Archived decisions

COUNCIL MEETING, 18 SEPTEMBER 2008

REPORT OF THE

EXECUTIVE LEAD MEMBER FOR

CHILDREN'S SERVICES (EDUCATION)

AND EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

SCHOOL BALANCES

1 School balances in Hampshire have continued to increase. They now total £46.8m or 7.23% of allocations. School balances have been under scrutiny for some time as this money is delegated to schools to spend on current pupils. Nationally, the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) is looking to reduce balances to ensure delegated funding is delivering improvements in education for current pupils. The Audit Commission is reviewing the value for money of a system where funding goes unspent and locally there is concern that as a low funded authority for education, increasing balances could be an adverse indication of need.

2 New powers previously given to local authorities to help to encourage schools to develop their budget planning and reduce balances, give approval to claw back excessive, uncommitted balances. These sums are then only available for redistribution to Hampshire schools. This claw back power has been exercised in Hampshire County Council for the first time this year. Nine schools were proposed for claw back totalling £283,529. Schools Forum agreed to an appeals process such that schools could appeal to a Sub-Committee of Schools Forum, ensuring that the proposals were subject to review by their peers. One appeal was upheld and Schools Forum confirmed the use of claw back for eight schools totalling £215,798 which represents an average of 1.27% of budget shares for the schools involved or 3.48% of their balances.

3 The Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) has considered a report by the County Treasurer on this item. In addition to noting the decisions taken on the claw back of balances for 2007/08, he has asked that all County Councillors be sent details about the outturn balances for schools in their own areas. The Executive Lead Member has also approved the proposal from Schools Forum to consider further changes to the criteria for claw back contained in the Scheme for Financial Management of Schools to take effect for 2008/09 balances. A copy of the relevant report is available in the Members' Rooms.

4 The decisions aim to promote effective management and use of school budgets and balances for current children in Hampshire schools. This supports the Council's Corporate Priorities.

SCHOOL PLACES PLAN 2008

1 The 2007 revision of the School Places Plan (SPP), which replaced the School Organisation Plan, was approved by the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) on 11 October 2007, following consultation with schools and other interested parties. A revised plan has now been prepared with January 2008 data to cover the period 2008/09 to 2012/13. It was published first in draft on Hantsnet at the beginning of May 2008. Notification of this was sent to all County Councillors, other County Council departments, each district and borough council in Hampshire, adjoining local authorities and organisations such as the local learning and skills council. A communication was also sent to all head teachers and chairs of governors inviting comment. A closing date of 16 June 2008 was given for responses to be submitted. Fifteen responses were received during the consultation period. As a result some suggested revisions were made to the draft SPP and the opportunity was also taken to make a few other minor corrections. The Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) has considered the revised text of the plan and given his approval to its publication. A copy of the report on this item, together with the School Places Plan for 2008 is available in the Members' Rooms.

2 The decision promotes policies for the effective management of school places. This supports the Council's Corporate Priorities.

DEVELOPERS' CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS CHILDREN'S SERVICES FACILITIES

1 Financial contributions from developers form a significant proportion of the capital available for building new schools, and other facilities, in areas where housing development places pressure on existing children's services facilities. Some £3m was received in this way during 2007/08 and this will increase as the new Major Development Areas in Andover, Basingstoke and West of Waterlooville materialise.

2 A document on the County Council's approach to contributions towards education facilities was approved by the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services in May 2007 and it forms the basis of current negotiations with developers, either directly or in partnership with the district and borough councils. The amounts sought are required to be updated annually to take account of increases in building costs. Up to 2006, the formula used for calculating a reasonable level of contributions was based on "cost multipliers" published by the DFES. However, recent experience of new school projects has shown that these do not reflect the true cost of building schools in Hampshire. Consequently, further work has been undertaken on this which includes gathering information as a result of detailed analysis of actual projects and incorporating into a guidance document which suggests the principles to be applied to all negotiations.

3 The Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) has considered a report on this item and approved the "Developers' Contributions Guidance" Document July 2008. It will form the basis of discussions with district and borough councils, as well as negotiations with developers. In addition, the Executive Lead Member has authorised the Director of Children's Services to revise this document each year in the light of increases in building costs, following advice from the Acting Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services. A copy of the report on this matter, together with the Guidance Document, is available in the Members' Rooms.

4 The decision provides a framework to secure that school places are provided where demand arises and that the community benefits from the uplift in land values that accrue when residential development is permitted. This supports the Council's Corporate Priorities.

HAMPSHIRE STRATEGY FOR YOUNG CARERS 2008 - 2012

1 The existing Young Carers Strategy expires this year. In light of this, the Young Carers' Advisory Group has reviewed that document with a view to taking services forward over the next four years, in line with current developments and the outcomes from the Joint Area Review (JAR). One of the JAR requirements is for an Action Plan to be prepared to accompany the strategy document.

2 The new draft Young Carers Strategy and Action Plan sets out how collective support for Young Carers will be achieved. It includes:-

· Promotion of a positive culture by encouraging openness so that young carers and their families feel confident to identify themselves.


· Schools to record whether a pupil is a young carer and whether they achieve their potential and if not to take whatever action is necessary.


· GP practices are now required by the General Medical Council to identify a carer.


· Children's Services and Adult Services have developed a Joint Protocol identifying responsibility and accountability to young carers and their families.


