Archived decisions
ITEM 1
AT A MEETING of the EDUCATION POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE of HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on 22 January 2002.
PRESENT:
M.J. Kendal (Chairman); Mrs S.E. Allbright; Mrs A.E. Bailey; D.J. Belfield; Carol Boulton; F.J. Bright; Mrs E.M. Byrom; 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 K. Heron; S.W. Juniper; Jo Kelly; R. Kimber; Mrs P. Lerew; Mrs C.A. Leversha; Mrs A.M. McNair Scott; Mrs P.G. Peskett; G.W. Porter; Mrs E.M.F. Randall; M.L. Sheehan; J.W. Stocks; Rev. D.M. Turner; J.G.L. Wall; Mrs P.A. West.
Also present:
Councillor D.G. Allen, Executive Member for Education.
35 MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 20 December 2001 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
36 CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
The Chairman welcomed Councillor Mrs C. Leversha to her first meeting of the Committee; and also welcomed back Rev. Canon D. Isaac who was present as standing deputy for Rev. R. Lindley. He also reported that the newly elected Member from Gosport, Councillor D.F. Wright, had been appointed by the Labour Group to serve on the Education Policy Review Committee.
The Chairman reported with sadness the death of Mrs Cherry Card, Headteacher of Western C.E. Primary School, Winchester after only a very short period in post. The Committee expressed their condolences to her husband and to the school. He reported the award in the New Year's Honours List of the OBE to Merrick Denton-Thompson from the County Planning Department, in respect of his work on Learning through Landscapes which had promoted the use of school grounds to support teaching. Also awarded the OBE was Mr J. Sturgess, former Assistant County Education Officer.
The Chairman went on to report that two schools had been successfully removed from special measures: Park Primary in Aldershot and Pinewood Infant in Farnborough. He added that two schools with serious weaknesses (Samuel Cody in Farnborough and North Farnborough Infant) had received very encouraging visits from Her Majesty's Inspectors. He reported that the Hawthorns Special School, for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties in Basingstoke, had been placed in special measures; and that Andover C.E. Primary School had been judged as having serious weaknesses.
In conclusion the Chairman reported a fire at the Hayling School in which 7 classrooms had been seriously damaged. Prompt action had been taken by the County Council to locate temporary classrooms on site and the school had thus been able to avoid losing more than a few days schooling for its pupils.
37 EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2002-2007
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 4 in the Minute Book) on the preparation of the County Council's second Education Development Plan. They also had before them a supplementary sheet entitled "EDP2 overall targets", a copy of which appears as Item 4x in the Minute Book. Several corrections on points of detail, amplification or updating to the report were noted. Taken overall, the sum of £6.5M, within existing County Council budgets and Standards Fund grants, would support educational priorities within the plan. The County Education Officer explained that the Plan set overall targets, whereas individual targets for schools were still being received and would be incorporated in annex 1 which would have to follow the main plan to the Department for Education and Skills by mid-February.
Members debated in detail the ambitious targets which sought continuous improvement in all key stages. There were also specific targets for particular groups, including improving the attendance and education of travellers' children. Members accepted that bids for specialist school status would generate further resources, and that these would not be to the detriment of other non-specialist schools so long as the bids were carefully co-ordinated. In general terms Members welcomed the priorities set out in the Plan and stressed the importance they attached to effective recruitment and retention of teachers; investment in early years; work on behaviour; and support to schools. They congratulated the County Education Officer on the comprehensive information contained in the Education Development Plan, which conformed with the guidelines set by the Department for Education and Skills and OFSTED.
RESOLVED:
That the Executive Member for Education be advised that the Education Development Plan 2002-2007, as amended in the light of Members' comments, be submitted to the County Council for approval.
38 EARLY YEARS DEVELOPMENT AND CHILDCARE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 2002-2003
The Committee considered the report of the County Education Officer (Item 5 in the Minute Book) on the preparation of the Plan. It was reported that the Plan had been approved by the Early Years and Childcare Partnership at its meeting on 18 January 2002. Members welcomed the additional grants set out in paragraph 3, but noted that there was no guarantee that these would continue in the longer term. Members felt that investment in Early Years was of great benefit when children moved on to infant/primary school and also throughout their school careers. They therefore welcomed the proposals for the County Council to keep in close contact with all providers and to use all available means of disseminating information on Early Years places, in order that as many parents as possible took up the opportunity for their children from aged 3 onwards.
