Deena Moorey, Virtual School Head presented
the report to the panel confirming that it covered the Autumn 2024
term.
The following points were highlighted to the
panels –
- In relation to formal Kinship
Duties, it was confirmed that planning and preparation have been
successfully completed, and the Virtual School service is set to
implement the additional formal kinship duties soon.
- It was further confirmed that many
schools are now on board with the attachment and trauma training
offered to them. The Panel noted that
this was a very positive step and would benefit a range of
children, not just children in care.
- The Enrichment programme at Coventry
University ended abruptly in the summer term because of funding and
staffing reductions at the university. However, work is already underway planning a
replacement programme. The University of Warwick is keen to remain
a partner, and the group of Birmingham universities has extended
their outreach to include Warwickshire Children in Care.
- Following a question from Councillor
Penny-Anne O’Donnell, it was confirmed that drop out rates
for post-16 training placements tend to be available around
October/November but had not yet been circulated. It was confirmed that as soon as the information
is available, it will be shared with the panel.
- In relation to Education, Health and
Care plans (EHCP) it was confirmed that the current delay is around
finding suitable provision. There is a
national shortage of placements. There
isn’t a delay in completing an EHCP, just in actioning the
placement, especially if there is a need to change the
plan. The delay is currently 12-24
weeks.
The reported outcomes for Warwickshire
Children in Care were highlighted as follows –
- All foundation results are improving
and are 10% higher than last year.
- Results for SEND/EHCP children are
currently higher than the national figure.
- The results for Key Stage 2 students
have been reported as the most stable cohort over the last 12
months and are performing above the national average.
- It was noted that there was no Key
Stage 1 data for the above cohort and their attendance due to
Covid.
The Chair asked for further information in
relation to the 27 children identified as not currently working on
a GCSE curriculum. It was confirmed
that these children tend to be asylum seeking children or those in
special placement schools. Each case
will be dependant on the individual’s education plan.
In relation to the 2 students who did not sit
any GCSE exams over the summer, it was confirmed that one was
pregnant and was not attending school.
The second student had attended school but did not attend
exams.
Following a question from Councillor Caroline
Phillips, it was confirmed that the data in relation to NEETs was
from the summer period, which can cause the data to look worse than
it is due to the summer holidays. Some
of the cohort were also Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children who
wouldn’t have been in a position to take up a college course
at the time of the report.
It was noted that the number of NEET young
people is slowing increasing again after Covid. It was agreed that there would be a deep dive into
this and that a report will be brought to a future panel
meeting.
The Chair thanked the officers for the report
stating that it has been a positive report and a chance to
celebrate the success of the children.