Southampton City Council
Councillors:
51
Wards:
17
Committees:
23
Meetings (2025):
154
Meetings (2024):
93
Meeting
Children and Families Scrutiny Panel - Southampton
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Thursday, 28th November 2024
5:30 PM
Thursday, 28th November 2024
5:30 PM
End:
Thursday, 28th November 2024
9:30 PM
Thursday, 28th November 2024
9:30 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
28 Nov 2024
28 Nov 2024
Location:
Conference Room 3 - Civic Centre
Conference Room 3 - Civic Centre
Meeting Attendees
Officer
Executive Director - Wellbeing (Children and Learning)
Robert Henderson
Expected
Officer
Steph Murray
Expected
Secretary
Democratic Support Officer
Ed Grimshaw
Expected
Committee Member
Appointed - OSMC
Rob Sanders
Church of England
Apologies
Committee Member
Catherine Hobbs
Roman Catholic Church
Expected
Officer
Team Manager, People
Stuart Webb
Expected
Agenda
6
Minutes of the Previous Meeting (including matters arising)
To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the meetings held on 26 September 2024and to deal with any matters arising, attached.
Attachments:
- Document Minutes of Previous Meeting 20 Nov 2024
Minutes
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 26 September 2024 be approved and signed as a correct record.
7
Exclusion of the Press and Public - Exempt Papers included in the following Item
To move that in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, specifically the Access to Information Procedure Rules contained within the Constitution, the press and public be excluded from the meeting in respect of any consideration of the exempt appendix to the following Item
The report’s appendix 2 is considered to be exempt from general publication based on Category 7a of paragraph 10.4 of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules.
The report’s appendix 2 is considered to be exempt from general publication based on Category 7a of paragraph 10.4 of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules.
Minutes
RESOLVED that in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, specifically the Access to Information Procedure Rules contained within the Constitution, the press and public be excluded from the meeting in respect of any consideration of Appendix 2 be considered as exempt from general publication based on Category 7a of paragraph 10.4 of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules.
8
Education Outcomes and Context
Report of the Executive Director - Children and Learning, providing an overview of education outcomes at Key Stages 2 and 4 in Southampton in 2023/24 and associated education issues.
Attachments:
- Document Education Outcomes and Context 20 Nov 2024
- Document Appendix 1 - Key Stage 2 Outcomes.pptx 20 Nov 2024
- Document Appendix 2 - Key Stage 4 Provisional Outcomes Confidential.pptx 20 Nov 2024
- Document Appendix 3 - Attendance Summary.pptx 20 Nov 2024
- Document Appendix 4 - Attendance Support Case Studies.docx 20 Nov 2024
- Document Appendix 5 - Southampton is ALL IN Summary.docx 20 Nov 2024
- Document Appendix 6 - Exclusions and Suspensions Summary.docx 20 Nov 2024
Minutes
The Panel considered the report of the Executive Director - Children and Learning, providing an overview of education outcomes at Key Stages 2 and 4 in Southampton in 2023/24 and associated education issues.
Cllr Winning – Cabinet Member for Children and Learning; Rob Henderson – Executive Director, Children’s Services & Learning; Clodagh Freeston – Head of Education Services; Kerica Hunt – Service Manager, Education Welfare Service; Bryn Roberts – Service Manager, Inclusion; Edd Shackleton – Principal Data Analyst; Zoe Snow – Admissions and School Place Planning Manager and Alison Philpott – Cross Phase Advisor were in attendance and, with the consent of the Chair, addressed the meeting. In addition, the Panel watched a video presentation from Harry Kutty – Head Teacher of Cantell School detailing his schools journey to improved performance.
The Panel received briefings that set out the current position of educational attainment in the City and the Authority’s ambitions and accompanying plans to address education outcomes in Southampton.
The priorities for the education outcomes transformation programme were outlined. The priorities included increasing attainment levels; improving school attendance; and reducing exclusions.
To deliver the objectives the focus was on working with schools to become more collaborative and collective, harnessing a one city approach through an Education Partnership vehicle.
The Panel noted that improving education outcomes in Southampton would take time and it would require persistence, patience and commitment. Concern was raised that pressures on budgets would deflect from the long term goal of improving the quality of education for all children.
Panel Members were informed that the capital programme for schools was a cause of friction between the Council and Schools. Issues relating to a lack of understanding about how capital works get prioritised; a lack of clarity about responsibilities and poor communication about the school capital programme were raised as areas where improvements were required.
