Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee of the meeting held on 8 December 2009 Present: Councillor Cox In the Chair Councillors Ali, Cooper, Eakins (present for items CYP/09/58-60), Fisher, Harrison, Judge, Keller, M Murphy, Parkinson, Sandiford and Tavernor. Co-opted Voting Members: Mr D Arnold King David Schools Canon R Chow Diocese of Manchester Rev Fr T. Hopkins Diocese of Salford Mrs J Reid Elected Parent Governor Mrs R Kennedy Elected Parent Governor Mrs T Sheikh Elected Parent Governor Co-opted Non-Voting Members: Mr S Marciniak Elected Teacher Representative (Secondary) Councillor S Murphy Executive Member for Employment and Skills Councillor S Newman - Executive Member for Children s Services Mrs M Gadian Jock Rogers Learning and Skills Council Apologies: Councillors Ankers and Carmody CYP/09/55 Membership of the Committee The Chair highlighted that elections of Teacher Representatives to the Committee had recently taken place. Mr Marciniak had been re-elected as a Secondary Teacher Representative. Mrs Linda Lundy, Primary Teacher at Pike Fold Primary School, Blackley, had been elected as a Primary Teacher Representative. Mrs Marian Gadian s term as a Primary Teacher Representative had now expired and the Chair thanked her for her passionate commitment to all young people, and in particular young people with a speech and language impairment, throughout her time on the Committee. CYP/09/56 of the committee s meeting held on 10 November 2009 were submitted. 1
To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Committee on 10 November 2009 as a correct record subject to the removal of Councillor Tavernor s name from the list of those members present. CYP/09/57 Information and Overview report A report of the City Solicitor was submitted tracking the implementation of the Committee s previous decisions and setting out their work programme. Included with this information were relevant extracts from the Executive Forward Plan to enable members to incorporate scrutiny of key decisions into its work programme. A member requested a report overviewing the function and composition of the Children s Services department. He also asked whether a future report could be scheduled which summarised the choices taken by young people on completion of their GCSE s. The Chair advised that the Business Plan report scheduled for the Committee s next meeting would provide an overview of the Children s Services Department. With regard to post-16 choices, the Director of Children s Services advised that a future report on this could be brought to the Committee showing what young people go on to do after their GCSE s and how they are supported in making decisions about their future. A report for information which discussed Government guidance on information sharing across statutory agencies was also submitted by the Director of Children s Services at the request of the Committee. 1. To note the report and agree the Committee s work programme. 2. To request that the Chair of the Committee in consultation with the Director of Children s Services and the Scrutiny Support Officer discuss the suggestions for the Committee s work programme. 3. To note the report on information sharing and undertake further exploration of this area in the committee s next safeguarding update. CYP/09/58 Implementing the 14-19 Education and Skills Reform Programme in Manchester The Committee considered a report of the Director of Children s Services which set out the progress being made in Manchester on the implementation of the government s 14 19 education and skills reform programme across the Greater Manchester region. The main elements of the reform programme were: raising the minimum age at which young people leave education or training to18 by 2015 2
introducing a new range of qualifications, Diplomas, in 17 subject areas at three levels by 2013 reforming A levels with a reduction in assessment while ensuring that every candidate is stretched and challenged introducing a new extended project qualification for Advanced Diploma and A level students creating new functional skills standards and qualifications in English, mathematics and ICT reviewing and updating GCSEs expanding Apprenticeship opportunities supporting learners below level 2 and level 1 through foundation learning placing responsibility for education and training of all young people to 18 with local authorities The Deputy Director of Children s Services introduced the report describing the programme s aspiration to significantly improve the life chances of all young people by ensuring all were engaged in some form of education or learning to provide them with a full range of qualifications, competencies and skills. He emphasised that the reforms were not tantamount to the raising of the school-leaving age as education or training could take place within a school, college or with a work-based learning provider. He added that effectiveness of diplomas, apprenticeships and employers played a significant role in the success of the reform. The Deputy Director of Children s Services also referred to the AGMA Executive report The Development of 16-19 Provision for the City Region and stressed the importance of this initiative, particularly in relation to the commissioning and funding allocations process. He indicated that copies of the report were available for members to take with them at the end of the meeting. The Chair commented that the governance of diplomas and apprenticeships and the impact of the reforms on the Connexions service and young people who were not in education, employment or training (NEET) were important areas for further exploration. A member was concerned that high entry requirements for apprenticeships might limit opportunities for young people who need to develop their skills. She also asked what was being done to encourage employers to sign up to the scheme in light of the economic downturn and whether the opportunities offered would genuinely help people access more rewarding jobs. The Head of Education Services (14-19) advised the Committee that considerable work was being done to accelerate the process of significantly expanding the availability of apprenticeships locally through the Apprenticeship Pathfinder Project. The aim of this project was to establish proven processes and relationships between local authorities and partners to enable broader training provision and meet the government s apprenticeship targets. He stressed the importance of demonstrating the advantages associated with taking on an apprentice and the development of business opportunity to employers. Turning to entry requirements for the scheme, he advised that as a result of the reform, work would begin with young people at an early stage to provide a better platform to meeting the entry requirements. The Executive Member for Employment and Skills commented that the range of apprenticeships had been extended to include non-traditional learning opportunities 3
