Agenda item

Report of the Corporate Director of Resources (Interim)

The Chair asked the Corporate Scrutiny and Strategy Manager, Tom Gorman to provide the Committee with an update in relation to the Quarter Four, 2020/21 Performance Management Report (for copy see file of minutes).

The Corporate Scrutiny and Strategy Manager thanked the Chair and referred Members to the information as set out within the report pack.  He explained as regards the reporting process in terms of Cabinet, Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Management Board and each of the thematic Overview and Scrutiny Committees.  He added that as the report related to Quarter Four it also represented a year-end position which would include any impact from the COVID-19 pandemic.  He noted the performance was in the context of the County Durham Vision and that in relation to the first ambition, ‘more and better jobs’ the proxy measure for child poverty, the number of those eligible for free-school meals was around 20,000, around 28 percent of all pupils in spring 2021.  He added that was an increase of around 2,700 pupils, from 24 percent the previous year and also that only around 75 percent of those eligible did access free-school meals. 

Councillor J Miller left the meeting at 11.57am

Councillors were asked to note the average education ‘Attainment 8’ score was 48.8 for County Durham, behind a national average of 53.1 at key stage four and it was explained as regards the 14.4 percent gap for those disadvantaged children, with studies showing that disadvantaged young people had been impacted greater as a result of the pandemic.  It was noted that the average A-Level score for pupils from the county was higher than the national average.

The Corporate Scrutiny and Strategy Manager referred to those Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET) and explained that the level had increased from 4.1 to 5.6 percent, albeit with a reduced number of ‘not knowns’ of only 0/7 percent, less than the national average of 2 percent.  He noted issues included the difficulty in engaging with young people during the pandemic and that Job Centre Plus had not mandated job search activity over the pandemic period.

The Corporate Scrutiny and Strategy Manager noted as regards performance in respect of behaviour, exclusions, managed moves and noted that was an area included within the Work Programme.  He noted an increase in the number of applications for SEND support and highlighted positive schemes including provision of laptops and wifi routers to children and the ‘Fun with Food’ programme previously mentioned.

Members noted that 730 families were supported through the Stronger Families programme, that there were a number of schemes to support young people in respect of mental health.  It was noted there had been delays in terms of producing EHCPs, however this had improved from 50 percent being produced on time at the year end to now 95 percent being produced on time.  The Corporate Scrutiny and Strategy Manager noted that while the number of referrals to social workers had reduced through the pandemic, possible as a result of many referrals being via schools, however, those numbers had returned to previous levels.  He added that while caseloads were high, timescales in respect of initial assessment and other matters were much improved.  Members noted that in respect of Looked after Children for County Durham there was 950, however the rate per 10,000 was in line with the region and nearest statistical neighbours.  He reiterated the previous comments as regards the impact of the pandemic on how long children remained in care and Ofsted inspection activity.  The Corporate Scrutiny and Strategy Manager concluded by noting a protocol as regards information sharing in respect of pupil movements between Local Authority areas.

The Chair thanked the Corporate Scrutiny and Strategy Manager and asked Members for their comments and questions.

Councillor C Hunt asked as regards whether the Council offered any incentives in terms of businesses taking on apprentices, including taking on young people with SEND.  The Head of Education and Skills noted that was an aim of the DurhamEnable Project Board, to engage with employers and further education colleges, and that further feedback on the topic would be given to the Committee via the previously mentioned dashboard.

The Chair asked as regards the success of NEETs and DurhamWorks and asked as regards the future funding for DurhamWorks and if the scheme was continuing and what the cohort size would be.  The Head of Education and Skill noted a successful bid from the Council had secured funding for a further two years, with staff and capacity to remain at the current level.  He added that it had been noted that some young people had attended and benefited more from online, however, for some face-to-face contact was more beneficial to help with their confidence.  He noted that therefore capacity would be the same, however, there were more techniques in the blend in order to engage with young people.

Resolved:  

That the content of the report and presentation be noted.