Education Committee - 27/01/2014

At a MEETING of the EDUCATION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 27th January, 2014.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Stewart HUNTER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 8th December, 2013 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest

II FACILITIES SERVICE REVIEW

The Committee agreed to hear a deputation in respect of the above. After the deputation had spoken and answered questions from the Committee, they were thanked for their attendance and withdrew.

Thereafter, there was submitted Report No 43-2014 by the Director of Education seeking approval to transfer school facilities staff and crossing patrollers to Tayside Contracts to create an integrated school cleaning facilities and school crossing patrol service.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Murray, moved approval of the transfer of janitorial and school crossing patrol services, and those employed in delivering these services (on the basis of TUPE Regulations 2006), from Dundee City Council to Tayside Contracts on 1st April, 2014, or a mutually agreed date thereafter and remitted the Director of Education and Head of Human Resources to take forward the appropriate establishment changes.

As an amendment, Councillor Bidwell, seconded by Councillor McCready, moved that no decision was made until a further report was brought forward which indicated that agreement had been reached between management and trade unions on the changes proposed and detailed the service standards that will apply for school crossing patrollers including the distribution of patrollers and their location, qualifications and training of staff from the wider pool of staff from Tayside Contracts that may cover absences of regular patrollers and provided protected status for that role from demands elsewhere in Tayside Contracts such as snow clearing.

On a division, there voted for the motion - the Convener, Lord Provost, Depute Lord Provost, Bailie Sawers, Councillors Guild, Alexander, Black, Bowes, Campbell, Cordell, Lynn, McDonald, Melville and Murray and Miss Mands (15); and for the amendment - Bailies Wright, Borthwick and Scott, Councillors Keenan, Asif, Bidwell, Brennan, Cruickshank, Ferguson, McCready and McGovern and Mr Forrest and Mr Douris (13) - with Monsignor McCaffrey declining to vote - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

III VALIDATED SELF-EVALUATION

There was submitted Report No 44-2014 by the Director of Education informing the Committee of the outcome of the recent Validated Self-Evaluation (VSE) activity carried out by a team of HM Inspectors from Education Scotland and to provide the feedback received as part of the VSE process.

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

IV INCREASE IN EARLY LEARNING AND CHILDCARE ENTITLEMENT TO SIX HUNDRED HOURS

There was submitted Report No 45-2014 by the Director of Education informing the Committee of the Scottish Governments proposal to increase childrens entitlement to 600 hours of Early Learning and Childcare and to seek approval of the proposed implementation approach in Dundee.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the content of the report;

(ii) agreed the approach to implementation of the increase in the entitlement to nursery provision from 475 hours to 600 hours as detailed in the report; and

(iii) instructed the Director of Education and Head of Human Resources to take forward the staffing issues arising from the proposal.

V EDUCATION DEPARTMENT STANDARDS AND QUALITY

There was submitted Report No 46-2014 by the Director of Education bringing to the attention of the Committee a new Standards and Quality Report on the Education Department for 2012/2013.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) note the report;

(ii) instruct the Director of Education to distribute copies of the report to staff and key stakeholders in the Education Department; and

(iii) require the Director of Education to provide an annual Standards and Quality Report.

VI IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF OUT OF SCHOOL SERVICES IN DUNDEE

There was submitted Report No 47-2014 by the Director of Education seeking approval to provide funding and support to improve the quality of Out of School Care Services in Dundee.

The Committee approved the:-

(i) funding of grants to the twenty Out of School Care Clubs across Dundee which would be disseminated through Dundee Out of School Care Network;

(ii) provision of funding to Dundee Out of School Care Network to support a Big Event for children attending the twenty Out of School Care Clubs in the summer of 2014;

(iii) provision of funding to Dundee Out of School Care Network to access HR Professional support; and

(iv) provision of funding to support Spectrum Out of School Care club which works with children on the autistic spectrum.

VII REVIEW OF SUPPORT STAFF STRUCTURES - PRIMARY AND EARLY YEARS

There was submitted Report No 37-2014 by the Director of Education and Director of Corporate Services seeking approval for a revised support staff structure and deployment formula for the primary and early years sector of the Education Department, following a comprehensive review of current provision.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the revision of the support staff structure of the Primary and Early Years sector of the Education Department as outlined in the report; and

(ii) noted that amendments to post titles, grades etc would be dealt with via the establishment change procedure.

VIII SCHOOL LEAVER DESTINATIONS

There was submitted Report No 47-2014 by the Director of Education detailing the progress Dundee has made in increasing the number of young people leaving school and entering a positive destination from August, 2012 to July, 2013.

The Committee noted the content of the report and the impact of the Integrated Childrens Services Post School Planning Group in supporting the successful transition of young people from school into education, employment or training.

IX PUPIL ABSENCE RATES IN DUNDEE SCHOOLS

The above item was placed on the agenda by Councillor Bidwell who asked the Committee to consider the pupil absence rate in Dundee.

The Committee agreed to instruct the Director of Education to include absence issues including, but not exclusively, exclusions in the annual Standards and Quality Report to the Education Committee and that strategies for absence reduction should be given higher emphasis in the process of Annual and Extended School Reviews.

Stewart Hunter, Convener.