Agenda item

(a)       That Members actively engage as Corporate Parents for Looked After Children, promoting awareness and challenging provision within Flintshire educational settings;

(b)       That Members actively encourage all educational staff to promote the educational welfare of Looked After Children within Flintshire establishments at a ‘whole school level’; and

(c)        That a report on School Admissions be submitted to a future meeting of the Education & Youth Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

The Senior Manager – Inclusion and Progression introduced a report on the Annual Education Attainment of Looked After Children.   She advised that the report outlined the academic attainment of Flintshire’s Looked After Children for the academic year 2016-2017.  The data related to the Looked After Children cohort identified in line with the definition ‘A child of statutory school age, i.e. between 5 and 16 years, who was looked after during the academic year 2016-17, for at least one year prior to 31 August 2017’.  The Senior Manager explained that for the purpose of the report, children looked after under Short/Breaks/Respite Care were not included in the statistical analysis.  The data had been grouped into four age groups corresponding to the National Curriculum Key Stages.  The Senior Manager reported on the main points as detailed in the report.

Mrs. Lynne Bartlett asked if the educational attainment of children who had previously been looked after was monitored.  The Senior Manager – Inclusion and Progression said that once this data had been defined it could be collated. 

Councillor Hilary McGuill raised concerns around the number of Looked After Children in Education who were leaving school without qualifications and asked how this was being addressed. The Senior Manager – Inclusion and Progression reported on the various initiatives being used to engage with young people to encourage them to continue with their education.  She commented on the challenges and emotional difficulties experienced by some young people in their early years which could also impact on their performance throughout their education.   Councillor Hilary McGuill suggested that looked after children who had gained success through educational settings, be invited to speak to looked after children who were feeling disaffected by education for one reason or another.

In response to a question around mental health and the possible shortage of psychologists in North Wales, the Chair advised that Marilyn Wells, CAMHS Service Manager, and Andrew Gralton, Assistant Director of Children’s Services would be attending the meeting of the Social & Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee to be held on 14 June 2018, to discuss the CAMHS.

Councillor Gladys Healey expressed concerns around the schools admission policy and said that some parents experienced difficulty in enrolling their child into a local school.  She also commented on the increasing number of parents who elected to have their child educated at home.  In response to the concerns Councillor Ian Roberts explained that there were various reasons why some children were not able to attend their parent’s choice of school.  He also advised that there were no boundaries for school admissions.  Councillor. Roberts reported that there was a national increase in the number of parents who chose to have their child educated at home.  The Senior Manager – Inclusion and Progression reported that the Welsh Government was undertaking work to look at the increasing trend for home tuition and the reasons why parents opted for this service.

Councillor Carol Ellis commented on the emotional and physical difficulties experienced by some young people during their upbringing and said that their achievements were commendable as a result of the problems they had overcome.  In response to a question from Councillor Ellis on the support available to Looked After Children in school, the Senior Manager – Inclusion and Progression, explained that there were substantial support systems in place in schools and referred to the post of a designated Looked After Children teacher in schools and the wider counselling services which were available.  

Councillor David Williams referred to the range of vocational courses available to young people as an alternative pathway to higher education and career opportunities.

Councillor Cindy Hinds commented on the issue of bullying of young people via social media and asked how this was being addressed in schools.   The Senior Manager – Inclusion and Progression, said this problem was taken seriously by schools and spoke of the work undertaken to provide guidance and support to schools on how to deal with it.

The Committee recommended that a report on School Admissions be submitted to a future meeting of the Education & Youth Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That Members actively engage as Corporate Parents for Looked After Children, promoting awareness and challenging provision within Flintshire educational settings;

(b)       That Members actively encourage all educational staff to promote the educational welfare of Looked After Children within Flintshire establishments at a ‘whole school level’; and

(c)        That a report on School Admissions be submitted to a future meeting of the Education & Youth Overview & Scrutiny Committee.