Issue - meetings

Report of the Service Lead for Education and Early Help providing information on educational attainment for Looked After Children in Southampton, attached.

The Panel considered the report of the Service Lead, Education and Early Help providing the Panel with information on educational attainment for Looked After Children (LAC) in Southampton and work being undertaken to improve outcomes.

Councillor Paffey, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills; Jo Cassey, Service Lead for Education and Early Help; Alyce McCourt, Principal Educational Psychologist; and Ann Dyton, Virtual School Head were in attendance and with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting.

The Panel particularly noted the following points:-

• The Cabinet Members commitment to LAC attainment and the vital role schools played.
• A number of changes had been introduced that had started to improve attainment for LAC.  They had focused on attendance, inclusion and investigating for Special Educational Needs.
• Training was available to designated teachers, social workers and Independent Reviewing Officers to support LAC attainment.
• Best practice research from academia had been used to support initiatives and action.
• Personal Education Plans had improved considerably through improving practice in schools and with social workers.
• Education and Social Care teams had worked closely, especially for LAC placed outside the City.
• The Panel’s support for the Corporate Parenting Committees quality work experience guarantee for LAC.
• Consideration had been given to identifying ‘Champions’ within the Council who could act as buddies for LAC.
• Progress of children and young people coming into care had not been tracked sufficiently.
• Attainment data for LAC was not acceptable.

RESOLVED:

(i)  That, to enable more timely and targeted support, systems be developed and implemented that enabled the progress and performance of LAC to be tracked more effectively;

(ii)  That, prior to the next meeting of the Panel, the following information be provided:

a.  Anonymised information on the grade predictions for the current Year 11 LAC Cohort for GCSE English and Maths.

b.  Details on revision classes and additional support available within schools to support Southampton’s Year 11 LAC cohort.

c.  Details on how many of the 2015/16 LAC Year 11 cohort are re-taking their GCSE’s.

(iii)  That the Panel be provided with a briefing paper at a future meeting on the proposals for a ‘buddying scheme’ for LAC.