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.

Councillor Boyland (Cabinet Member for Best Start for Children and Families) summarised the update paper which covered the following areas: Children’s Trust Partnership Board and school attendance; Camden response to the National curriculum assessment review; Opportunity Centres and AI Campus Launch; and school estates.

The Chair thanked the Cabinet Member for the update and invited questions and comments from the Committee. The following was discussed:

·       A Member welcomed the Council’s contribution on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) concerns in response to the National Curriculum Review and asked for the estimated timetable for the outcome of this work. The Cabinet Member advised that the timeline for the review was not yet known but confirmed that updates would be shared with the Committee as soon as further information became available.

·       A Member asked how much consultation had taken place with SEND families before Camden’s response was submitted, noting that families often felt their voices were not heard. The Cabinet Member responded that they had worked with the SEND Inclusion Board, the Parent Carer Forum, and Camden Learning. While they felt the consultation had been thorough, they acknowledged that there was always more that could be done. They also mentioned that residents and partners were aware of the challenges the Council faced.

·       A Member asked whether the approach outlined in section 5.3 on school estates would contribute to a broader estate strategy, incorporating strategic plans for falling rolls and place planning. The Cabinet Member acknowledged the need for a comprehensive plan covering SEND, place planning, and the school estate. Officers were working to align SEND requirements, while managing multiple moving parts and ongoing consultations with various stakeholders. The intention was to integrate the school estate report into this work, while considering maintenance needs and the diverse range of school buildings.

·       A Member welcomed the school estate report and the engagement with parents and the Schools Capital Board, stating that they would like to hear more about this work and its timescales in the near future. The Cabinet Member confirmed that a report would be brought back to the Committee for input and discussion.

·       A Member highlighted the event of when schools had to shut due to excessive heat two years ago. They noted the importance of climate resiliency in the school estate report and the need to assess how schools with different types of buildings could adapt to warmer summers. The Cabinet Member confirmed that this would be included in the report. They added that during heatwaves, some schools had to move children between cooler classrooms. It was noted that buildings from the 1960s were not suitable for the climate challenge. A test-and-learn approach had been applied in one school, where air conditioning was installed. The Cabinet Member also mentioned that the issue of children becoming unsettled or having difficulty regulating their behaviour due to heat would continue to be monitored.

·       A Member asked whether the Schools Art Biennale was a one-off event. The Cabinet Member stated that the intention was to make it a permanent fixture in the schools cultural calendar, alongside events at the Royal Albert Hall, and that a funding request was being submitted for the next biennale in 2026.

The Committee noted the update.