Cllr Winning – Cabinet Member for Children and Learning; Rob Henderson – Executive Director, Children’s Services & Learning; Clodagh Freeston – Head of Education Services; Kerica Hunt – Service Manager, Education Welfare Service; Bryn Roberts – Service Manager, Inclusion; Edd Shackleton – Principal Data Analyst; Zoe Snow – Admissions and School Place Planning Manager and Alison Philpott – Cross Phase Advisor were in attendance and, with the consent of the Chair, addressed the meeting. In addition, the Panel watched a video presentation from Harry Kutty – Head Teacher of Cantell School detailing his schools journey to improved performance.
The Panel received briefings that set out the current position of educational attainment in the City and the Authority’s ambitions and accompanying plans to address education outcomes in Southampton.
The priorities for the education outcomes transformation programme were outlined. The priorities included increasing attainment levels; improving school attendance; and reducing exclusions.
To deliver the objectives the focus was on working with schools to become more collaborative and collective, harnessing a one city approach through an Education Partnership vehicle.
The Panel noted that improving education outcomes in Southampton would take time and it would require persistence, patience and commitment. Concern was raised that pressures on budgets would deflect from the long term goal of improving the quality of education for all children.
Panel Members were informed that the capital programme for schools was a cause of friction between the Council and Schools. Issues relating to a lack of understanding about how capital works get prioritised; a lack of clarity about responsibilities and poor communication about the school capital programme were raised as areas where improvements were required.
9
Children and Learning - Performance and Transformation
Report of the Scrutiny Manager recommending that the Panel consider and challenge the performance of Children’s Services and Learning in Southampton.
Attachments:
- Document Children and Learning - Performance and Transformation 20 Nov 2024
- Document Appendix 1 - November 2024 Children's Social Care Performance Report.pdf 20 Nov 2024
- Document Appendix 2 - Children and Families Glossary updated 2023.docx 20 Nov 2024
Minutes
The Panel considered the report of the Scrutiny Manager recommending that the Panel consider and challenge the performance of Children’s Services and Learning in Southampton.
Councillor Winning – Cabinet Member for Children & Learning, Rob Henderson - Executive Director, Children & Learning, Steph Murray – Deputy Director, Children and Learning and Laura Trevett – Strategic Performance Manager were in attendance and, with the consent of the Chair, addressed the meeting.
The Panel discussed the performance of safeguarding services in October and questioned why there had been an increase in activity and demand in the period. The Panel also raised the timescales for the opening of the new children’s homes in the city; 16-17 year olds in our care receiving support to access education, employment and training; and, the recruitment of foster cares. It was explained that the city performed well compared to regional and statistical comparators but that there was a national shortage of foster carers. The Panel also reviewed the number of children with parental consent to adoptive placement under Section 20 of the Children Act 2002.
RESOLVED that the Panel are provided with a briefing about children who are in care under section 20 of the Children Act 2002.
Councillor Winning – Cabinet Member for Children & Learning, Rob Henderson - Executive Director, Children & Learning, Steph Murray – Deputy Director, Children and Learning and Laura Trevett – Strategic Performance Manager were in attendance and, with the consent of the Chair, addressed the meeting.
The Panel discussed the performance of safeguarding services in October and questioned why there had been an increase in activity and demand in the period. The Panel also raised the timescales for the opening of the new children’s homes in the city; 16-17 year olds in our care receiving support to access education, employment and training; and, the recruitment of foster cares. It was explained that the city performed well compared to regional and statistical comparators but that there was a national shortage of foster carers. The Panel also reviewed the number of children with parental consent to adoptive placement under Section 20 of the Children Act 2002.
RESOLVED that the Panel are provided with a briefing about children who are in care under section 20 of the Children Act 2002.
10
Monitoring Scrutiny Recommendations
Report of the Scrutiny Manager recommending that the Panel considers the responses to recommendations from previous meetings and provides feedback.
Attachments:
- Document Monitoring Scrutiny Recommendations 20 Nov 2024
- Document Appendix 1 - Monitoring Appendix.docx 20 Nov 2024
- Document Appendix 2 - Re-referrals and Assessments Audit.pdf 20 Nov 2024
Minutes
The Panel considered and noted the report of the Scrutiny Manager recommending that the Panel considers the responses to recommendations from previous meetings and provides feedback.
Previous Meetings
Future Meetings
Join the Discussion
You need to be signed in to comment.
Sign in