An opportunity to question Councillor Zena Brabazon, the Cabinet Member for
Children, Schools and Families, on developments within her portfolio.
Minutes:
Councillor Zena Brabazon, the Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families, answered questions from the Panel on developments in her portfolio. The Panel noted that the Ofsted inspection of Children’s Social Care Services had been completed and the report was due to be published on 11th April.
In answer to a question regarding the funding of Children’s Centres, she stated that the Council had been adversely affected by cuts to funding due to the government’s austerity policies and therefore had been unable to provide any more money for them. The number of centres had been reduced from 16 to 9 since 2016/17. The borough was fortunate to have more than many authorities and there was a commitment to ensure that they were accessible to all. The new Early Years Strategy had outlined a number of priorities that included the role of the Children Centres.
In answer to a question regarding the establishment of Family Hubs, she reported that they were different to Children’s Centres as they were for families with children aged 0 - 19. Funding for them came from central government and there was strict and rigid criteria attached to it. The funding could not be used for existing services. The new hubs would be in addition to and complement Children’s Centres delivery. Most of the funding was focused on perinatal health and the first 1,000 days of life. The plan was for four hubs to be established in the borough. One of these would be at the Triangle Centre and location of the others still had to be determined. She was happy to attend any school governors meetings to which she was invited in order to brief them on the changes. She would discuss how engagement on the new hubs could be enhanced with officers. The first of the new hubs was due to be launched in June.
In answer to a question regarding schools in financial deficit, she reported that the Council was working very closely with them as well as those using reserves to balance their budgets. Achieving financial balance was challenging when there were falling numbers of children on school rolls. Where headteachers or senior members of staff had resigned, governing bodies were being encouraged to collaborate. Falling school rolls was a London wide problem and not just confined to Haringey. The Council would provide any help that it could to support schools during this difficult period.
In answer to a question regarding the adoption of the Haringey Safety Valve and the proposed new banding system for SEND, the Cabinet Member reported that they were not linked. The proposed banding system was still being developed and there would be further discussion and engagement with schools, parents, carers and partners regarding it. There would also be consideration of it through the Schools Forum and its High Needs Block working group. Draft proposals on the Safety Valve programme suggested that it would lead to an increase in resources and efforts were being made to ensure that its distribution was more equitable.
In answer to a question regarding the Baroness Casey report on the standards of behaviour and internal culture of the Metropolitan Police, the Cabinet Member reported that it had only just been published. It had therefore not been possible to determine its full implications. There was a lot of work taking place with the Police on a range of issues including knife crime, Violence Against Women and Girls and mental health. In addition, there had been Police officers who worked in schools for some considerable time. The Police had been excellent and consistent safeguarding partners and were also a key part of the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH).
Beverley Hendricks, Assistant Director for Safeguarding and Social Care acknowledged that the report was a source of concern and time would be needed to consider a response. It was nevertheless important to distinguish between the Business Command Unit (BCU) that covered Haringey and Enfield and the Metropolitan Police as a whole. Any issues that had been raised locally in recent years with the BCU had been addressed and they had been very responsive to issues that arose. For example, Stop and Search, including safeguarding and welfare concerns, had been addressed. It was agreed that the Police would be invited to a future meeting to report on issues arising from the Casey Report, Stop and Search and safeguarding.
The Panel were of the view that the key issue arising from the Casey report was how it was ensured that young people had confidence in the Police as the report had shaken trust in them. Consideration needed to be given not just to how the community got the standard of policing it deserved but also to how confidence was established.
Concern was expressed by the Panel regarding stress arising from Ofsted inspections on teachers and the mental health impact of this. The Cabinet Member stated that she shared the Panel’s concern. Ann Graham, the Director of Children’s Services, stated that there were Council services available to support schools and teachers, including mental health support, for those who bought into the Council’s services. Schools that did not could make their own arrangements. She would check to see what the Council’s offer for community schools was.
Panel Members highlighted a recent incident where BID street rangers had handcuffed a young boy in Chichester and enquired whether there had been any concerns regarding their operations in Haringey. The Cabinet Member stated that there had been no incidents reported to her but she would make further enquiries and report back. Ms. Graham stated that her own experience of BID street rangers had been positive. In particular, they had been involved in the development of the Youth at Risk strategy and because of this were now reporting children and young people found out of school. She was nevertheless happy to speak with them in order to minimise the risk of anything similar occurring in Haringey.
In answer to a question regarding the outcome of the recent OFSTED inspection, Ms Graham reported that the report would be published on 11th April and could be reported to the next meeting of the Panel.
AGREED:
That the Director of Children’s Services be requested to provide further information on the support offered to teaching staff of Community Schools that buy into the Council’s services, including mental health.