Agenda and minutes

To agree the procedures for the operation of hybrid meetings.

RESOLVED

THAT the guidance on hybrid meetings be noted.

To Note: All

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Ali, McAnena 

and Co-opted Members Reverend Guy Pope and Rachel Wrangham.

Councillor Paul Tomlinson was attending as a substitute

To Note: All

No declarations were made.

Broadcast of the meeting

The Chair to announce the following: ‘In addition to the rights by law that the public and press have to record this meeting, I would like to remind everyone that this meeting is being broadcast live by the Council to the Internet and can be viewed on our website for twelve months after the meeting. After that time, webcasts are archived and can be made available upon request.

If you have asked to address the meeting, you are deemed to be consenting to having your contributions recorded and broadcast, including video when switched on, and to the use of those sound recordings and images for webcasting and/or training purposes.’

Any other announcements

The Chair announced

 ‘In addition to the rights by law that the public and press have to record this meeting, I would like to remind everyone that this meeting is being broadcast live by the Council to the Internet and can be viewed on our website for twelve months after the meeting. After that time, webcasts are archived and can be made available upon request.

If you have asked to address the meeting, you are deemed to be consenting to having your contributions recorded and broadcast, including video when switched on, and to the use of those sound recordings and images for webcasting and/or training purposes.’

To Note: All

There were no deputations.

There was no urgent business.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on Monday 5^th July 2021.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the last meeting –

Item 8 Procurement strategy for Minding the Gap/ Hive Cabinet report. 

More detailed data on the outcomes to be circulated to the committee

Action By: Executive Director for Supporting People

RESOLVED

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on Monday, 5^th July be agreed as a correct record.

To Note: All

Report of the Cabinet Member for Best Start for Children and Families   

The report presents the refreshed Resilient Families Framework for review and endorsement by Cabinet. The framework, included at Appendix A, sets the vision for prevention, early intervention and support for children and families outlining the collective priorities and aspirations of the Children’s Trust Partnership Board and forms the Council’s Early Help Strategy.

Consideration was given to a report of the Cabinet Member for Best Start for Children and Families.

The focus of the report was the Resilient Families Framework that would be considered by the Cabinet on 2^nd September. The Framework set out the vision for prevention, early intervention and support for children and families - outlining the collective priorities and aspirations of the Children’s Trust Partnership Board and formed the Council’s Early Help Strategy.

During consideration of the report the committee raised lack of access to indoor play space; how housing impacts the lives of children; the ambitions of the Framework and the opportunity for further scrutiny of its outcomes.  

The following points were made in response to the questions from the  

Committee:

·       There was a considerable programme of indoor play at children’s centres and youth hubs. Play and stay facilities were provided throughout the year by Camden’s Play Service and story time at libraries. There were a range of different play needs required across the borough and any suggestions about other play options would be welcomed. Parent Champions had highlighted that there was a lack of information about how to access services and this was being addressed  

·       The meaningful involvement of parents in codesign was part of the Framework and indicators should capture that experience 

·       There were now 50 Parent Campions providing a wealth of insight that will be included in the Education Strategy. There was a huge a commitment to maximising the role of parents, young  people and children

·       The use of school facilities outside of school would be explored in the Education Strategy 

·       Housing, as a social determinant of health and the impact on children’s outcomes was embedded in the Health and Wellbeing Strategy and would be addressed. The Corporate Parenting Board had also looked in detail at housing allocations, overcrowding and the impact on families

·       The alarming rise in poverty in Camden and the hidden poverty that had been highlighted by the impact of the pandemic would be addressed

·       The services and support to disadvantaged 2yrs had been augmented

·       For hard-to-reach families, community partners were working on taking information to them in new ways, with more focus on information sharing at schools. Family Change Makers had recently shared their lived experiences as Camden Parents with the Children’s Trust Partnership Board. This work was informing the Education Strategy about what good and useful help looked like 

·       A comprehensive slide pack with data performance for the Resilient Families Framework was available. A useful way of sharing this information with the committee would be looked at

Actions from this agenda item - 

-       Report back on resilient families framework to include an analysis of the 5 themes 

-       Report to the Committee on 2021 summer/holiday initiatives and activities for children and young people

Action By: Executive Director for Supporting People

The Committee commended the report and 

RESOLVED

THAT the report be noted.

To Note: All

Report of the Director of Camden Learning

The committee will receive a presentation that will provide a summary of Camden schools’ results in 2021. Examinations were not held due to Covid-19, with students awarded results based on teacher-assessed grades (TAGs) for their GCSEs and A levels.

Consideration was given to a presentation that provided a summary of Camden schools’ results in 2021 Appendix A. Examinations had not been held due to Covid-19, students had been awarded results based on teacher-assessed grades (TAGs) for their GCSEs and A levels. The presentation included the following provisional attainment headlines:

·       No statutory assessment in primary schools in 2020-21. The government had not published (or collected) any national, regional or local statistics for any primary school assessments in 2020-21

·       Phonics screen checking did not take place in summer 2020 but were assessed in December 2020 (in Year 2). Results were similar to previous years, with students reaching the expected standard    

·       Provisional Key Stage Four (KS4) - Results based on teacher assessments (Centre Assessed Grades - CAG)

·       Disadvantaged pupils (KS4)

o   Standard Pass 68% of disadvantaged pupils achieved a standard pass (4+) in English and Maths with increases from 2019 and 2020    

o   Strong Pass 45% of disadvantaged pupils achieved a strong pass (5+) in English and Maths with increases from 2019 and 2020  

·       Provisional Key Stage Four (KS4) - Entries

o   Provisional subject for GCSE results showed Camden had done  better than the national average

