Agenda item

Councillor Kaya Comer-Schwartz, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Families and Deputy Leader, gave a presentation on the work that had been undertaken by Children’s Services in the last year.

In the presentation and discussion the following main points were made:

·         Children’s social care safeguarding services had been rated “Outstanding” by Ofsted.

·         There had been investment in the Targeted Youth Service to reduce youth violence, as well as in domestic abuse, and better detection rates.

·         There had been positive outcomes in terms of those in education, employment or training.

·         Good progress had been made against all the recommendations to reduce exclusions from school.

·         Over half of the Fair Futures recommendations had been implemented so far.

·         The work of Children’s Services had been significantly affected by COVID-19. Schools had been closed except for vulnerable children and the children of critical workers and some year groups in the summer term.

·         Together with voluntary sector partners 1,192 food parcels had been delivered to needy families.

·         Approximately 3,000 IT devices had been distributed to children and young people.

·         Many services had had to close during lockdown but many maintained contact virtually e.g. safeguarding, Bright Start and work on the digital curriculum for schools.

·         Work was undertaken with schools and early years’ providers, parents/carers, community partners and Public Health on reopening schools and making them COVID-safe.

·         Work was undertaken with community partners such as the Mother Tongue Supplementary Schools to help support BAME parents, children and young people.

·         Risk assessments had been undertaken for the safe return of key services.

·         Work was being undertaken to support the emotional wellbeing of children and young people.

·         Holiday play schemes had been run over the summer and these had been well attended.

·         14,944 lunches had been distributed over the summer holidays to those attending holiday play schemes, adventure playgrounds and Launchpad activities.

·         Bright Start picnics for children under-5s and their families had taken place in community green spaces over the summer holidays and these would continue into the autumn. These had included a free Lunch Bunch lunch.

·         Work had been taking place to support young people into further education or training following their GCSE and A-Level results.

·         The future would be adjusting to the ‘new normal’. There would continue to be social distancing in schools. Ongoing and emerging needs included poverty/low income, housing needs, physical and mental health of children and parents/carers, insecure work, children’s access to technology and learning at home and having safe spaces to play.

·         The importance of public health and the value of prevention and early intervention had been underlined during COVID-19.

·         Priorities included getting people back on track, increasing face to face contact, trying to get a testing hub set up in Islington, offering hybrid learning and a recovery curriculum and challenging inequalities.

·         As part of the equalities work, actions would be taken forward from the joint study with the Youth Justice Board to address the disproportionality of BAME young people in the youth justice system.

·         The mental health and wellbeing of children would be supported through a range of programmes.

·         There would be a continued focus on improving EET (education, employment and training) rates.

·         Work would take place to increase the number of foster carers in the borough.

·         Work would take place on community safety issues for young people.

·         A member asked about school attendance figures and was advised that the September 2020 school attendance figures had been above 90%. Nationally the figure was nearer 80%. When figures had been analysed there were no significant differences in terms of ethnicity.

·         In response to a question from a member about the process to gain and distribute devices to young people, an officer stated that the council had put in the request for devices early but it had still taken some time to obtain the devices. In the meantime schools had offered to give out devices they had. Wi-Fi routers were necessary in many cases and dongles had been ordered.

·         In response to a question about the emotional wellbeing of staff, Councillor Comer-Schwartz stated that the council had offered support in many ways. There had been a regular survey on staff wellbeing and staff had received an extra day’s leave on their birthday.

·         A member raised concern about how many people were entering poverty as a result of COVID-19 and not being aware of how to ask for help. An officer advised that support was available e.g. uniform grants. The ‘no wrong front door’ policy meant that if a parent talked to anyone with the school system they should get access to services without being referred several times.

·         A member of the public asked if headphones had been provided with devices as often young people had to share their study space with other family members. An officer would check that headphones had been provided.

·         In response to a question from a member of the public about whether libraries were providing study space, an officer advised that the five largest libraries were open. Study space and PCs for public use were available and this space was COVID-safe. Adult learning centres had also been reopened. During lockdown, library van drivers had been redeployed to deliver laptops.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.