Agenda and minutes

To note any changes in membership of the Panel made in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4.3.

The Panel noted that Councillor P Baillie was in attendance as a nominated substitute for Councillor Guthrie in accordance with Procedure Rule 4.3.

The apologies Appointed Member Catherine Hobbs were noted.

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the meetings held on 24 January 2019 and to deal with any matters arising.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 24 January 2019 be approved and signed as a correct record.

Report of the Service Director, Growth outlining the position in Southampton with regards to Post 16 education and training.

The Committee considered the report of the Service Director, Growth outlining the position in Southampton with regards to Post 16 education and training.

Alex Scott and Rebecca Stratton - Itchen College; Dr Liz Lee and Paul Swindale - Richard Taunton; Sarah Stannard - City College; Paul Overton - Bitterne park 6^th Form; James Rouse and Andrea Matteucci - St Annes; Councillor Paffey – Southampton City Council Cabinet Member for Aspiration, Schools and Lifelong Learning;  and Southampton City Council Officers, Derek Wiles – School Improvement; Denise Edghill – Associate Director, Economic Development and Skills; and Sajid Butt – Strategic Skills Manager; were present and with the consent of the Chair addressed the Panel.

The Panel discussed the following:

·  Where students living in Southampton were attending further education establishments and what was the breakdown of students traveling to these educational establishments from outside the City’s boundaries;

·  The current research into students who did not complete their further education studies.  The Panel expressed an interest in the findings of this research and noted that some students who had not completed their studies outside the City had returned to one of the City’s establishments to complete them;

·  The impact of the increasing trend in students receiving unconditional offers from universities;

·  The measures used by the Department for Education (DFE) to ascertain the effectiveness of the City’s establishments.  The Panel were informed by the local colleges that the measures used did not reflect a holistic view of performance.  It was expressed that this should be reflected in any future conversations with the further education commissioner;

·  The need for colleges to better promote their successes and more clearly indicate how young people’s outcomes have been both matched and transformed through their attendance post 16 education with in the City: and

·  How a greater emphasis on the travel plans could be an asset to both the colleges, promoting themselves as a greener alternative that was cheaper and healthier for students as they would have the ability to travel to colleges by foot; bicycle or public transport, and the City as a whole, in the reduction of additional traffic. 

RESOLVED that the Panel requested:

(i)  that the number of students coming in to Southampton from outside the city for further education studies is circulated to the Panel;

(ii)  that the findings from the research into students not completing further education studies in Southampton is circulated to the Panel;

(iii)  That colleges and schools provide to the Panel information relating to:

(a)  The proportion of students that receive unconditional offers from universities; and

(b)  The difference in grades between the expected and achieved performance of students that receive unconditional offers.

(iv)  That, reflecting comments relating to the DFE data not providing a holistic view of performance by Southampton further education providers, consideration would be given to the measures of performance that should be included in future conversations relating to the performance of the sector in Southampton.

(v)  That, to help promote further education providers in Southampton and inspire  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

Report of the Director, Legal and Governance providing an overview of performance across Children and Families Services since January 2019.

The Committee considered the report of the Director, Legal and Governance providing an overview of performance across Children and Families Services since January 2019.

Jane White - Service Lead, Children’s Social Care was present and, with the consent of the Chair, address the Panel.

The Panel discussed:

·  How the drive to clearing a backlog was responsible for the increase in the percentage of Children in Need referrals shown in target M3;

·  The Staff pressures and recruitment strategies.  It was explained that interviews were being held presently but that there was a shortage of qualified social workers.  It was explained that the Council had achieved some success in recruiting staff but, so far these new starters had been newly qualified staff and that these were not able to immediately undertake child protection cases until they had achieved the professional qualification; 

·  Looked after Children data and their Pathways Plan; and

·  Introduction of an early help front door to work alongside the MASH.  The panel were informed that the preparations for the service, including a communications strategy would be ready for delivery as soon as the required approval had been received.

RESOLVED that Panel requested that data on Looked After Children with an up to date Pathways Plan be provided to the Panel at the June 2019 meeting.

Report of the Director, Legal and Governance enabling the Panel to monitor and track progress on recommendations made at previous meetings.

The Committee received and noted the report of the Director, Legal and Governance enabling the Panel to monitor and track progress on recommendations made at previous meetings.