider consultation and looking at providing information in a planned structure and looking at the committee to be key to the redesign.  Some variables to look at that – bring back to the committee.  The consultation period to be completed by 5 Jan 2013;

Agreed that -

1.         in the absence of a full written report at the meeting today, the Chief Executive, Plymouth Community Healthcare to provide the panel with a full report.

2.         the panel to receive the comprehensive report on the TAMHS service.

3.         the results of the consultation to be reported back to the panel on 31 January 2013.

The panel to receive a report on academies and trust update.

Jayne Gorton, Lead Officer gave an update on academies.  It was reported that the additional circulated included a section on studio schools and annex on schools that had transferred to an academy.

In response to questions raised, it was reported that -

a.     Deep Blue Sound does not fall within the government guidelines for a studio school;

b.    primary schools preferred option was to move down the co-operative trust route;

c.       two primary schools had been approved as free schools subject to a funding agreement being signed.  Both schools would support the growing population for primary school places.

There were no items of exempt business.