Children And Families Services Committee - 13/05/2019

At a MEETING of the CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 13th May, 2019.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

External members for Articles I to VII

Miss K MANDS, Church of Scotland Representative

Ms M LECK, Roman Catholic Church Representative

Mr M CHOHAN, 3rd Church Representative

Mr D BAXTER, Teacher Representative

Ms J BARCLAY, Teacher Representative

Mrs S ROBERTS, Parent Representative

Mrs L RICHIARDI, Parent Representative

Councillor Stewart HUNTER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 11th March, 2019 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II TEACHER REPRESENTATION ON THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICES COMMITTEE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN26-2019 whereby reference was made to Article V of the Statutory Meeting of the City Council of 22nd May, 2017, wherein it was agreed to appoint two teaching staff representatives to the Committee.

Reference was also made to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 28th January, 2019, wherein the Committee remitted to the Head of Democratic and Legal Services to make arrangements to seek nominations for the filling of a vacancy, due to the resignation of one of the representatives.

Having sought nominations for the vacancy, one nomination was received from Ms Jodi Barclay.

Ms Barclay had agreed to abide by the Code of Conduct in accordance with the Standards Commission's Guidance.

The Committee noted the appointment.

III EDUCATION (SCOTLAND) ACT 1980 - APPEAL COMMITTEE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN27-2019 informing Committee that it had been necessary to seek nominations for an additional Chairperson to chair the Appeal Committee.

The Head of Democratic and Legal Services advised that the undernoted person was recommended for the remainder of the lifetime of the present Council:-

Mr Eddie Valentine

The Committee approved the above.

IV EXPANSION OF EARLY LEARNING AND CHILDCARE ENTITLEMENT TO 1140 HOURS

Reference was made to Article IV of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 14th May, 2018.

There was submitted Report No 192-2019 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service providing the Committee with updated information regarding the planned expansion of Early Learning and Childcare from 600 hours to 1140 hours by 2020.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the content of the updated progress report; and

(ii) to remit to the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to bring a further report on the progress of the implementation within 12 months' time and to the Executive Director of Corporate Services to look at options to address the shortfall as soon as appropriate.

V SCHOOL TERMS AND HOLIDAYS: 2021/2022 AND 2022/2023

There was submitted Report No 193-2019 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service seeking approval of the scheme of school terms and holidays for sessions 2021/2022 and 2022/2023.

The Committee noted and approved the scheme of school terms and holidays for sessions 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 detailed below:-

CLOSURE DAYS 2021/2022

CLOSURE DAYS 2022/2023

VI DUNDEE DAILY 15 IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS

There was submitted Report No 194-2019 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service outlining the local progress made to date on the implementation of the Daily 15 in Primary Schools to help address obesity whilst at the same time promoting the general health and wellbeing of children.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note and approve the content of the report; and

(ii) to approve the roll out of the Daily 15 to all Primary Schools across the city.

VII CURRICULUM FOR EXCELLENCE (CfE) LEVELS AND LEAVERS ATTAINMENT (INSIGHT)

There was submitted Report No 195-2019 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service informing the Committee of the progress of Dundee's pupils in relation to Curriculum for Excellence and Senior Phase attainment and other related outcome measures.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the content of the report;

(ii) that the Schools' Improvement Plan should further include full details on incidences of multi-level teaching in schools, full details of the current operation of the city-campus and other measures whereby pupils were taught outwith their own schools and full analysis and remedial actions appropriate to increasing attainment of children;

(iii) that officers would prepare an additional report on 'Partnership Working with Further Education and Employers' and that the Principal of Dundee and Angus College be invited to address the Children and Families Services Committee on this report; and

(iv) that the full Schools' Improvement Plan be brought to Committee as a matter of urgency to allow for scrutiny with a progress report to follow in January, 2020.

Stewart HUNTER, Convener.