Agenda item

Councillor Joe Caluori, Executive Member for Children, Schools and Families, made a presentation to the Committee on Children’s Services work in 2016/17 and priorities for 2017/18.

The following main points were noted in the discussion:

·         The Executive Member welcomed the positive Ofsted inspection. It was commented that officers were aware of what was required to receive an ‘outstanding’ grade, and would be working towards that aim.

·         The Executive Member commented on the progress made by the Pause Project, which worked with 50 vulnerable women who had 200 children taken into care. The women were required to take long-term reversible contraception while accessing the service which offered a range of support. It was advised that project worked on a two-year cycle and the first cohort had recently completed the project. The Executive Member commented that the progress made by the women had been astonishing.

·         The Executive Member hoped that the Pause Project would continue to be supported, however there were sustainability issues which needed consideration. It was advised that Pause workers would be engaging with care leavers in a pilot project, and it was hoped to develop a parallel project for fathers.

·         The Executive Member thanked officers for the relatively smooth implementation of the Bright Start programme, which had fundamentally changed the borough’s early years provision. It was commented that the programme had been implemented with minimal disruption to parents.

·         Youth crime remained a concern. The Executive Member emphasised the importance of investing in services which achieved the best outcomes for young people.

·         The number of new entrants to the youth offending system was below target for the first time since the Executive Member had been in post.

·         The Executive Member commented on the challenges facing education. Although the government was not pursuing forced academisation, the catholic diocese was seeking to transfer its primary schools to an academy trust. The Executive Member commented that a balanced discussion was needed with the diocese, that took into account the views of parents.

·         Work was underway to re-found the Community of Schools. It was intended for schools to have a more significant role in setting the strategic direction of education in the borough.

·         The Executive Member was lobbying the Home Office for further action on county lines drug dealing. Islington’s response to county lines took into account the safeguarding needs of young people, however a cross-borough coordinated approach was needed. 

·         It was commented that Islington officers had been involved in developing a new special educational needs and disability (SEND) services inspection framework. Although there were areas for improvement in Islington’s service, it was thought that SEND services were generally good. It was noted that SEND services were commissioned and provided by both the council and the NHS.

·         The Executive Member provided an update on the progress of the Fair Futures Commission. A place summit had been held recently and useful feedback had been received from the young people in attendance. A call for evidence had recently been issued and the initial findings of the Commission were expected later in the autumn.

·         The Executive Member outlined his principles and emphasised the importance of early intervention approaches, as they led to better outcomes and reduced the expenditure on more entrenched issues in the longer term.

·         It was important for services to make the best use of data, as this identified which practices worked for young people and which did not.

·         It was noted that a new youth council would be appointed in the autumn and the Executive Member looked forward to working with them.

·         The Executive Member commented on the importance of building coalitions with partner organisations, other local authorities and charities. It was commented that coordinated pressure could result in changes to government policy on key issues affecting children’s services.

·         In response to a question, the Executive Member explained that the catholic diocese intended for its schools to move into an academy trust as they considered that this would safeguard the role of catholic education. The example was given of Mount Carmel school, a former catholic school which would re-open as a mixed sex non-denominational academy after a decrease in the number of pupils. The Executive Member suggested that this approach would do little to safeguard the role of catholic education as intended, as if an academy fell into special measures then it could be reassigned to a non-denominational academy chain. Mary Clement, as catholic diocese representative on the Committee, advised that she would seek further information from the diocese on this matter. 

·         A member suggested that the Pause Programme could employ women who had completed the programme, as their lived experience could be used to support other women.

·         Following a question on the radicalisation of young people, it was advised that Prevent referrals were made to Channel, with decisions made by the Channel Panel. It was commented that Executive members carefully scrutinised actions taken after a Prevent referral.

The Committee thanked Councillor Caluori for his attendance.