Agenda item

It is proposed that Warwickshire adopts a new approach to preventing permanent exclusions in the primary phase. This report sets out the new model and requests Cabinet approval to it.

Cabinet Portfolio Holder: Councillor Colin Hayfield.

Resolved:

That Cabinet agrees that,

1.    the County Council adopts the proposed new model for preventing permanent exclusions from primary schools.

2.    the County Council engages with Head Teachers in Warwickshire to promote the new model of support for permanently excluded primary learners and those at risk of exclusion.

3.    the County Council ceases placing any new pupils in the two ‘Link’ provisions with immediate effect.

4.    the County Council commences consultation with current staffing of the Links, with a view to closing both sites at the end of the Spring Term 2020.

5.    the Strategic Director for Resources, in consultation with the Strategic Director for People, is authorised to negotiate the inclusion of the Kingswood accommodation within the Inspire Education Trust lease with a view to ensuring that the site is used to enhance the Haven Communication & Interaction Specialist Resource Provision to ensure it can meet the needs as an all through Key Stage 1 and 2 primary resource and to complete any necessary documents to give effect to the agreed arrangements.

6.    the County Council commissions 14 fte places across the County, each with an allocated key worker, for primary aged permanently excluded children and those at risk of exclusion. These will be time limited (one term), with a focus on nurturing restorative intervention to inform the identification of the child’s next setting (mainstream or specialist). The commission will include transport and support for transition into the identified next setting.

Councillor Colin Hayfield (Portfolio Holder for Education and Learning) introduced the published report stating that whilst good progress was being made in addressing secondary age school exclusion the level of primary age permanent exclusion was increasing. Significant efforts have been made in the north of Warwickshire to address this but there is now a sense that a county wide approach is required. An amendment to the published recommendation was tabled in order to emphasise that the model proposed is intended to offer personalised care and support.

Councillor Jerry Roodhouse welcomed the report emphasising the need to manage the issue with care and sensitivity. Councillor Roodhouse observed that the report made no reference to overview and scrutiny and suggested that performance of the new model will require monitoring.  In addition, it was suggested that local performance should be reviewed by local bodies.

Councillor Sarah Boad observed that on a recent visit to a children and family centre it was noted that staff present had no knowledge of the proposal.

Councillor Pam Williams agreed that performance should be reported regularly to the overview and scrutiny committee.

Whilst welcoming the report Councillor Richard Chattaway suggested that consideration should be given to why permanent exclusions are rising. He agreed that a future review will be required to assess the impact of the new model.

Regarding the role of children and family centres the meeting was informed that these will be used as a base for staff. Pupils will remain in school.

It was acknowledged that a communication strategy will be required to ensure that all partners are aware of the new model. Finally, it was agreed that overview and scrutiny should be asked to monitor the way schools work with the new model.

            Resolved:

That Cabinet agrees that,

1.    the County Council adopts the proposed new model for preventing permanent exclusions from primary schools.

2.    the County Council engages with Head Teachers in Warwickshire to promote the new model of support for permanently excluded primary learners and those at risk of exclusion.

3.    the County Council ceases placing any new pupils in the two ‘Link’ provisions with immediate effect.

4.    the County Council commences consultation with current staffing of the Links, with a view to closing both sites at the end of the Spring Term 2020.

5.    the Strategic Director for Resources, in consultation with the Strategic Director for People, is authorised to negotiate the inclusion of the Kingswood accommodation within the Inspire Education Trust lease with a view to ensuring that the site is used to enhance the Haven Communication & Interaction Specialist Resource Provision to ensure it can meet the needs as an all through Key Stage 1 and 2 primary resource and to complete any necessary documents to give effect to the agreed arrangements.

6.    the County Council commissions 14 fte places across the County, each with an allocated key worker, for primary aged permanently excluded children and those at risk of exclusion. These will be time limited (one term), with a focus on nurturing restorative intervention to inform the identification of the child’s next setting (mainstream or specialist). The commission will include transport and support for transition into the identified next setting.