Issue - meetings

A report detailing an update on activity relating to the Joint Strategic Needs Assessments, the proposed Early Years Integrated Delivery Plan and the outcome of the universal free school meal feasibility study and pilot evaluation.

Councillor Penny Anne O’Donnell introduced the report in her capacity as Chair of the Children and Young People Partnership (CYPP).  The report provided an update from the Children and Young Partnership on activity related to the Joint Strategic Needs Assessments.

The report also provided details on the proposed Early Years Integrated Delivery Plan as well as the outcome of the universal free school meal (FSM) feasibility study and school pilot evaluation.

Councillor Penny Anne O-Donnell referred to the published JSNA and drew Members attention to section 4.1 of the report which detailed the sub-structure of the CYPP, how the working groups fed into the process and how updates would be received.

Sharon Kindred, Strategic Manager for Early Years, introduced herself and outlined the Early Years Integrated Delivery Plan.  She provided further information on the ‘Best Start’ priority and the LGA Early Years Remote Peer Review.  Members received a detailed presentation which covered Interdependencies, Areas of Focus and how the integrated membership provided for clear links across the teams.  The future planned work included bi-monthly meetings to identify progress, establishing working groups for Children in care and School Readiness and updates to the CYPP and HWBB.

Councillor Jerry Roodhouse thanked officers for the report.  He advised that, having spoken to Head Teachers of local primary schools, there were still concerns about new starters being ready for school.  He recognised that many families were under pressure and queried how the holistic picture could be addressed within the delivery plan.  In response, Sharon Kindred explained that discussions did take place to identify those families in need of support via early help channels.  However, she recognised that further conversations were needed and agreed to take this back to the next meeting in October to firm up how this could be fed in.

Councillor Marian Humphreys commended the report and noted its ambition.  She felt that it was important to capture the early years support and, whilst there was a lot of work to do, felt the staffing numbers could be limiting.

Nigel Minns, Executive Director for Children & Young People, addressed Members and gave an update on the Free School Meals pilot undertaken at Michael Drayton Junior (MDJ) school in Hartshill.  He explained that this had raised some logistical challenges such as kitchen expansions, changes to dining times and numbers of kitchen staff required.  The pilot was funded from the Tackling Social Equalities fund for two terms with the intention to seek £24,000 funding from local businesses.  The evaluation of the pilot showed that the scheme had very positive outcomes including behaviour improvement, however, the head teacher had not been successful in securing future funding. 

The conclusion drawn from the review and pilot was that tit was not feasible to provide free school meals to all primary school pupils at the present time.  The estimated cost of funding the scheme annually within Warwickshire was approximately £18.4million and it had been concluded that it was not feasible in the current economic climate.

Councillor Margaret Bell was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4