RESOLVED:
That the Executive Member for Education be advised that the Early Years Development and Childcare Implementation Plan 2002-2003 be approved for submission to the County Council.
39 BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT PLAN - ACTION PLAN
The Committee considered the report of the County Education Officer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) on the preparation of the Action Plan which aimed to provide support to schools and pupils on behaviour issues. Discussion centred on the behaviour intervention teams, which had been introduced successfully and with beneficial effect in the Basingstoke, Rushmoor and Gosport areas. The plan envisaged the progressive extension of behaviour intervention teams to the rest of the County, but several members felt that they would ideally like to see this programme accelerated so that all areas of the County had access to the service sooner rather than later. Members accepted that this aspect, along with several others set out in the Action Plan, were dependent on the availability of resources.
RESOLVED:
That the Executive Member for Education be advised that the Behaviour Support Plan - Action Plan be approved in principle subject to future funding arrangements.
40 EARLY RETIREMENT SCHEME - APPLICATION IN SCHOOLS
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer (Item 7 in the Minute Book) on the County Council's policy for early retirement as it applies in schools. An additional graph showing early retirements on the grounds of redundancy was circulated, and a copy appears as item 7x in the Minute Book. It was noted that the statistics did not cover voluntary resignations; nor did they cover early retirements on grounds of ill-health, which were dealt with separately by the Teachers' Pensions Agency.
RESOLVED:
That current policy continue to be implemented in accordance with the principles defined in paragraphs 6.1 and 6.2 of the report.
41 REVENUE BUDGET 2002/03
The Committee considered a report of the County Treasurer and County Education Officer (Item 8 in the Minute Book) on the proposed revenue budget for the coming financial year. The Chairman outlined the extensive programme of consultations with partners which had been carried out as part of the budget process, and reported that it had been possible to accommodate several of the priorities which they had identified. However it had not been possible to accommodate some other priorities, for instance the improvements to the Education Psychology Service arising from the Best Value Review were not all included, although additional funding was proposed for educational psychology in early years.
RESOLVED:
That the Executive Member for Education be advised to approve for submission to the Cabinet:
· That forecast savings totalling £651,000 be carried forward to 2002/03;
· The base budget (as set out in Appendix 1 and Annexes 1 to 4);
· The efficiency improvements set out in Appendix 2;
· The review of charges set out in Appendix 3;
· The proposals for new growth and redeployment of resources set out in Appendix 4;
· The Education budget as set out in Appendix 5;
· The summarised trading accounts for business units as set out in Appendix 6;
· The extent to which additional specific grants support service levels at schools and for the service as a whole;
· The proposals to achieve the targets set out by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills.
42 CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2002/03 TO 2005/06
The Committee considered a report of the County Education Officer and County Treasurer (Item 9 in the Minute Book) on the proposed future capital programme. They received an amended report and appendix setting out corrections to the figures contained in the capital programme (Item 9x in the Minute Book).
RESOLVED:
That the Executive Member for Education be advised to approve
(a) The capital programme for 2002/03 to 2005/06 as set out in the revised Appendix 1 for submission to the Cabinet.
(b) The amendment of 2001/02 capital programme to reflect the award of specialist school status and a capital grant of £100,000 to Wildern School, Hedge End.
(c) The making of a grant to the Diocese of Winchester to cover 15% of the cost of acquisition of the site of St. Francis C.E. (Aided) Primary School, Chandlers Ford.
43 FIRST YEAR BEST VALUE REVIEWS - ANNUAL REPORT
The Committee considered the report of the County Education Officer (Item 10 in the Minute Book) monitoring progress with the Best Value Reviews completed last year, as follows:-
(a) School Crossing Patrols
(b) Admissions
(c) Strategic Management
(d) Home to School Transport
(e) Bilingual and Language Support Service
(f) Specialist teacher advisers
(g) Outdoor education
It was noted that there would be continued Member involvement on monitoring performance pursuant to the reviews. It was also agreed that Members should be nominated for appointment to serve on the Education Welfare Service Best Value Review.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the Executive Member for Education be advised that satisfactory progress is being made in implementing the first year Best Value Review Action Plan.
(ii) That arrangements for Members to be involved in monitoring performance under the Plan, as summarised in paragraph 5.1, be put in hand for future years.
(iii) That the following Members be nominated for appointment to serve on the Education Welfare Service Best Value Review:
Councillors: Mrs A.M. McNair Scott, Mrs P.A. West, B.D. Dash and a Labour Group representative to be notified.
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