for young people. She advised that the target of securing 300 apprenticeships for Manchester s young people was ambitious but that she was confident that this could be achieved. She added that the City Council had always offered a range of apprenticeships and that these formed just one aspect of the Skills Pledge Discussions then turned to the effect of the reform programme on schemes for foundation learning for young people working at entry level or level one jobs within the reform. Members emphasised the importance of effective arrangements in order to ensure that all young people have access to a high-quality and interesting curriculum. Regarding diplomas, a member commented that there was potential for a two-tier system involving the International Baccalaureate and the Diploma where the Baccalaureate was seen by Universities as the more attractive qualification. Universities might then offer their best places to applicants with the International Baccalaureate rather than diplomas. The Head of Education Services (14-19) advised that there had been some initial difficulties with the roll out of diplomas due to the volume of change but that these would reduce once the scheme had fully embedded. He commented that the adoption of diplomas would lead to major improvements to the skill sets of young people who would have the capabilities to meet the demands of modern careers. This would lead to universities valuing the diplomas very highly. A member stressed the importance of subjects associated with the Arts in this process. A member asked how young people who already have poor school attendance records would be encouraged to participate in learning and education beyond the age of 16 years. She went on to discuss the link between poor school attendance and poorer life chances and the additional support needed to encourage young people to aspire to achieve. A member commented that this needed to be directed also at young people within the criminal justice system. The Deputy Director of Children s Services advised that the factors which influenced poor school attendance were multi-faceted and often highly complex in cases of persistent poor attendance. He advised that in such cases, challenges were often faced by the young person before the age of 14 years requiring significant work around the child and family. He added that the City Region pilot s Early Years programme would enable earlier intervention with families across a range of agencies to deliver crucial services and support. The Head of Education Services (14-19) added that the most radical change resulting from the reforms would lead to young people exercising choice to help them progress and develop at an individual level through the means of a personalised curriculum aligned to their particular needs. 1. To broadly welcome the reform and support the move towards enabling young people to choose a diverse range of pathways by maximising choice and achievement. 2. To recognise the importance of the foundation learning stage. 4
3. To note the concerns expressed regarding diplomas, but to recognise their flexibility and the wide range of opportunities they can offer young people. 4. To note the challenging targets in relation to apprenticeship numbers and to stress the importance of ensuring apprenticeships offer genuine opportunities for young people to develop valuable and marketable skills. To welcome the City Council s commitment to offering a range of apprenticeships, and to monitor progress made towards meeting this commitment. 5. To stress the importance of targeted work with young people not in regular education to ensure that they benefit from the reforms, for example young people in the criminal justice system. 6. To schedule a future report on and the impact of the 14 19 reforms on the Connexions service and young people who were not in education, employment or training (NEET). CYP/09/59 Children and Young People s Plan 2009-12 A report of the Director of Children s Services on the preparation of the new Children and Young People s Plan was submitted for comment by the Committee. The report set out the requirement for the Children s Board to develop a plan for use by all partners to shape actions they intend to take to deliver services for children and young people which reflects the objectives of the Community Strategy. Included with the report was the consultation draft of the Children and Young People s Plan which had been circulated to a range of partners for formal comment to contribute to the final draft scheduled for completion in January 2010. The Executive Member for Children s Services advised members that the plan was a comprehensive document which set out the main priorities for the Children s Services Department and reflected the views of the Committee on a range of matters which it had looked at over the recent past. Members asked for more detail on the young people s version of the Plan. The Director of Children s Services advised that this version was written in plain language and in a clear and accessible way so that young people could understand and comment on it without having a detailed understanding of the Department. The plan had involved consultation with young people, and their views had been reflected wherever possible, however the Department had been frank with young people where their suggestions could not be put into action. The report set out the views of children, young people and their families in relation to the five Every Child Matters outcomes. Members noted that within this section, a call from young people was highlighted for more feedback from the widespread consultations exercises arising from the process of engagement and for this to be delivered in a proactive way. The Chair advised that this had also been highlighted through the Overview and Scrutiny Engagement Subgroup which had received regular reports on the activities to engage young people across Manchester. He 5
added that the February 2010 meeting of the Committee would be an event involving young people with a particular focus on addressing the often negative media portrayal of young people. The report set out the prevention and early intervention strategy and the Think Family Approach. These included a range of actions to provide early support for children, young people and their families to increase their ability to meet the challenges they face in their lives. Whilst recognising the importance of working with the whole family to achieve significant change, members also highlighted the reducing role of parental influence as young people reach adolescence and highlighted the important role of effective youth services for this particular age range. They also queried the use of the term industrial dose investment in relation to early intervention. They stressed the need for an appropriate balance to be maintained between early intervention programmes and continuing youth work interventions with young people during their teenage years. The Chair commented that there was a lack of discussion of the role of the voluntary sector within the Plan and gave the example of the contribution they make to mental health work with young people across the City. The Director of Children s Services advised that voluntary sector representatives were a statutory partner on the Children s Board and had made a strong contribution to the Plan. 1. To broadly welcome the report and recognise its significance in providing a wide ranging plan for the delivery of services for children and young people that reflect the objectives of the Community Strategy. 2. To recognise that the views of a diverse range of young people with different needs and priorities contributed towards the Plan s vision statement. 3. To request that the young person s version of the Children and Young People s Plan is submitted to a future meeting of the committee. 4. To recognise the need to provide young people with feedback from their consultation on the plan so that they can see the difference their involvement has made. 5. To stress the need to strike an appropriate balance between early intervention and prevention strategies and ongoing work with teenagers in service planning for young people. 6. To note the role of the voluntary sector and the Overview and Scrutiny Engagement Subgroup in the delivery of the plan. 6
CYP/09/60 Business Plans A report of the Chief Executive and City Treasurer was submitted requesting that members choose a business plan to look at during their next meeting. To agree to look at the Children s Services business plan at the Committee s next meeting and to use the suggested lines of enquiry developed by the Overview and Scrutiny Coordinating Group. 7