Agenda and minutes

The Panel re-confirmed Cllr Lyndon Jones as the Convener of the Education Scrutiny Panel for the 2021/2022 municipal year.

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosuresofinterests

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The letters and minutes were reviewed and accepted by the Panel.

Questions must be submitted in writing, no later than noon on the working day prior to the meeting.  Questions must relate to items on the agenda. 

No public questions were received.

Cllr Robert Smith, Cabinet Member for Education Improvement, Learning and Skills and Helen Morgan Rees, Director of Education

The Panel thanked the Cabinet Member Cllr Robert Smith, the Director of Education Helen Morgan Rees and Lisa Collins the Child Protection and Safeguarding Officer for attending the meeting.

Councillor Robert Smith informed the Panel that the appropriate action and response has taken place to what has come to light.  Action has been taken in two parts.  Firstly, specifically relating to those cases mentioned on the website, we have gone the schools mentioned to find out what they were aware of, what action had been taken and what the policies are.  We have been reassured that all incidents that have mentioned schools in Swansea have been dealt with. Secondly, we do not want to single out those schools but to be clear not to condone this behaviour in any of our schools. More widely we will using these our school pastoral care and the new curriculum to continually get the message out that this is not acceptable behaviour.  We will also ensure that if learners have issues they wish to report that they know where they can be raised, that is for anything that happens in or outside school.

The Panel also strongly do not condone this behaviour, wherever it takes place, recognising that there needs to be a clear strategy in place.  The Panel would like to look in to this further but agree that they need to take the right approach and in a balanced manner.  The therefore Panel agreed to defer this item until further information can be gathered and presented to the Panel by the Cabinet Member of Education Improvement, Learning and Skills.

Cllr Robert Smith, Cabinet Member for Education Improvement, Learning and Skills and Helen Morgan Rees, Director of Education

Helen Morgan Rees, Director of Education updated the Panel on the Covid situation in our schools and the ongoing recovery, including:

·         Education in a state of early recovery but many pupils still self-isolating

·         It has been difficult for schools we have had control measures in place for more than a year.  There has been relaxation of rules in society more widely but not necessarily in our schools, with the preservation of year groups and bubbles.

·         Estyn has informed us that schools inspections are suspended and will recommence with a pilot after Easter 2022.

·         Clear education work stream in the Council’s recovery plan with wellbeing high on the agenda.

·         Additional staff will be in place for accelerated learning.

·         Part of the recovery in Swansea will be to listen to children and young people, getting their views/.

·         She paid tribute to all our school and how they have coped through this time.

For discussion and agreement by Panel

The Panel discussed and agreed the draft work programme for the coming municipal year with the addition of the following items:

·         When meeting with School Improvement Advisers on 30 Sept this should also include: how we are supporting pupils on free schools meals, readiness in Education for the City Deal, how good practice is being shared.

·         Education Other Than At School (EOTAS) progress update

·         Swansea Skills Partnership progress update

·         New Curriculum introduction – progress update (21 Oct)