· To support existing and future young carer specialist and universal services to provide a quality service to young carers and their families.


· To maintain ongoing multi-agency training.


· To offer a choice of support and information at different levels to young carers and their families.

3 The Executive Member for Children and Families has approved the draft Strategy and Action Plan for consultation. It is to last for twelve weeks and will provide the opportunity to receive the views of appropriate agencies and young people and their families to the strategy and proposals. The relevant comments will be incorporated into the strategy and the document reported back to the Executive Member for final approval. A copy of the Director of Children's Services report and draft Strategy for Young Carers is available in the Members' Rooms.

4 The decision supports young carers' health needs, education, and their social skills and activities. This supports the Council's Corporate Priorities.

INSPECTION OF HAMPSHIRE'S PRIVATE FOSTERING SERVICE

1 Hampshire's Children's Services Department's arrangements with regard to Private Fostering were inspected by Ofsted on 14 March 2008. The purpose of the Inspection was to identify for all interested parties, including children and young people, parents, local authorities and government, the quality and standard of service provided. Judgments in the report are rated as either "Outstanding", "Good", "Satisfactory" or "Inadequate". This is in line with all local authority service inspections.

2 As this was the first Ofsted inspection of Private Fostering in Hampshire , a judgment at the highest rating, i.e. "Outstanding" could not be applied to any of the areas of work inspected. The highest grade that could be given therefore is "Good". The private fostering inspection was conducted under two headings "Protecting Children from Harm or Neglect and Helping Them Stay Safe" and "Organisation". The Inspectors' judgments were made in relation to how Children's Services performs against legislation and National Minimum Standards and guidance.

3 The overall rating for Hampshire's Private Fostering Service is "Good". Ratings granted in relation to the two areas inspected, as referred to above were also "Good". The Inspectors identified that systems are already in place to meet the required Standards and to keep young people safe. These systems include clear procedures, thorough assessment of suitability of arrangements, annual reviews and regular monitoring of files and practice. They also reported that a wide range of methods have been used to raise awareness of private fostering with the general public and with professionals. Support to carers, parents and young people was also described as being "Good".

4 Whilst there were no requirements imposed as a result of this Inspection, some good practice recommendations were identified as follows:

· Ensure information is available to all staff clarifying the definition of private fostering and the notification requirements;


· Ensure that parents and carers of the child/young person are informed in writing of the decision made regarding the suitability of the arrangements;


· provide privately fostered young people with information about the advice and assistance available locally to young people regarding healthy lifestyles.

5 The Executive Member for Children and Families has welcomed the results of the Ofsted inspection of Private Fostering in Hampshire and has approved an action plan which responds to the stated good practice recommendations identified by the Inspectors. A copy of the report on this item and the action plan is available in the Members' Rooms.

6 The decision enables children living away from their parents in private fostering arrangements to be cared for safely and to lead positive lives. This supports the Council's Corporate Priorities.

HAMPSHIRE'S CHILDCARE SUFFICIENCY STRATEGY 2008-2011

1 The Executive Member for Children and Families has considered a report by the Director of Children's Services highlighting the key messages from the Hampshire Childcare Sufficiency Assessment which was undertaken in March 2008 to meet new duties under the Childcare Act 2006. The report identifies priorities for action to address various issues which include the need to continue to develop out-of-school childcare, to help childcare providers to adapt to offer the new early years education entitlement, to ensure the sustainability of childcare delivered through children's centres, to improve communication about the childcare that is available to meet the needs of children with special educational needs or disabilities, to meet the childcare needs of rural communities and to consider and implement mechanisms which improve the affordability of childcare.

2 As a result of the Childcare Sufficiency Assessment, resources will be focused so that the supply and type of childcare places in local areas can be more closely aligned to need. To achieve this, the Executive Member has agreed the following priorities being actioned during 2008 to 2011:

· Developing out-of-school childcare and in particular summer holiday provision.


· Developing sessional and full day care to meet extended flexible entitlement.


· Continuing to ensure that childcare is delivered through full core offer children's centres.


· Strengthening special educational need (SEN) provision in areas of need, developing provision for children requiring short breaks and promoting access to childcare support that is available to children with SEN and disabilities.


· Considering and implementing strategies to meet the childcare needs of rural communities and of families with atypical working hours.


· Reviewing childcare costs and charges and developing models of financial best practice to provide quality of provision and affordability to parents/carers.


· Developing systems and processes to provide a quarterly analysis of the childcare market which includes an understanding of parents needs and gaining information regarding economic development within Hampshire.


· Reviewing and releasing new childcare start-up and sustainability grant programme to reflect new priorities.


· Publicising the need for childcare development in areas of insufficient supply, securing local delivery and offering support to new providers.


· Reviewing the practicalities of producing a combined Hampshire Childcare Sufficiency Assessment (CSA) and School Places Plan and begin a new CSA in 2011.

3 A copy of the report by the Director of Children's Services on this item, together with the Hampshire Childcare Sufficiency Assessment Executive Summary March 2008 is available in the Members' Rooms.

4 The decision will be a contributory factor towards increasing families' opportunities to gain employment and is expected to lead to a reduction in child poverty. This supports the Council's Corporate Priorities.

DAVID KIRK PATRICIA BANKS

Executive Lead Member Executive Member for

for Children's Services (Education) Children and Families

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