Agenda item

(a)       That the progress made in both the Healthy and Sustainable Pre-school Scheme and the Welsh Network of Healthy Schools Schemes in Flintshire, be noted;

(b)       That the overview of key issues for children and young people in Flintshire, which may impact their ability to reach their full potential at school, be noted; and

(c)        That the Committee wish to highlight a need for further education and preventative measures, and the need for all agency partners and parents/carers to work together to educate and deliver change.

The Learning Advisor – Health, Wellbeing and Safeguarding presented the report which provided an update to Committee on the outcome of the School Health Research Network.  The report detailed progress made with the Healthy Schools Scheme, Healthy Pre-School Scheme which all our school participated in and School Holiday Enrichment Programme (SHEP).   The Healthy Schools Programme had been active for 17 years and provided a whole school approach to well-being and had now extended to the Healthy Pre-School Schools.  She provided an update on the training carried out within the last 12 months and referred members to the targets shown at Section 1.04 of the report which had been met and she was pleased to confirm that 10% of schools had met the national quality award status.

She continued to provide information on the School Holiday Enrichment Programme (SHEP) which provided breakfast, lunch and physical and cooking opportunities on two sites with proposals to extend this to Flint High and Queensferry Primary School.   She referred Members to the School Health Research Network (SHRN) in partnership with Welsh Government policy makers, Cardiff University, Public Health Wales, Cancer Research UK and the Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research, Data and Methods to obtain data on well-being.  All secondary pupils took part in the study in the Autumn of 2017 with 82% of all pupils taking part in the survey.  The survey covered food, fitness and physical activity, emotional health, substance use and misuse and sex and relationships. This was an achievement getting schools to take part especially because of the importance of the data.  In the Spring of 2018 every school had received their individual report and in November 2018 the first county report was finalised. There was an embargo on national data from Welsh Gov until April.  There were Action Plans in all schools which were pupil led in all High Schools and a County Action Plan was being developed which would be shared once national data was released.  Representatives from the University of Cardiff had visited two school events and she then provided information on the highlights.   Flintshire was within the national average and this was 4 year action plan and with another survey taking place this autumn.  The data would be used as evidence and ensure parental engagement opportunities in the action plans.

Councillor Kevin Hughes said that this was an excellent report but that it did not make pleasant reading when it came to the figures on alcohol at 51% and drugs at 31% commenting that Cannabis was a gateway drug which should not be underestimated.  He raised concerns with the figure 22% of 13 years or younger who were sexually active when the age of consent was 16 years, which were very worrying statistics.  Society was failing these children and that parents needed to be more involved.  As regards to the figure of 41% of bullying he asked how much was online bullying.  He also asked how confident the Council was on accuracy of the figures.

The Learning Advisor clarified the statistics were a result of pressures on the national curriculum on schools and personal and social education had been squeezed with some schools having 1 health day per half term.  The Health and Well-being had six strands on the new national curriculum which would change how schools prioritised health and well-being. The survey was conducted online with every child having to provide parental consent and held in similar conditions to an exam in the IT suite at the school.  With regard to accuracy it was difficult to prove but there was a separate question regarding on line bullying where 23% reported they were cyber bullied which was above the national average

Councillor Tudor Jones agreed it was an excellent report well delivered and also agreed with Councillor Hughes comments.  He referred to changing attitudes towards smoking for example which was on the decline. He asked when this survey would be repeated and which would be key to hopefully seeing an improvement.   He referred to the school holiday enrichment programmes and commented on parents struggling to afford the meals and asked if any thought been given to making the school year four terms a year

The Chief Officer responded saying in England individual authorities had the power to make that decision but Welsh Government had asked local authorities to harmonise the holidays to assist parents who may live in one authority but work in another authority.  She was not aware of any changes by Welsh Government nationally on this.  She acknowledged the long holiday periods had an impact on children’s learning and wondered if this could be a future agenda item but added she had not seen anything from the teaching professionals on this. 

Councillor Heesom was concerned with the gap between peer groups and the figures of 70% of children who counted on their friends was worrying.  This should be used as something to build on.  The Chief Officer referred to the Council Plan priorities and service plans and School improvement works which were focused on this.  All Head Teachers were in agreement with these priorities. She reported on the Curriculum model’s accountability measures and performance indications with social education at the heart of the curriculum.  The Minister had announced changes with core issues around new curriculum published at the end of April.

Councillor Heesom referred to a document which went to the Organisational Change Overview & Scrutiny Committee this week which discussed re-consolidating social values which was relevant to this and offered a mix of what officers were saying.  The Learning Advisor confirmed she had met with representatives including youth councils engaged in all areas of the local authority and identified well-being as one of the priority action areas.

Councillor Glyn Banks said this was an excellent report but was very concerned with the bullying figures at 41% and asked what was proposed to improve this.   He referred to the sexual active figures and commented it was difficult to stop young people having sex and asked if a 13 year old girl and 14 year old boy went to the school nurse could they get contraception from the school.  The Learning Advisor responded to the first point on Bullying saying Welsh Government had just completed a consultation on “Respecting Others Guidance” which would be issued this year.  There had been a lot of misunderstanding on what was meant by bullying and the National Guidance had been working on a clear definition of bullying and this would be integrated into the council’s policy across all schools. 

She then responded to the question of contraception and outlined the work which had taken place over the last 5 years working around the sex education policy specifically the support provided by the school nurse being able to provide emergency contraception and condoms on site as part of her role.  Every school had adopted the county policy with a risk assessment of the pupils being carried out before any emergency contraception was provided. 

Councillor Andy Dunbobbin commented this was an emotive subject but it did highlight how seriously the council took its corporate parenting and fostering responsibilities.  Cllr Tudor Jones said that he looked forward to seeing the data from the next survey carried out being presented to the Committee.  The Learning Advisor offered to share the County Action Plan with the Committee once the national data was released.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the progress made in both the Healthy and Sustainable Pre-school Scheme and the Welsh Network of Healthy Schools Schemes in Flintshire, be noted;

(b)       That the overview of key issues for children and young people in Flintshire, which may impact their ability to reach their full potential at school, be noted; and

(c)        That the Committee wish to highlight a need for further education and preventative measures, and the need for all agency partners and parents/carers to work together to educate and deliver change.