Question Time
6A Questions to Cabinet Portfolio Holders
Up to 30 minutes of the meeting are available for members of the Committee to put questions to the Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Education and Learning and Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Children Services on any matters relevant to the remit of the Committee.
The enclosed report lists any briefings circulated to the Committee since the last meeting and any items listed in the Council’s Forward Plan for decision by Cabinet or individual Cabinet Portfolio Holders over the coming months.
6B Updates from Cabinet Portfolio Holders/Heads of Service
Cabinet Portfolio Holders and Heads of Service are invited to provide any updates they have on issues within the remit of the Committee.
Minutes:
Councillor Gissane asked Councillor Hayfield for an update on the school transport issue raised at the previous meeting. The Portfolio Holder advised that the criteria had been revisited for a number of schools. School transport issues were a significant area which the Committee may wish to revisit, both for mainstream and specialist schools, in terms of cost savings targets. Ian Budd offered to share the learning in terms of transport policy changes. Providing clear communication on entitlement and the dates that applications needed to be submitted by were important aspects. The policy could not be changed fundamentally without formal consultation. There would always be some people that were just outside the area of entitlement for free school transport.
Councillor Gissane advised that some parents were not aware of the transport policy changes. Bus services were charging an annual fee of £400 and pupils could no longer use services on an ad-hoc basis. Ian Budd reiterated the plans to overhaul the information provided via the website to make it clearer.
Councillor Gilbert asked that the relationship and sex education strategy be brought to the Committee, particularly in view of the ‘all about me’ programme. Reference was also made to the recent workshop delivered and whether this could be repeated for the Committee. It was asked if the delivery of this education requirement was balanced and appropriate.
Nigel Minns provided an update on the recent inaccurate and misleading press reporting of teacher training materials. The press article had described them as teaching materials for children, which was not the case. These materials would never be used for children. The programme was evidence-based and in accord with national guidelines, being broadly similar to the programme run successfully for the previous six years. The Council had decided to further review these resources and temporarily removed them from its website. A further briefing for members after this review would be appropriate.
Councillor Gilbert spoke of the need to look at this educational tool to ensure it was not too broad, that it was delivered appropriately, consistently and at the right time. It was agreed that the item would come back to the Committee. Councillor Hayfield wanted to ensure that teachers were happy with the training materials too. It was important to get this area of teaching correct. There was a process of consultation and rigorous training for staff delivering the subject. Officers would advise when the review had been completed. Councillor Skinner advised that a headteacher and her family had been threatened as a result of the misleading press article. Officers confirmed that there was continued support for the member of staff on a daily basis from both the Council and other agencies.
Sean Taylor asked for an update on the mental health trailblazer programme. Becky Hale understood that the trailblazer training had been delivered and she would provide a written update after the meeting. Mr Taylor also wanted to get some momentum for the workload charter, which was a way of demonstrating to staff ... view the full minutes text for item 6