Agenda and minutes

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In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, no interests were declared.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.

Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 10 March 2021 be approved and signed as correct record.

Helen Morgan-Rees presented a report which sought approval of the recommendations that the Education and Skills Policy Development Committee had developed following its discussions, review, examination and evidence gathering relating to the impact of the Covid pandemic on the provision of Education across Swansea.

As part of the policy development committee’s review of evidence during the academic year 2020-2021, it became clear that the Covid-19 pandemic had presented both challenges and opportunities for education improvement, continuity of learning and skills development in what had been an extraordinary year of crisis management and significant disruption in education, which has affected both pupils and staff.

She indicated that the report brings together the work of the committee during the past year, and has led to the development of the following three recommendations:

1.    All schools are supported and monitored to maintain and improve blended learning approaches developed during the last year.

2.    To develop a whole school approach to emotional health and wellbeing.

3.    The systematic dissemination of good practice in blended learning and supporting emotional health and wellbeing is accelerated.

The various different representations, views and evidence submitted and considered by the committee was outlined and detailed in the report.

The Chair thanked Helen Morgan-Rees for her support to the Committee and for her drafting of the report, and thanked all the officers for the information and evidence submitted and discussed during the past year.

Resolved that the recommendations outlined above in the report be supported and approved and the report be submitted to Cabinet on 17 June 2021.

The Chair indicated that the workplan for 2021-22 would be discussed at the committee’s meeting on June 16.

He indicated he had received a suggestion that the subject of community learning mentors was one that could be considered going forward. This topic would be discussed along with others at the next meeting.