Agenda and minutes

No declarations of interest were made.

No members of the public were present.

Context:

The Children and Young People Select Committee received a private presentation on the support provided for Refugee Children from:

·         Mr. M. Williams, Assistant Headteacher (Inclusion and Additional Learning Needs Co-Ordinator), King Henry VIII Comprehensive School;

·         Amy Edwards, Nursery Teacher and Additional Education Needs Co-Ordinator), Deri View Primary School;

·         Nerys Wherry, Gwent Education Minority-ethnic Service; and

·         Rana Ghalta, Gwent Education Minority-ethnic Service.

Key Issues:

The private presentation reported on:

·         Transition into school and settling in;

·         Positive staff and pupil reactions;

·         Support provided by Gwent Education Minority-ethnic Service;

·         Challenges encountered;

·         Learning English and Welsh; and

·         Socialisation and Wellbeing. 

Member Scrutiny:

·         A Member agreed that the use of sport and food was an excellent way to break down barriers.

·         In response to a question, it was confirmed that there are likely to be more refugees settling in the county in future.

·         Members were very impressed with the enthusiasm of the school staff and asked if there were refugees in any other Monmouthshire Schools.

·         A member asked how the resources are funded.  It was responded that GEMS works across the wider Gwent region and is grant-funded.

·         Members were interested to hear that the students find Arabic very similar to Welsh.

·         Exam concessions were confirmed as 15% extra time plus provision of a bilingual dictionary.  Members noted that pupils with Additional Learning Needs receive 25% extra time. Members were impressed that all eligible pupils wanted to take their exams and that there had been some GCSE and A Level successes.

Purpose:

To present progress on delivery of the current plan (including the summer play schemes) and preparations for the new Play Action Plan and Play Sufficiency Assessment for completion by March 2019.

Recommendations:

1. To receive and scrutinise an update of progress on the delivery of the current Play Action Plan and the emerging issues for the review of the Play Sufficiency Assessment

2. To agree to receive a draft of the revised Play Sufficiency Assessment and Action Plan at a future meeting prior to its consideration by Cabinet and submission to Welsh Government on 31 March 2019.

Key Issues:

1. The Play Sufficiency Assessment (PSA) and Play Action Plan was first completed in 2013, reviewed in 2016 and now requires further review after three years. The new PSA must be submitted to Welsh Government by 31 March 2019, having either been approved by Cabinet or in a final version timetabled to be so approved.

2.  “Wales: A Play Friendly Country” is Statutory Guidance to Local Authorities (See

Appendix 1) on assessing and securing sufficient play opportunities for children in their areas to give detail to the duty on Local Authorities under Section 11, Play Opportunities, Children and Families (Wales) Measure 2010.

In summary the statutory requirements are:

·         A local authority must assess the sufficiency of play opportunities in its area

·         A local authority must secure sufficient play opportunities in its area for children, so far as reasonably practicable, having regard to its assessment

3. The following internationally recognised definition of play is noted in the guidance:

“Play encompasses children’s behaviour which is freely chosen, personally directed and intrinsically motivated. It is performed for no external goal or reward, and is a fundamental and integral part of healthy development – not only for individual children, but also for the society in which they live”.

4. As part of the 2016 PSA review and following consideration by this committee Cabinet approved a new model for managed play provision (the summer play scheme) to deliver open access play schemes during the school summer holidays in partnership with Town and Community Councils. Since 2016 Torfaen Play Service has been commissioned to deliver this provision.

Member Scrutiny

Matthew Lewis, MonLife Project Team (Interim Performance, Evaluation and Programme Development Lead & Green Infrastructure and Countryside Manager) and Mike Moran, Community Infrastructure Coordinator presented the report and invited questions from the Select Committee Members, as follows:

·         A Member was concerned that there was no provision in Chepstow Leisure Centre, which is central for all children, only in Thornwell and Bulwark.  It was queried how many children previously used the play provision in the Leisure Centre and secondly, the numbers of children from other areas of Chepstow who now attend Thornwell and Bulwark.  It was responded that provision in the Leisure Centre stopped in 2004.  At that time, approximately 200 children were registered.  This number included limited numbers from the Thornwell and Bulwark area.  Current figures plus numbers of children attending MonGames will be provided to Select Committee  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed as a true record.

1.    Wales Audit Office Whole Authority Review of Children's Safeguarding report and the Council's Management Response:

·         Specific examination of Home to School Transport to be presented to a meeting of the Select Committee in the New Year.  It was noted that a Special meeting may be required.

·         The Wales Audit Office Whole Authority Review of Children’s Safeguarding report has been referred to the next meeting of the Audit Committee for consideration.

2.    Project 5:

·         Following consideration at the last meeting, the recommendations of the Select Committee have been added to the Cabinet Report.

·         Team Around the Family (TAF) will be invited to return to Select Committee; this will be added to the Work Programme.

3.    2018 End of Key Stage Teacher Assessment Outcomes and National Test results – Monmouthshire:

·         A Special meeting will be held to consider achievement in the New Year.

·         Fisher Family Trust data will be considered at a future meeting – date to be arranged.

The Forward Work Programme was received.  Changes were noted as follows:

·         3^rd January 2019 at 2.00pm:  Special meeting to consider additional business.  Concerns were noted that the meeting will be in the school holidays.  It was explained that this was the only available date and time.  Written responses are welcome from Members unable to attend and will be read out.

·         24^th January 2019: Budget Scrutiny (Single Item)

·         21^st February 2019: School Transport (incl. Safeguarding and Wellbeing), Future Options for Mounton House Special School, Schools Admissions Policy and School Catchment Areas (Under consultation until 25^th February 2019).

·         Mid-March: Special Meeting for pre-Cabinet decision scrutiny and Family Support Services.

·         4^th April 2019 at 10.00am: School outcomes, Donaldson and 21^st Century Schools (to include a report on Pioneer Schools).

The Forward Work Planner was noted.

Special Meeting: 3^rd January 2019 at 2.00pm

Ordinary Meeting: 24^th January 2019 at 10.00am (Budget Scrutiny)