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Councillors and committees

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Bridges Room - Civic Centre

Contact: Rosalyn Patterson TEL: (0191) 433 2088 EMAIL:  rosalynpatterson@gateshead.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

F14

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Clelland, Cllr Kirton and co-opted member Sasha Ban.

 

F15

Minutes of last meeting pdf icon PDF 217 KB

The Committee is asked to approve as a correct record the minutes of the last meeting held on X

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 July 2017 were agreed as a correct record, subject to apologies for Cllr Simcox and Cllr Geddes being noted.

 

F16

Monitoring Report - Review of Oral Health pdf icon PDF 806 KB

Report of Director of Public Health, Care Wellbeing and Learning

Minutes:

Committee received the first monitoring report following last year’s review into children’s oral health in Gateshead.  Four recommendations came out of the review and the Committee were updated on progress in these areas.

 

The first recommendation was to work collaboratively with all commissioners of oral health services to ensure services are meeting the needs of the population and addressing inequalities. It was noted that progress has been limited in this area although oral health promotion has now been included in the 0-19 specification. The National Dental Epidemiology Programme Survey has been completed however the findings will not be available until 2019.  It was reported that the findings from the 2015 survey have recently been received which has shown low levels of decay across Gateshead, however high levels in the South and Central clusters of Gateshead. It was confirmed that this will be looked at with commissioners and work is underway to refresh the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment.

 

The second recommendation from the review was around reviewing oral health promotion work in line with the transfer of responsibility from NHS England as part of the 0-19 public health service review.  It was confirmed that oral health promotion work has been embedded in the new specification from the 0-19 public health nursing service. The key requirements include adopting a Making Every Contact Count approach, this is for all staff working with families to encourage families to attend and record dentist visits.

 

A further recommendation was to embed oral health promotion across the early help strategy to ensure a life course approach to oral health improvement. It was noted that oral health promotion is a key objective within the development of the early help strategy, which is still in the process of being implemented. The Making Every Contact Count approach will ensure staff from a range of services, for example; YOT, Social Workers, Family Intervention Team, take the opportunity to talk to families about oral health.

 

The final recommendation was to ensure Making Every Contact Count (MEC) approach incorporates Change 4 Life Programme.  It was noted that there are three new MEC posts within the Public Health Team, focused on mental health, substance misuse and physical activity. In addition there is a Public Health Resource and Information Assistant who will work with the MEC team to ensure they incorporate Change 4 Life programme materials as part of the MEC training programme.  It was reported that the Schools Health and Wellbeing Survey was completed in the last academic year for year 4-6 pupils. A good response was received, out of the 1700 responses; 60% cleaned their teeth twice a day, however 3% did not clean their teeth at all. 54% of respondents had been for a check up and 55% of those had no treatment and 18% had treatment over the last year.

 

It was questioned whether the use of antibiotics had an effect on young people’s teeth, and whether there was a correlation between the use of antibiotics by children in the central  ...  view the full minutes text for item F16

F17

SEND Inspection Outcomes pdf icon PDF 181 KB

Report of Strategic Director, Care Wellbeing and Learning

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report on the outcome of the joint local area Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) inspection. It was reported that the inspection took place in February 2017, however the outcome was not received until June.

 

Under the new inspection framework no grading is given but rather focuses on how well the local area;

·         identifies children and young people who have SEND

·         assesses and meets needs of children and young people who have SEND

·         improves outcomes for children and young people who have SEND

 

It was noted that no significant areas for improvement were identified for Gateshead, however, some areas for development were recognised. An Action Plan is currently being developed to address areas highlighted for improvement such as; stronger focus on early help, working with health services to improve processes and more travel training for young people with SEND. It is expected that the Action Plan will be shared with stakeholders in October.

 

It was confirmed that The Committee congratulated all staff involved for the excellent outcome.

 

RESOLVED    -           That the Committee noted the content of the report.

 

F18

Ofsted Inspections/School Data - Progress Update pdf icon PDF 378 KB

Report to Strategic Director, Care Wellbeing and Learning

Minutes:

Committee received an update report on the Ofsted inspections carried out in the spring – summer term. It was reported that there were 23 inspections during the term, compared to 3 inspections the term prior, which has meant increased pressure on schools and teams within the Council who support these schools.

 

It was reported that there is a stark contrast between primary and secondary inspection results. In terms of primary schools it was noted that Falla Park Primary School was found to ‘require improvement’, but was previously rated as ‘good’. Committee were assured that work is ongoing with this school and it is expected that it will return to good at the next inspection.  Rowlands Gill Primary school also dropped from ‘good’ to ‘requires improvement’, it was reported that there is no Headteacher in post and a lot of changes going on with this particular school.  In addition work is underway with Swalwell Primary which also received a ‘requires improvement’ grading.

 

Improving schools were also identified; Kibblesworth Academy improved to good following a change of leadership, St Anne’s and Winlaton West Lane also improved to good. It was also reported that Front Street Primary improved from ‘good’ to ‘outstanding’ which was recognised to be very difficult to achieve.

 

Committee was advised that overall 40% of primary and special schools in Gateshead are good or outstanding, with all special schools in Gateshead being good or outstanding.

 

In relation to secondary schools it was acknowledged that the outcome is disappointing. Heworth Grange received an ‘inadequate’ grading, it was noted that whilst improvements were needed within that particular school it was not felt that the school was inadequate. In addition Kingsmeadow received a ‘requires improvement’ therefore it is likely that both schools will convert to academies by the end of the year. Committee was advised that all maintained secondary schools would therefore be academies.  It was also reported that Lord Lawson Academy ‘requires improvement’ following its Ofsted inspection.

 

It was confirmed that there is an obvious focus on keeping the support in place for secondary schools. It was recognised that Gateshead remains near the top of the region in terms of the number of 5 A*-C’s in English and Maths therefore this does not match the Ofsted outcomes.

 

It was questioned whether Ofsted is becoming more demanding on good schools so that they are pushed into the academy sector. It was noted that inclusive schools have suffered as a result of the Ofsted inspection framework.

 

It was requested that future reports contain a full list of all schools in Gateshead not just the recently inspected schools.

 

RESOLVED    -           That the Committee noted the position of schools in relation to

Ofsted inspections.

 

F19

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 130 KB

Joint Report of the Chief Executive and Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Any Committee received the work programme for the municipal year 2017/18. It was noted that the work programme would be a standing item on each agenda so that members could see any changes.

 

It was requested that the Committee look at the issue of home to school transport for children and young people with SEN at a future meeting. It was also felt timely to report on Permanent Exclusions and the Pupil Referral Unit provision at the earliest opportunity.

 

It was also requested that an update be given on waiting list figures for CAMHS when the report is brought to Committee in January 2018.

 

RESOLVED    -           (i)         That Committee noted the provisional programme.

 

                                    (ii)        That Committee noted that further reports on the work

programme will be brought to the Committee to identify any additional policy issues, which the Committee may be asked to consider.

 

F20

Any Other Business

Minutes:

Committee was advised that co-opted member Jill Steer has resigned. The Chair thanked Jill for her contribution during her time on the Committee. 

 

It was noted that work is underway to fill the current co-optee vacancies on the Committee.

 

 

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