Agenda item

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

This report provides the Committee with an update relating to the portfolio of the Cabinet Member for Best Start for Children and Families.

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

The paper and verbal summary gave updates in the following areas:

-       Education Strategy Board

-       Children’s Trust Partnership Board

-       School Breakfasts

-       Universal Free School Meals in Primaries

-       Digital advertising campaign for secondary school students

-       Family Hubs and Children’s Centres

-       Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

-       School Future Options Group

The Chair thanked the Cabinet Member for the update and invited questions and comments from the Committee. In addition to the paper, the following was discussed:

-       In relation to School Breakfasts, Members noted that provision of food to children was a priority, given how food cost inflation affected families and feeding children helped school attendance. A deputation had been recently presented to Full Council about the provision of plant-based meals in schools, and it was noted that even with the challenges, the mission of encouraging healthy eating in schools should not be lost. In response, the Cabinet Member stated that a full review and consultation of the food contract offer to Camden schools would be taking place next year which would consider the healthy offer to pupils and the meat/plant-based balance of schools meals. A Member stated that residents were lobbying in their ward for the provision of vegan meals, however there needed to be work on surveying what children would enjoy eating.

-       In response to a Co-opted Member raising concern over the lack of transitional support for young people moving from secondary school to college in comparison to the attention and support focussed on Primary to secondary transitions, the Cabinet Member confirmed they would like to discuss the topic outside of the meeting to hear thoughts and feedback from Camden Youth MPs on how the current offer could be improved.

-       In relation to Free School Meals (FSM), a Co-opted Member stated that the Camden Youth Council (CYC) was working to lobby government to expand provisions and lower qualifying thresholds for secondary school and college pupils to access FSM. A Co-opted Member asked if the Council had any plans to extend FSM provisions to that age group outside of national policy, or changing local thresholds. In response, it was confirmed there were no current plans and it was the Greater London Authority (GLA) funding the FSM provision for primary age children. The Cabinet Member stated they would like to discuss FSMs further with Camden Youth MPS.

-       Members asked for an update on the Council’s work to look at why parents choose private schools over Camden schools for their secondary transition children. In response, it was confirmed that the Council was setting up focus groups with primary school transition groups in schools; an online survey had been launched; Meet the Parents had been commissioned to arrange Camden secondary school parents and children to host discussions at primary schools; and a Moving On event was being advertised online to promote Camden schools.

The Committee noted the update.