·       Provisional Key Stage Five (KS5)

o   Average point score higher than the previous year (CAG)

The following information was provided in response to questions from the committee:     

·       That young people had shown a tremendous amount of resilience in the last year. Camden Learning was developing a recovery plan alongside the Education Strategy to support young people in their education recovery. This included early intervention, promoting attendance, quality teaching, tutored provision and breakfast clubs. There would be targeted specific catchup for pupils. Schools had risen to the challenge of providing laptops, with thanks to those who had supported internet access, remote learning was in place if and when required. But overcrowding with limited space to study was still an issue for some students

·       There were many education transition points -

o   Primary and secondary schools had worked on a vulnerability matrix to support pupils

o   Over 1500 pupils had attended the summer schools and activities programme this year

o   GCSE preparation had to be strengthened with information to students about alternative education pathways into business

o   Camden was the only authority with Google Certification and 700 young people were participating online  

o   There would be more focus on the post 16 education and training offer

·       Hopefully there will be early notification from government about the process for examination and assessment in 2022, to provide time for preparation and not hinder the progress of children  

·       Schools had worked hard on the standardisation of the Centre Assessed Grades, that included a portfolio of evidence for each child, for evidence-based results. There will be some young people who were disappointed with their results but there was an appeals process. There was an opportunity this autumn to re-sit papers. Retakes of GCSE English and Maths were particularly important.     

RESOLVED

THAT the presentation be noted

To Note: All

Report of the Executive Director Corporate Services

This report provides an overview of the Council’s performance throughout the last financial year (2020-21) in responding to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, as well as providing the most recent corporate data for key council services for Quarter One, from April to June 2021. A quarterly performance report will be provided to Scrutiny Committees throughout 2021/22, maintaining focus on the impact of the pandemic on service delivery as well as providing data on a range of key council services across all directorates.

Consideration was given to a report of the Executive Director Corporate Services that provided an overview of the Council’s performance throughout the last financial year (2020-21) in responding to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. The report also provided the most recent corporate data for key council services for Quarter One, from April to June 2021. A quarterly performance report will be provided to Scrutiny Committees throughout 2021/22, maintaining focus on the impact of the pandemic on service delivery as well as providing data on a range of key council services across all directorates.

The committee received a summary of aspects of the report falling within its terms of reference, including safeguarding, looked after children, child protection plans, education, schools, youth safety. The high likelihood of an Ofsted Inspection of Camden during the autumn term was noted. 

The following points were made in response to questions from the committee:

·       A number ofmaintained and private nurseries had been impacted by reduced funding and the reduced requirement for nursery places during the pandemic. With the return to office based working it will be interesting to see if there would be a change in the report next quarter 

·       There was a legal requirement for children to receive an adequate education. A local authority cannot compel parents and carers to register for education but as an authority we try and engage and support parents with resources, where we can, to support the curriculum. Local authorities do have the powers to act and support children if they are at risk of significant harm

·       In any given year the number of children missing education was not a static number and this had continued to be the case during the pandemic, for example where children had travelled abroad with their families and had not returned. Head teachers had been written to and the situation for each child was being monitored. On the day of the meeting the number of children missing education was 30 and they were being traced through social care and schools

·       Domestic violence had continued to rise and there had been difficulties in gathering information from the Police. The drop in cases being referred to Camden Safety Net and misunderstandings about data sharing were being addressed, there needed to be better coordination in finding solutions for families 

·       There were good arrangements in place for clinically vulnerable children to receive Covid Vaccinations and the committee was assured that there were taking place. Preliminary work was taking place in the event that there was a Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) decision to vaccinate children aged 12+ 

Further comments from Committee that would be noted for reporting the next Quarter were:

·       Data trend lines were not helpful, the direction of travel was unclear

·       Cross referencing data would be helpful

·       Concerns that housing not identified as one of the biggest outcomes affecting children   

Further requests by the Committee:

·       That Schools admissions -  analysis of the first and second preference schools data to be circulated to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

Report of the Executive Director Supporting People 

This report sets out the work programme for the municipal year 2021/22 for the committee’s consideration. The committee will continue to be provided with an updated report on their future work programme at each meeting, for their consideration.

Consideration was given Report of the Executive Director Supporting People 

that set out the work programme for the municipal year 2021/22 for the committee’s consideration. 

The action points from this meeting and requests from the committee for further information included:

-       Report back on resilient families framework to CSF Scrutiny, to include an analysis of the 5 themes     

-       Report on 2021 summer/holiday initiatives and activities for children and young people

-       Schools admissions -  analysis of the first and second preference schools data to be circulated to members

-       The opportunity to consider the proposed draft revisions to Camden 2025 before they are finalised  

RESOLVED

THAT the report and the points raised by the Committee be noted.

To Note: All

Action By: Executive Director for Supporting People

The Children, Schools and Families Scrutiny Committee is

asked to note that the next meeting will take at place at 6.30pm on

Tuesday 12 October 2021 and to also note the following schedule of meeting dates.

·       Monday 8 November 2021

·       Tuesday 14 December 2021

·       Tuesday 18 January 2022

·       Tuesday 1 March 2022

The Committee noted that the next meeting will take at place at 6.30pm on

Tuesday 12 October 2021.

Future meeting dates:

·       Monday 8 November 2021*

·       Tuesday 14 December 2021

·       Tuesday 18 January 2022

·       Tuesday 1 March 2022*

It was also noted that due to membership clashes with the Resources and Corporate Performance Scrutiny Committee, possible alternative options for the November and March meeting dates were being looked at.    

To Note: All

There was no such business.