Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Animashaun and Lenny Williams (C of E Diocese Representative, Rochester Diocesan Board of Education).

To approve the record of the meeting held on 3 December 2024.

The record of the meeting held on 3 December 2024 was agreed and signed by the Chairperson as correct.

The Chairperson will announce any late items which do not appear on the main agenda but which he/she has agreed should be considered by reason of special circumstances to be specified in the report. 

There were none.

Members are invited to disclose any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Significant Interests in accordance with the Member Code of Conduct. Guidance on this is set out in agenda item 4.

Disclosable pecuniary interests

Leanna Rogers disclosed an interest on item 5 (Annual School Performance Report) due to her employment at Thames View Primary School and being a Governor at Fort Pitt Grammar School, she would leave the meeting if any specific reference was made to the schools and the trusts they were under.

Other significant interests (OSIs)

Sharon Docherty disclosed an interest on item 5 (Annual School Performance Report) due to being a governor at St Mary’s School and would leave the meeting if any specific reference was made to the school.

Councillor Field disclosed an interest on item 5 (Annual School Performance Report) as he is a Governor at Abbey Court School and would leave the meeting if any specific reference was made to the school.

Councillor Hamilton disclosed an interest on item 5 (Annual School Performance Report) as she was a member of the Rochester Grammar School Charity and Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School Scheme and would leave the meeting if any specific reference were made to the schools.

Councillor Joy disclosed an interest on item 5 (Annual School Performance Report) as he was a Governor at Capstone School and Parkwood School and would leave the meeting if any specific reference were made to the schools.

Councillor Perfect disclosed an interest on item 5 (Annual School Performance Report) as he was member of the Beyond Academy Trust and the Inspire Academy Trust and would leave the meeting if any specific reference were made to the trusts.

Councillor Mrs Turpin disclosed an interest on item 5 (Annual School performance Report) as she was a Governor at Balfour Junior Academy and a member of the Fortis Trust and would leave the meeting if any reference were made to the school and trust.

Other interests

There were none.

At the 2 March 2023 meeting it was proposed and agreed that as a result of work undertaken in partnership with the Local Government Association the Committee adopt a hybrid model moving forward.

This would be based on the assumption that meetings will last no more than three hours, with two hours focused on the theme and the remaining time on general matters that need to be reviewed by the Committee as existing ongoing business. 

Following consultation with the Director of People and Deputy Chief Executive it was agreed that this meeting would be Education Themed with the Annual Report on School Performance for the Academic Year 2023 to 2024.

Discussion:

The Committee received the report which summarised Medway’s schools’ performance for the academic year 2023-24.

Members then raised several questions and comments:

Early years - it was asked what the contributing factors to decline in performance outcomes for pupils in Early Years and those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The Committee was informed that whilst there had been a decline in Early Years, this was a slight reduction and did not presently cause significant concern as it could be due to changes in analysis of individual settings. In SEND, whilst the detailed analysis was not currently present, it was felt that this was due to challenges of placements and accessibility to provision.

A comment was made that the decline in Early Years outcome may be due to the fact that this cohort were the babies of the Covid Pandemic, there was a break in their socialisation and delays to development of fine motor skills and achievement of key milestones had been affected.

Concern was raised regarding Early Years cohort and it was commented that it was vital to keep a pertinent eye to ensure that this decline does not continue throughout the other key stages.

Provision for children with SEND - it was commented that concern had previously been raised regarding changes to provision for SEND pupils due to pressures of the safety valve, and assurance has been provided at the time that there would be no decrease in attainment outcomes. It was asked to what degree the new measures had affected attainment outcomes. Members were advised that the pressures in SEND do have an impact on outcomes but in terms of the safety valve measures which was a financial management programme, increasing support was being provided to pupils with SEND. Improvements had been made to services and a direct correlation could not be made between the safety valve measures and the decline in performance outcomes. Additionally, £1.1 million had been invested in outreach work, 70 out of 80 schools has signed up and were involved in trauma informed training and attendance had increased. The resources in mainstream schools and specialist schools in terms of net funding had increased and individual support funding was still available to pupils with SEND as well as the whole school funding.

