Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

The minutes of the meeting held on 4 August 2022 were approved as correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Chair invited those members who wished to do so to declare any interests in respect of items on the agenda.

No interests were declared.

At the request of the Panel, attached is a report considered by the Scrutiny Commission on 2 August 2022 to enable it provide its comments on the work undertaken in producing education health care plans.

At the Chairman’s invitation the Early Help Safeguarding & Children’s Services representative provided the following update:

     i)        Since March they had been sending out Education Healthcare Plans (EHCP’s).  and they were putting together an action plan to address issues;

    ii)        A key message had been to improve communications and they were exploring the best way to do so with partners, parents and carers;

   iii)        They were making progress on EHCP performance bringing down considerably the number completed out of time thus reducing the number of children not in education.  The number of tribunals was also reducing;

   iv)        3 key priorities included delivering SEND services, supporting schools in developing local provision and providing specialist provision;

    v)        Developing local provision required a re-configure of specialist teams to work in all localities.  Documents would be worked on to make the graduated approach clear;

   vi)        Work had taken place with Health partners on reorganising management teams and significant work had taken place with mainstream schools to ensure a model that worked effectively;

  vii)        Work had taken place with the SENCo group to establish graduated approach guidance.

viii)        There was continuous challenge and there were still a number of children awaiting a specialist placement.  To address this some work had been undertaken with 36 children. 

   ix)        The intention was to develop 173 unit placements over 8 school sites and they were in discussion with some Headteachers on this.

In answer to queries on the update the following was confirmed:

     i)        There had been a backlog of over 100 out of time assessments the majority of which had been cleared.  Weekly meetings were held with the team to ensure all difficulties were addressed;

    ii)        Schools could not obtain funding without an assessment.  As of September, schools were able to submit an application for early help funding.  This had been welcomed by schools.  It was also more targeted to be able to really achieve the best for the children.

   iii)        Educational Psychologists were involved with Education Healthcare Plans (EHCPs).  There would always be greater demand on them than could be met but they did support the EHCP process. 

   iv)        There were approximately 170 pupils in an independent school.  There would always be a need for independent schools to meet the very specific needs of the children placed in them;

    v)        Details of the number of independent schools in the county would be given to members following the meeting;

   vi)        The new White Paper on Schools allowed the Council to create its own academy trust.  Independent Schools however were not local but regional and provided services to several local authorities. 

RESOLVED that:  The Executive Advisory Panel: 

a)    Noted the Update in relation to Performance & Processing for the Issuing of an Education Health Care Plan Including the Early Help Offer:

b)    Details relating to the number of independent schools in the county would be given following the meeting; and

c)    Information relating to how they recruited would also be given following the meeting.</AI4>

At the Chairman’s invitation the Assistant Director, Northamptonshire Children’s Trust introduced this item (copies of which had been previously circulated) stating the following:

     i)        For the first time the number of entrants into the system was improving and they were focussing on prevention; 

    ii)        The re-offending figures appeared high but it related to a small number of youths who were committing the crimes;

   iii)        The figures relating to serious violence was a growing issue nationally.  It was significant in this county and one of the reasons why so many people were getting court outcomes;

   iv)        A bespoke action plan had been established around the number of youths committing and re-committing crimes.  As a group they were working with the police and including a lot of training and they were considered ahead of the curve.

In answer to queries on the presentation the following was confirmed:

     i)        Re-offending numbers were low at 38 children but the top 5 of these were re-offending the most.  They could have as many as 24 offences and re-offended regularly. 

    ii)        The intervention plan was planned around a child’s needs no matter where they were.

   iii)        The Police had been really supportive.  They were working with the team looking at the prevention side of things and identified who came to their attention.

RESOLVED that: 

The Youth Justice Plan 2022/23 be supported.

The Family Hubs Co-ordinator introduced this item (copies of which had been previously circulated) stating the following: 

     i)        Since the Family Hubs model had been agreed in early August they would have to demonstrate what areas they were working in.  This would be required by October 2022;

    ii)        The trailblazer had been completed.  This was one of only 15 in the country and they had managed to get partners involved and signed up to it;

   iii)        The family hubs would be within the Start for Life Programme.  This was where agencies and services would work together to provide a seamless support offer accessed through the family hubs;

   iv)        Services would be brought together to meet the needs of an area and there was a need to ensure people did not have to repeat themselves as they visited each agency/service;

    v)        The North Northants Approach was about meeting families’ needs.  Not all the hubs would look and feel the same as each area would have different requirements;

   vi)        A 3-year delivery plan would be needed by the end of December 2022.  Some areas of challenge had already been identified.  There would also be some local engagement, looking at primary drivers and how the community sector, assets and services could all be used to provide an outreach service. 

  vii)        They were aiming for 4 localities.  The majority of services were already working in these ways, The ambition was to have co-location of these services; health visitors, SEN Teams, adult services, universal services all in one place. 

In answer to queries the following was confirmed:       

     i)        There had not been a decision on where family hubs would be located as yet;

    ii)        Access within the community would be for families of children aged 0-19 years and up to 25 years for those with SEND;

   iii)        Some families would access the services remotely;

   iv)        A family might be accessing a service for a 6 year old, another for a 12 year old and another for a 14 year old.  This was about making it easier for them access all 3 services;

    v)        There would also be a focus on hard-to-reach families.

RESOLVED that: 

The Executive Advisory Panel noted the update on Family Hubs.

It was noted that all three items considered at this meeting of the EAP would be considered by the Executive in September 2022.

At the Chairman’s invitation the Democratic and Electoral Services Manager introduced this report (copies of which had been previously circulated) stating that the majority of meetings included substantive items.  The item that stated School Appeals should say School Admissions Appeals and all councillors could be invited to that meeting.  There were no items for the meeting on 25 October but there were some unscheduled items so he would look at scheduling some of them. 

In answer to a query on the merger of Alfred Street and Tennyson Road schools the it was noted that it was currently on its second consultation and a further report would be considered shortly,

RESOLVED that:-

a)    The forward list of items for the Education, Skills and Employment EAP be noted; and

b)    A further update on the proposed merger of Alfred Street and Tennyson Road Schools be provided.</AI9>

There being no further business to be transacted, the Chair thanked members and officers for their attendance and closed the meeting,