Archived decisions
AT A MEETING of the EDUCATION POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE of HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on 20 December, 2001
PRESENT:
M.J. Kendal (Chairman); Mrs S.E. Allbright; Mrs V. Assinder; Mrs A.E. Bailey; D.J. Belfield; F.J. Bright; M.F. Cartwright; K.G. Chapman; C. Connor; B.D. Dash; J.J. Dawson; Mrs. P.M. Devereux; R.J. Ellis; Mrs J.K. Frankum; J.K. Glen; Mrs M. Humber; Mrs K. Heron; Mrs R. Jenkins; S.W. Juniper; Jo Kelly; R. Kimber; Mrs P. Lerew; Mrs P.G. Peskett; Mrs E.M.F. Randall; Rev. D.M. Turner; J.G.L. Wall; Mrs P.A. West; B. Wright.
Also present:
Councillor D.G. Allen, Executive Member for Education.
27 MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 20 November, 2001 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
28 CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
The Chairman was pleased to report that Governor Services received its third Charter Mark Award earlier in the month. The assessors particularly praised the staff for their energetic, hardworking and committed approach to providing a good service and highlighted the good relationship with Governors and Headteachers. The Charter Mark recognised excellence in the delivery of public services. The Chairman also reported that Mrs. P. Lerew had recently been elected to the position of National Junior Vice President of the National Association of School Masters/Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT).
29 BEST VALUE REVIEW : HAMPSHIRE MUSIC SERVICE - OUTCOME REPORT
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 4 in the Minute Book) detailing the outcome report for the service review of the Hampshire Music Service.
The outcome report was based on the format recommended in the toolkit and detailed an action plan showing key outcomes, performance targets, actions, costs and timescales.
The Committee noted that the level of satisfaction was outstandingly high and remained so year on year. The review endorsed the findings of the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) Inspection of the service in February 2001.
The Committee discussed in detail the issue of the Service's accommodation. It was noted that the current temporary accommodation would be the base for the Service whilst good quality alternative accommodation was found. The Committee were clearly of the opinion that the accommodation facilities for the Service should be improved. The outcome report highlighted the need for a working group to consider and make recommendations on future accommodation provision for the Service. It was suggested that Councillor K.G. Chapman be appointed the Member representative on the working group.
RESOLVED:
That the Executive Member for Education be advised:
(i) That the Hampshire Music Service continue to be provided by the County Council and continue to improve and expand inline with existing service plans.
(ii) That music awards and ensembles continue to be funded by the County Council, and continue to be managed and led by the Service.
(iii) That the provision for pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN) continue to be provided by the Service.
(iv) That the existing priorities for Standards Fund Expenditure be sustained.
(v) That Councillor K.G. Chapman be appointed the member representative on the Hampshire Music Service Accommodation Working Group.
(vi) That members of staff of the Hampshire Music Service be congratulated on their achievements.
30 BEST VALUE REVIEW : EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY SERVICE - OUTCOME REPORT
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 5 in the Minute Book) detailing the outcome report for the service review of the Educational Psychology Service.
The outcome report was based on the format recommended in the toolkit and detailed an action plan showing key outcomes, performance targets, actions, costs and timescales.
Councillor K.G. Chapman declared a non pecuniary interest in this item.
The Committee noted that the review had concentrated on the overall effectiveness of the service and had concluded from stakeholder consultations that the service was well regarded.
RESOLVED:
That the Executive Member for Education be advised:
(i) That a Service Level Agreement with officers regarding statutory duties be established.
(ii) That a Task Team to raise educational attainments in schools be established.
(iii) That a Task Team to improve emotional development and behaviour management be established.
(iv) That a Task Team to apply psychology in early years settings be established.
(v) That the service contributes to the proposed Corporate Team to support Looked After Children.
(vi) That the service contribute to the Connexions initiative (if necessary).
(vii) That the service improves the management of community teams within a revised management structure.
31 BEST VALUE REVIEW : SCHOOL LIBRARY SERVICE - OUTCOME REPORT
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) detailing the outcome report for the review of the School Library Service.
The outcome report was based on the format recommended in the toolkit and detailed an action plan showing key outcomes, performance targets, actions, costs and timescales.
The Committee noted that the review established showed very high levels of client satisfaction, a high level of comparative cost effectiveness and substantial progress towards achieving service objectives.
RESOLVED:
That the Executive Member for Education be advised:
(i) That the School Library Service continue to be provided from within the Local Education Authority.
(ii) That the Action Plan be approved.
(iii) That Option 4 of the Option Report be approved which is that the School Library Service continue to provide the service with improved standards and with additional finance for resources provision for literacy across the curriculum which will bring the School Library Service up to the level of the County average of resources per capita, based on comparisons in the LISU (Loughborough University Information and Statistical Unit) statistics on resource spending, amounting to a gross bid of £27,000 per annum.
32 BEST VALUE REVIEW : HAMPSHIRE INSPECTION AND ADVISORY SERVICE (HIAS) - OUTCOME REPORT
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 7 in the Minute Book) detailing the outcome report for the review of the Hampshire Inspection and Advisory Service (HIAS).
The outcome report was based on the format recommended in the toolkit and detailed an action plan showing key outcomes, performance targets, actions, costs and timescales.
The Committee noted that the broad conclusions of the review were that the sold services of HIAS showed very high levels of client satisfaction, high levels of comparative cost effectiveness and substantial progress towards achieving the Service's objective.
RESOLVED:
That the Executive Member for Education be advised that the quality, range and integrated nature of HIAS sold services, operating within business planning disciplines be maintained.
33 BEST VALUE REVIEW : EDUCATION TRAINING AGENCY - OUTCOME REPORT
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 8 in the Minute Book) detailing the outcome report for the service review of the Education Training Agency.
The outcome report was based on the format recommended in the toolkit and detailed an action plan showing key outcomes, performance targets, actions, costs and timescales.
The Committee noted that the service provided by the Education Training Agency was good overall and that the process had identified three areas which could form the basis for improvement:
· raising the standard of training delivery on certain courses
· improved communication within schools
· better targeting of the course programme to the needs of the school
RESOLVED:
That the Executive Member for Education be advised:
That the Education Training Agency service continue to be provided by Hampshire County Council and complete its integration into Hampshire's Inspection and Advisory
Service (HIAS) to better support the changing needs of the schools and the delivery of the Education Development Plan.
34 BEST VALUE REVIEW : GOVERNOR SERVICES - OUTCOME REPORT
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 9 in the Minute Book) detailing the outcome report for the service review of Governor Services.
The outcome report was based on the format recommended in the toolkit and detailed an action plan showing key outcomes, performance targets, actions, costs and timescales.
The Committee noted that most parts of the service were market leaders, performing at a very high level.
RESOLVED:
That the Executive Member for Education be advised:
(i) That the Service continue to administer Governor appointments and maintain the County Council's Governor Database whilst seeking to improve the standards wherever possible through the use of new technology and better processes.
(ii) That the Service seek to improve standards through the development of new partnerships to strengthen and widen the services on offer to Hampshire Governors whilst allowing it the flexibility to respond to future market changes.
(iii) That the Service seek to improve the quality of clerking in Hampshire through the gradual expansion of the Local Education Authority clerking service and raise the professional status and performance of all clerks across the county.
8AM60102