Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Becky Haggar with Councillor Colleen Sullivan substituting.

Apologies for absence were also received from Councillor Paula Rodrigues with Councillor Steve Tuckwell substituting.

None.

RESOLVED: That the minutes from the meeting on 2 February 2022 be approved as an accurate record.  

It was confirmed that there were no Part II items and that all business would therefore be conducted in public.

The Director of Public Health provided a verbal update on Covid in the Borough covering areas such as the current position, analysis of the impact of Covid on different communities, legacy work undertaken and how learning was used to inform future ways of working with residents.

It was reported that the Borough’s Health Protection Board (HPB) was an effective partnership forum that led a multi-agency response to the pandemic. The Council and partners had supported residents in isolation, undertaken contact and trace, supported and managed outbreaks in care and school settings and rolled out the vaccination programme.

It was noted that the London Borough of Hillingdon was a national leader in supporting arrivals to the UK.

The Committee was informed that the current rate of infection was 598 per 100,000 population and in Hillingdon there had been 1047 new confirmed cases of Covid in the last seven days. Hillingdon ranked 25/32 out of London Boroughs with the highest rates of Covid cases. The rates had been impacted by the lifting of restrictions and it was noted that the rates remained high amongst communities where testing was consistent. The Committee also heard about the rates of Covid in care settings and hospitals.

It was highlighted that Covid remained prevalent and transmission rates were still high. The Committee heard about the ways Hillingdon had learnt from the pandemic and how data captured informed future planning. The vaccination programme had delivered its intention of protecting vulnerable people albeit boosters and additional vaccinations were required to maintain antibodies and protection levels. Further information was provided regarding targeting risk groups and deceased rates. Vaccination was the seventh highest in the London Borough of Hillingdon with 75% of residents receiving their first vaccination. There were 74,000 people who were yet to have a first vaccination however work was still ongoing through community engagement.

The HPB had now reset its terms of reference to focus on moving forward and tackling wider health protection areas.

In response to Member questions around vaccination take ups, it was explained that this was an ongoing offer. Motivation was different for different people and this was also dependent on government policies. Tourism and the ability to be able to travel was a key factor for some people receiving vaccinations. Community engagement with faith leaders and practitioners took place to encourage the uptake of vaccinations.

It was acknowledged that schools had experienced a considerable loss of learning. The Department for Education had published competency frameworks with schools and had detailed measures that needed to be put in place to manage outbreaks. Schools contacted Public Health when help was required and increasing the vaccination of adults in schools was a highly effective way in managing outbreaks.

In terms of life post Covid, the national direction of travel was living safely with the virus. There were challenges with testing levels and economic implications. However, there were measures in place through the vaccination programme, regular testing and robust infection control measures and this level of response  ...  view the full minutes text for item 84.

The Corporate Director of Central Services, Virtual School Head, Education Manager, Head of SEND and SEND Team Manager presented the annual report on Standards and Quality of Education in Hillingdon 2020/21. The report provided an overview on the standards and quality of education across Hillingdon schools and settings for Hillingdon’s children, young people and adults.

It was noted that the report usually focused primarily on attainment, progress and achievement for the preceding academic year along with references to wider measures of educational success. However, due to the changes of statutory school tests and examinations during Covid-19, there was limited new data available in this report. Officers had therefore used the last published data from 2018/19 and provided updated contextual information. The report would be considered by Cabinet at its meeting on 21 April 2022.

The Committee was informed that the local education partnership would provide the platform to further improve education outcomes.

Key points across education services were highlighted to the Committee.

It was reported that schools had been using internal data to measure education outcomes. The Committee heard that the Covid recovery had been supported with closing the gap, 14 schools had been placed on the schools at risk register and Ofsted inspections had remained stable and in line with England. The education improvement four tier support and challenge model had a great impact on maintained schools and schools that were under performing had termly challenged task meetings and visits from Education Advisors, resulting in impact reports and support plans. There was a strong focus on collaboration and regular termly meetings took place to ensure a ‘One Council’ approach. Members also heard about the mental health support programmes and Post-16 digital brochure.  There was a focus on the Black Caribbean and White British underachieving cohorts for the next few years, along with cross working with the Youth Justice Service.

In terms of virtual school achievements, it was highlighted that children at KS4 attained average levels of 28, which was five grades higher than the national average. KS2 pupils also met expected levels of progress. There had been a reduction in NEET figures, attendance was higher than national averages for Looked After Children, and there was a higher level of  KS3 pupils moving onto university. Fixed term exclusion rate had continued a four year downward trend. Children Missing Education figures had decreased, exclusions were down 7% and attendance of all children was in line with statistics.

The SEND updates were outlined, and it was highlighted that the statutory compliance of 20 week plans had increased from 22% in late 2022 to 87%, 99% in phase transfer in pre 16 had been met, Published Admission Numbers had been adjusted across schools to avoid  pressured or SEND magnet schools. It was noted that 592 EHC needs assessments had been received and annual reviews had increased. A free training programme had been developed for all stakeholders and integrated half termly meetings took place where data sharing was used in early years to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 85.

The Corporate Director for Central Services and the School Place Planning Project Manager introduced the report and provided an overview of the latest quarterly update on school places.

It was reported that primary rolls were still experiencing some movement. The January 2022 census analysis had not been not yet completed.  All resident pupils including 105 with Education Health Care Plans had been offered a place. Around half of primary schools continued to be full and many of the others had empty places in classes, but a few faced a greater decline in rolls and in the September 2022 intake.

Demand was still rising for specialist places for pupils with Education Health Care Plans. It was reported that plans and delivery were underway to expand special schools and now a further programme of new places had been prepared  as a key part of the Council’s DSG Recovery Programme, and a bid for further capital had been submitted to the Department for Education.

During Member discussions, it was noted the number of unprecedented in year applications occurred during August 2021 until October 2021, and then slowed down. Although the Council received the highest number yet of Year 7 secondary schools applications for September 2022, all pupils were made an offer on National Offer Day. The120 pupils that applied after the October 2021 deadline were sent offers more recently.

In terms of the DSG safety valve process, it was clarified that the LA had made a capital bid for around 22 million pounds and a new special free school, this was in addition to the revenue element of the safety valve agreement.

In was noted that the Department for Education was involved in the process of identifying suitable locations for free schools and these needed to be delivered by academy trusts. The costs in the rise of construction delivery were also noted.  It was clarified that ‘alignment’ was related to new staff posts being created and a dedicated board to deliver the programme and govern the process.  Support was also being offered around early intervention in school place planning.

Concerns were raised regarding pressures of school places in the south of the Borough with many pupils choosing to travel to the north of the Borough. Concerns were also noted in relation to 230 pupils not receiving one of their preferences. It was questioned why the new school was being developed in the north of the Borough and it was explained that many factors needed to be taken into account such as parental preference. When it was bid for, the greatest demand was in the north of the Borough but  there had been difficulties in identifying a suitable location in the north and so also the south had been searched for a site large enough, with no success.

Officers agreed to provide the January 2022 census data by school when it was ready and a breakdown of where the pupils lived who did not receive an offer of one of their preferences.

The Committee  ...  view the full minutes text for item 86.

RESOLVED: That the forward plan be noted.

The Committee was keen receive further updates on youth services and early years and childrens centres. Members requested that an update on youth services was provided at the meeting on 20 April 2022. It was confirmed that Demcoratic Services were liaising with officers to arrange a suitable time for updates to the Committee.

RESOLVED: That the update and work programme be noted.