Archived decisions

Contact: Terry Rath, Education Officer [email protected]

01962 846457

1 Summary

1.1 This report updates the Policy Review Committee (PRC) on the progress in implementing the improvement plan arising from the Best Value (BV) Review of the Education Welfare Service. The report recommends that a further report should be brought to PRC and Executive Member at about the same time next year.

2 Background

2.1 At its meeting on 25 March 2003 the PRC agreed to recommend to the Executive Member that sufficient progress had been made in implementing the improvement plans of the thirteen services reviewed during the first and second years of the Best Value cycle and that it was no longer necessary to report to the PRC or the Executive Member. At his decision day on 27 March 2003 the Executive Member agreed with the PRC's recommendation. These services are now being covered by the new arrangements that have been introduced for service planning across the Education Department.

2.2 The only outstanding implementation plan on which progress needs to be reported is the Education Welfare Service (EWS) BV Review. Although the BV Review's improvement plan was reported to the May meeting of the PRC last year, this report is being brought to this meeting of the PRC so that the attached Appendix can be included in the County Council's Performance Plan which has to be published in June.

2.3 Implementing the EWS BV Review improvement plan supports aim 1, 5, 4 of the Corporate Strategy, maximising life opportunities, improving services and building strong and safe communities.

2 Improvement Plan and Progress

2.1 The chart below sets out the five main themes, the number of actions identified for implementation by January 2004 and the extent to which progress has been made in their implementation.

2.2 During the period when this improvement plan was being implemented the Education Welfare Service was without a Principal EWO for a period of six months. The new Principal EWO has been in post since the beginning of January 2004 but has had little time yet to make an impact on delivering the service improvements proposed in the plan. Further work also needs to be done in identifying appropriate targets for some of the themes and monitoring the impact of the improvements on existing levels of absence from school.

2.3 Some major improvements identified in the plan have been implemented. For example, the pilot study to base EWOs in schools is being implemented in Fareham and Gosport. New arrangements to allocate EWOs to schools, by identifying through a colour coding system schools with greatest need, are in place. Additional comprehensive guidance for schools on improving attendance has been circulated. Work is in hand in implementing other actions. However, much remains to be done.

3 Recommendation

3.1 The PRC recommends to the Executive Member that progress on implementing the EWS BV Review improvement plan is noted and a further report on the implementation of the EWS BV Review improvement plan be submitted to the PRC and Executive Member in March 2005.