Agenda item

(a) That the Committee support the levels of progress and confidence in the achievement of priorities as detailed within the Council Plan 2023/28 for delivery within 2023/24;

(b) That the Committee support overall performance against the Council Plan 2023/24 performance indicators/measures;

(c) That the Committee is assured by explanations given for those areas of underperformance; and

(d) That the thanks of the Committee be passed to all staff to thank them for their hard work in achieving the key priority targets against the Council Plan 2023/24 performance indicators/measures.

            The Chief Officer (Education & Youth) presented the mid-year performance report saying that regular updates were provided to committee on the progress of council priorities in the Council Plan for 2023/24.  This was an exemption-based report and focused on areas which were not currently achieving their target.  Point 1.05 in the report highlighted that there were no activities or performance indicators showing a Red RAG Status for the portfolio.  There was a lot of work still being undertaken with regard to the delivery of the Council Plan Priorities.

Following a number of questions from Councillor Dave Mackie the Chief Officer (Education & Youth) provided detailed responses to questions in relation to Attendance levels and the Educational Welfare Service, children who were struggling to re-engage with school following the pandemic, the appointment of Engagement Workers and the adoption of the Digital Strategy in schools.

            The overall objective was to raise attendance levels and the Chief Officer was happy to report that attendance levels were improving, and that the authority was currently fourth in Wales.  It was confirmed that the comment described within the report was around what action was required and what steps were being taken to continue to improve attendance levels.  Information was given on the development of better more effective processes within schools ensuring that the Education Welfare Service used that data to target their interventions more effectively in schools. 

            It was explained that the use of the Community Focus Schools Grant made available by Welsh Government (WG) had enabled engagement workers working with schools and families to tackle the core issues which led to young people not attending school or struggling to maintain their place.  This was an action to deliver the overall objective of trying to reduce exclusions. 

            In response to a question from Councillor Ted Palmer regarding school attendance as a result of the Pandemic, the Chief Officer commented that this was a national issue and the National Attendance Task Force had been created by the Minister to address this.  An outline of the partners sitting on this Task Force was given and the Chief Officer attended the first meeting the previous week.  She agreed to circulate two reports prepared by parent charities which were presented to that meeting and highlighted the shift in attitude of pupils and parents around attendance.  It was explained that for children to attend school the curriculum had to be appropriate, exciting and engaging.  It was explained how the new curriculum focused on these aspects.

            Councillor Carolyn Preece commended the Officers for the report which showed that there were no Red statuses and commented that the performance targets for each of the areas currently showing an Amber and Green status were achievable. 

            Councillor Gladys Healey referred to the attendance levels and asked if home schooling levels would be increasing and asked if the Home Schooling Officer could attend a meeting of the Committee to provide an update on progress.

            The Chief Officer confirmed that post pandemic there had been an increase in the number of parents electing to home educate their children.  A report was presented to Committee last year around home education data and how the Educational Welfare Service undertook its statutory function monitoring these children with regard to the education provided.  It was explained that the portfolio was fulfilling its statutory responsibilities in terms of monitoring the register with a senior team officer sitting on the National Group for Elective Home Education.  The Facilitator explained that a report on Attendance and Exclusion was scheduled for the May meeting and that an invitation would be sent to the Home-Schooling Officer to attend.

It was proposed that an additional recommendation be added as follows:-

• That the thanks of the Committee be passed to all staff to thank them for their hard work in achieving the key priority targets against the Council Plan 2023/24 performance indicators/measures.

The recommendations, as outlined within the report, and including the additional recommendation proposed above, were moved by Councillor Carolyn Preece and seconded by Councillor Gladys Healey.  

RESOLVED:

(a) That the Committee support the levels of progress and confidence in the achievement of priorities as detailed within the Council Plan 2023/28 for delivery within 2023/24;

(b) That the Committee support overall performance against the Council Plan 2023/24 performance indicators/measures;

(c) That the Committee is assured by explanations given for those areas of underperformance; and

(d) That the thanks of the Committee be passed to all staff to thank them for their hard work in achieving the key priority targets against the Council Plan 2023/24 performance indicators/measures.