Meeting documents

            Meeting: Communities Scrutiny Sub-Committee (County Hall, Durham - Committee Room 1a - 05/06/2006 10:00:00 AM)

                  Item: A8 "A+dding Value"

         

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Scrutiny Sub­Committee for
Strong, Healthy and Safe
Communities
5 Jun 2006
“A+dding Value?” ­ Report of the
Looked After Children Scrutiny
Working Group

Report of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny

Purpose of Report

1. To introduce the attached report of the Scrutiny Working Group which
has carried out an investigation in to the education of Looked After
Children in County Durham.

Background

2. This project was initiated by me mbers because of concerns about the
educational achievement of Looked After Children in County Durham,
which, whilst improving, is still low compared to national targets. The
project also supported one of the Counci l’s priorities linked to improved
life chances for children.

3. The investigation was broad in scope, as, at the outset, members
decided to take a holistic view of support for Looked After Children.
Evidence was taken from officers in the social care, education and
health sectors. Research on best pr actice nationally was also carried
out on behalf of the Working Group by Northumbria University and an
independent sector provider submitt ed views. A survey of designated
teachers and governors was undertaken, training events were attended
and consultation events were held with care leavers, Looked After
Children and foster carers.

Findings

4. The Working Group felt that there we re good levels of provision for the
education of Looked After Children in County Durham, with committed
and dedicated staff and carers, but t here was more that could be done.
The main themes of the report (which will be the subject of a
presentation to the Su b­Committee) concern:

• The role and actions of the Council as Corporate Parent
• The functions of Designated Teachers and Governors
• The role of Foster Carers
• Support for Children who are Look ed After and Recognition of Achievement

5. The recommendations are set out in detail in Section Fourteen of the
main report. Given the size of the report, an Executive Summary has
been prepared for wider circulation, and this is also attached.

Recommendation

6. You are asked approve the report for submission to the Overview and
Scrutiny Sub­Committee and then to Cabinet.

Contact: Tom Bolton Tel: 0191 383 3149

TO VIEW EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND MAIN REPORT PLEASE CLICK ON PDF ATTACHMENT OR REFER TO HARDCOPIES LOCATED IN CORPORATE SERVICES AND THE COUNTY RECORD OFFICE

Attachments

 LAC final Report 5 June2006.pdf;
 LAC final report comms cover report 5jun2006.pdf;
 LAC final Report Summary 5 June2006.pdf