Agenda and draft minutes

To receive apologies for absence (if any)

There were no apologies for absence received

The Chair will consider the admission of any late items of urgent business. Late items of business will be considered under the agenda item where they appear.

None received.

A member with a personal interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the Authority at which the matter is considered must disclose to that meeting the existence and nature of that interest at the commencement of that consideration, or when the interest becomes apparent.

A member with a personal interest in a matter also has a prejudicial interest in that matter if the interest is one which a member of the public, with knowledge of the relevant fact, would reasonably regard as so significant that it is likely to prejudice the member’s judgement of the public interest.

Councillor Egan declared that he was employed as a Quality Assurance Assessor/Tutor by Canterbury Christchurch University.

To note the scope and terms of reference for the Scrutiny review of School Exclusions.

The Chair sought the Panel’s view as to whether the proposed scope and terms of reference for this review was too large. He suggested that it might be better to carry out two separate reviews:

i. into the pre-emptive work within schools to prevent exclusions, taking in to account the measures available for schools to intervene, temporary exclusions and the LEAs guidance and support on this and that this should then be followed by

ii. a review into the action taken once a pupil was excluded – i.e. the referral units and out-of school support.

This would enable more thorough reviews into each aspect, provide more succinct and useful recommendations and would maximise the impact of the scrutiny exercise.

Members suggested that the first review be concerned with the advice and support which the Council gave to schools about young people at risk of being excluded and that this would only be successful if it was done in collaboration with schools. The review should cover advice given by the Council on the way by which schools should deal with disruptive pupils and on the exclusion process. As part of the review advice should be sought about the preparation of Behaviour Support Plans for those at risk of being excluded.

It was agreed that detailed arrangements for the review could only be considered once the Panel had received further information about the preventive work within schools to prevent exclusions and the way in which the Council supported schools. Furthermore the Panel considered that this review was timely in that schools would have to review their preventative measures due to forthcoming Government legislation such as the Day 6 provision.

RESOLVED:

1. That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be recommended to agree:-

·        That a review be undertaken into the ‘pre-emptive work’ in schools to prevent exclusions. This should aspire (by working with schools) to reduce the number of exclusion in the Borough, to ensure recommendations of best practice were being disseminated and all the Borough’s schools were informed of current best practice and guidance and ‘future proofed’ for up-coming legislation in this area.

·        That once this review was completed a further review be undertaken into the action taken once a pupil is excluded from school and that this review should commence early in the next Municipal Year

2.  That the Director of Children and Young People’s Service be instructed to prepare within the next 7 days a report on pre-emptive work within schools to prevent exclusions

3.   That officers be instructed

a. to circulate the report to Members seeking their agreement to the terms of reference and scope of the review into pre-emptive work in schools

b. in the event of disagreement to arrange for the Panel to meet to consider the matter further

To provide Members with background information on exclusions.

In view of the decisions reached on the previous item this report was not considered.

To consider any new items of business admitted under item 2 above.