Agenda item

a)                 Joint Report of Assistant Chief Executive and Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services;

b)                 Presentation by Jane le Sage, Educational Support Services Manager, CYPS, David Priestly, Head Teacher, Greenfield School, Newton Aycliffe and Mark Turner, Head Teacher, Gilesgate Primary School.

The Committee considered a joint report of the Assistant Chief Executive and Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services regarding Communities of Learning and received a presentation from David Priestly, Head Teacher, Greenfield School and Mark Turner, Head Teacher, Gilesgate Primary School (for report and copies of slides see file of Minutes).

Mr Priestly informed the Committee that Communities of Learning (CoL’s) were established in 2004/05 and there were 15 CoL’s within County Durham, which comprised clusters of nursery, primary, secondary and special schools.  CoL’s met regularly in each locality and were chaired by elected representatives from schools, supported by local authority staff.  CoL Chairs also met together with Local Authority officers on a termly basis to share practice and discuss priorities.  CoL’s aimed to raise achievement and extend opportunities for children through collaboration and partnership.

In response to a question from Councillor Bainbridge regarding extended needs of children, for example, those with children with parents who were alcohol or drug dependant, Mr Turner replied that CoL’s looked at the extended schools structure, which included the needs of both pupils and their families.

In reply to a question regarding how CoL’s related to the recently introduced One Point service Mr Priestley informed the Committee that CoL’s had supported the evolution of the One Point service, and each One Point area had a CoL representative on it, together with a One Point representative being invited to CoL meetings.

In response to a question from Councillor Stradling, Mr Priestley confirmed that each area within County Durham was represented with a CoL.  Councillor Stradling expressed concern in the area of speech therapy in schools, which was being provided by trained staff and not by fully trained speech therapists.  Mr Turner replied that some CoL’s had employed speech therapists so that speech therapy provision was available in schools, however, there were difficulties with the therapists travelling between schools to provide the service.  A pupil would be referred to the therapist for an assessment to take place, following which a programme of work would be produced to be delivered by trained staff in schools.

Councillor Armstrong asked about contingency plans within CoL’s if their funding was reduced or stopped.  Mr Priestley replied that schools would identify priority areas and allocate funds accordingly, adding that if funding was cut then the service provided would be affected.

Resolved:

That the presentation be noted, and that an update be provided to Committee in 6 months to include priorities from other CoL’s within the County.