Agenda and minutes

Apologies received from Cllr Kauffman and Cllr Cooper.

Apologies also received from Antony Little.

None.

None.

It was confirmed that all items were in Part 1 and would be heard in public.

The minutes were confirmed as an accurate record of the meeting.

The Committee considered the update report on school admissions. Laura Palmer, School Placement and Admissions Team Manager, presented the report.

The following points were made in discussion:

Secondary schools places update

·         The Council experienced a 3 percent increase in applications, as did surrounding boroughs.

·         On National Offer Day, the Council offered a school place to all applicants and there was generally a good outcome. 94.9 percent of Hillingdon pupils received one of their preferred places.

·         There were 150 unfilled secondary school places.

·         There was an increase in the number of children with education and healthcare plans applying to mainstream schools.

·         A number of secondary schools are still making offers such as Douay Martyrs. It is anticipated that Abbotsfield School and Northwood School will also offer additional places.

·         Generally the numbers are growing for secondary schools, but there are still some places. In cases, where there is only one school selection provided, parents are contacted by the schools admission team to provide other options.

·         The Council is taking into account the Southall gas work and is liaising closely with Ealing Council regarding the potential impact this development will have on school placements, particularly in the South of the Borough.

Primary schools places update

·         The Council experienced a 4 percent decrease in applications across the Borough. 88% of pupils were offered first choice schools and 98.5 percent of Hillingdon pupils received their first choice of primary schools.

·         The key difference between primary and secondary schools was the lateness of applications. Since offer day an additional 150 school places have been offered.

·         The Borough supported residents who would be impacted by the closure of Pinnerwood Schools due to health and safety concerns. Parents who were affected were given duplicates offers for school places.

·         There are currently 470 places available for primary schools.

·         Birth-rates are set to plateau and this will affect the number of primary schools places. Other factors such as the new residential developments will impact the number of schools places. 

RESOLVED -

(1)  The Committee commended officers for their hard work, particularly supporting residents in Pinner Wood.

(2)  The Committee thanked officers for the report and noted the positive work being undertaken.

The Committee finalised a topic for the Major Review.

The Committee noted that due to the short municipal year for Policy Overview Communities, only one major review was advised to ensure that a thorough and proper investigation could be undertaken.

The Committee decided, following the Chairman's discussions with the Cabinet Member for Education and Children's Services, to conduct a review on children with SEND in the early years provisions. The working title for the major review is "How nurseries are geared up to support children in the early provision with SEND"

The Committee also explored other potential topics for the review such as looking at youth provisions offered by the Council, asylum and a review of the current home to school transport service provided by the Council. The Committee was anxious to remain engaged with any discussions on youth services and home to school transport services.

RESOLVED -

That a scoping report be produced on "How nurseries are geared up to support children in the early provision with SEND" for the meeting on 31 July 2017.

RESOLVED -

The Cabinet Forward Plan was noted.

That the work programme be noted.