Data - members asked how the data collated was utilised and how were schools’ explanations validated as some of the trends were concerning. The Committee was informed that the information was disseminated to headteachers of schools and discussions around the data presented took place at headteacher forums. There were robust systems in place on accountability as headteachers held each other to account, Ofsted, Schools Trust as well as the Council also took responsibility of holding schools to account. The Portfolio Holder for Education and Schools also received and reviewed the data and as a result an education symposium had been arranged to take place on 3 March 2025 to discuss in greater detail the changes that needed to be made  ...  view the full minutes text for item 569.

The Medway Annual Schools’ Performance Report 2023-24 is attached in Appendix 1.  This report summarises the Medway’s schools performance for the academic year 2023-24.

The discussion and decision of this item can be found at minute number 569.

A presentation is being provided to the Committee which relates to the newly established Oasis Restore Secure School.

Discussion:

The Founder of Oasis Charity Trust and the Chief Operating Officer of Oasis Restore gave a presentation which provided an update on progress since the school opened.

The Committee was informed that:

• This was the first establishment of its kind in the country. An opportunity for change and difference within the youth custodial estate.
• The law was changed to allow for a nonprofit charity to run this provision for young offenders.
• The secure school did not just operate on trauma informed practice as its practices were also based on a healing concept.
• The school was a dual registered children’s home and academy trust, regulated and inspected by Ofsted.
• The placing authority was the youth custody service, and the courts decided who would be placed at the secure school. Discussions were held prior to placement to determine if the school would be able to adequately care for the young person.
• The school would care for young people aged between 12-18, with capacity of up to 46 at any one time, both boys and girls.
• There were approximately 144 staff which included 16 qualified teachers and an in-house mental health service.
• In the last year, 82.9% of offenders were reconvicted within 12 months of finishing a custodial sentence.

Members then raised several questions and comments:

It was commented that this was a revolutionary change to the youth offending/justice system. It was questioned what security was in place given that keys where not used in the school. How effectiveness would be measured and the associated cost of £250k per young person.

The Committee was informed that a decision had been made to use fobs in all areas instead of keys due to sensory problems the jangling of keys could evoke, however, the extent of security at the school should not be underestimated. There were approximately 900 security cameras in and around the premises. The cost of £250k was not per young person and it would cost the same to run the establishment if there was one young person or whether at full capacity of 46. The school was highly regulated and was being measured by everyone, including the Ministry of Justice, Ofsted, its own Governing Body, and was under scrutiny by all services across the country.

Socialisation - in response to a question on how socialisation and friendships would be safely managed, how the one girl that was currently placed there navigated her stay and if males and females would be separated in the school. The Committee was informed that presently there was an average of 500 young people in youth custody across the country, and a very small percentage of that figure were female. As well as addressing issues with male offending it was important to gain better understanding and insight on female offenders. The young female in the secure school had integrated well, she was in a flat on her own, with the choice to socialise and integrate with everyone during the day. The plan for the school was for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 570.

This report provides the Members of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee with an update on the CAMHS procurement currently underway through Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB). The report also includes an appendix which provides insight into the current mental health and emotional wellbeing services across Medway.

Discussion:

The Committee received an update report on progress of the Children’s Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Services Procurement. The Committee was informed that the first contract that the Integrated Care Board (ICB) intended to tender for was the therapeutic alliance. Medway Public Health Team had successfully advocated for a separate therapeutic alliance for Medway as this aligned with Education and Children’s Social Care and it was important for there to be a nuance as part of the Medway Model.

Included in the report was an update on the growth of existing services and the proposed therapeutic alliance would pull all services together in a way that would make it easier for professionals and families to navigate the system.

