Issue - meetings

Report DCYP12029

The Portfolio Holder introduced the Children and Young People Services Improvement Plan which addressed areas for development highlighted by Ofsted in the 2011 Annual Performance Assessment of Children and Young People Services, and outlined progress already made. 

The Chairman congratulated Officers following a rating of ‘Level 3 Good – Performs Well’ being awarded to Bromley Children and Young People Services, a level that had been sustained for the last 4 years since 2008.

A Member highlighted the gap in performance between the bottom 20% of five year olds and their peers.  Whilst this gap had reduced to 31.2% in 2011 from 33.3% in 2010, it was still not meeting the target of 30%.  The Director CYP confirmed that a range of measures had been put in place to address the gap in performance between the bottom 20% of five year olds and their peers.  This included an analysis of foundation stage attainment over the last four years to establish the previous early years setting of each pupil, identifying trends and targeting support to pre-school settings and schools as appropriate.  The Government was also introducing a new code of practice that would give Local Authorities a choice whether to fund settings considered unsatisfactory. 

Members discussed the use of free school meals figures as a proxy indicator of children from low income families.  This was the standard measure used by local authorities, however it was possible to bring other indicators alongside free school meals to add value to the measure.  A Member highlighted that not all children who were in low income families claimed free school meals and that it was important for parents and carers to be encouraged to engage with free school meals if they were eligible as it benefited both the child and the school.  A Co-opted Member proposed that the term ‘free school meals’ should be replaced with more positive terminology to encourage uptake. 

A Member suggested that an annual report on complaints received by the Children and Young People Department be considered by the PDS Committee as a means to identify further issues for scrutiny.

RESOLVED thatthe Portfolio Holder be recommended to:

1)  Approve the Improvement Plan; and

2)  Note progress made in addressing the areas for development highlighted by Ofsted following the 2011 Annual Performance Assessment.