Members then raised several questions and comments:

Services - in response to a question on how easy it would be for families to refer to these services and how were they informed that the services exist, the Committee was advised that work had been undertaken to promote the services available through a directory of services, websites including through the Medway Parent and Carer Forum. Presently when a referral was made to Child Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), following assessment, if it were determined that their need could not be met by CAMHS, they would be signposted to the appropriate service. What was being proposed under the new model was a single referral and assessment point for professionals and families to refer to where the work would be undertaken to meet needs, and a referral would only be progressed onto CAMHS if necessary.

The Medway Focus was welcomed and praised officers for advocating for this for the children of Medway.

Private care homes - it was commented that there was an increase in two person private children care homes and it was asked what was being done, with the emergence of increase in private child care provision to ensure that providers engaged with Medway support services and the ability of Medway services to confidently establish strong partnership working. The Committee was informed that the impact of placements on children was an area of priority, high focus and officers continued to work with partners in the Planning Department to outline any concerns. It was, however, difficult, due to planning regulation to give feedback on providers but conversations were held to discuss and outline the quality of provision was that expected for the children of Medway. It was important to note that this was a complex sector, but the Council expressed to all providers the expectation to work in partnership if they wanted to come and establish their services in Medway. It was made very clear the level of expectation for children’s placements and the high standards required of children’s provision.

It was added that one of the benefits of partnership working was that there were officers within the Council that worked closely with the ICB, had the understanding of the acute needs of children and were able to procure bespoke services to address  ...  view the full minutes text for item 571.

This report highlights our extensive work towards the priorities set out in the short breaks sufficiency strategy which were developed to ensure compliance, efficiency and financial oversight of short breaks in Medway.

Discussion:

The Committee received an update report on the work undertaken towards the priorities of the Short Breaks Sufficiency Strategy.

The team had worked closely with the Medway Parent and Carer Forum in co-production and consultation on driving forward aspects of the priorities.

Members were provided with additional information which included:

In quarter three, October to December 2024, the Rocks short breaks service at Rivermead School supported 176 young people, 30 families at 700 sessions. This was a significant increase on the previous period. Reports and feedback from families had been positive.

The five residential apprenticeships were now in place to work at parklands, Eden House, or the Rock. All the young people were from a variety of backgrounds and keen to develop their careers.

Members then raised several questions and comments:

Clarification was sought on figures in the report that stated that £200,000 savings to be invested back into short breaks, and table two stated that larger figures of capital was needed for the service in future years.

The Committee was informed that that services had been streamlined to address issues and bring in efficiencies which had resulted in savings. There had since been a central agreement that there would be a need for investment in the short term which would result in a cost effective service in the longer term.

Access to short breaks - it was commented that access to short breaks could be bureaucratic, and it was important to ensure that it complied with and fulfilled its obligations which was to keep families together. Additionally, there were issues with recruitment of Personal Assistants due to the amount they were allowed to charge. It would be more beneficial if family members could be PA’s as they could better meet the needs of the child and should be compensated through payment for their time. Members were informed that previously there had been no definitive criteria for applications for short breaks, officers had been making their own decisions and this had highlighted a need for standardization and as a result there was now an escalation route built into the process for cases that did not meet the criteria. The criteria developed was robust as possible to ensure fairness across the service with the ability for exceptions to be made in some circumstances.

In response to a further question on what measures were in place to ensure that the system would not be abused, the Committee was informed that there were processes in place including an annual audit and review.

Backlog - it was asked if the resources that were being put in place would clear the backlog and what the time frame would be from receipt of application to award of respite. Officers were confident that the additional 1.4FTE would be sufficient to assist the wider team in the clearance of the backlog. It was difficult at this stage to determine how long the process would take as it would depend on individual cases and whether there was missing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 572.

Discussion:

The work programme was presented for information.

Decision:

The Committee noted the report, agreed the work programme as set out at Appendix 1 to the report, and accepted the proposed changes, outlined in italic text on Appendix 1.