Children And Families Services Committee - 24/06/2019

At a MEETING of the CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 24th June, 2019.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

External members for Articles I to VI

Miss K MANDS, Church of Scotland Representative

Ms M LECK, Roman Catholic Church Representative

Mr D BAXTER, Teacher Representative

Ms J BARCLAY, Teacher Representative

Ms K RADTKE, Parent Representative

Mrs L RICHIARDI, Parent Representative

Mr R HUTTON, Pupil Representative

Councillor Stewart HUNTER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 13th May, 2019 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II ADDITIONAL IN-SERVICE DAYS 2019/2020

There was submitted Agenda Note AN42-2019 whereby reference was made to the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) Circular 19/70 - Pay Agreement 2018 to 2021 - an additional two days should be provided for all schools, including nursery, to support professional learning.

It was reported that the Head of Service (Chief Education Officer) had, as required, written to the Scottish Government with an application for exceptional closure days for the two additional days as follows:-

Friday, 4th October, 2019; and

Thursday, 21st May, 2020.

The Scottish Government had written to the Executive Director of Children and Families Service agreeing to the exceptional closure days.

The Committee noted the position.

III SCOTTISH ATTAINMENT CHALLENGE - PROGRESS REPORT

There was submitted Report No 229-2019 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service, providing a progress update of the Scottish Attainment Challenge in Dundee. The Attainment Challenge was a centrally funded Scottish Government programme with the direct aim of closing the attainment gap by improving educational outcomes for children and young people living in Dundees most deprived communities. The focus areas were literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing and there was a specific emphasis on those living in the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation Deciles 1 and 2.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the progress, success and impact to date; and

(ii) to instruct the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to continue to provide annual updates with regard to the funding allocation and the implementation of the Scottish Attainment Challenge in Dundee.

IV HUNTER FOUNDATION AND BBC CHILDREN IN NEED

Reference was made to Article III of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 14th May, 2018, wherein it was agreed that an update report on the Hunter Foundation and BBC Children in Need would be brought to this Committee. There was submitted Report No 227-2019 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service, providing an update on developments relating to a number of aligned initiatives which were being progressed as part of an ambitious Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) Improvement Programme designed to improve the early identification of family problems and related support in order to prevent matters from escalating.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note progress made in the last 12 months in building the necessary infrastructure and capacity to support improved outcomes for all children and young people; and

(ii) to instruct the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to provide a progress report in one year and a further update in 2021, when additional funding for the project was due to end.

V PRIMARY SWIMMING

Reference was made to Article IV of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 29th October, 2018, when Committee instructed the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to implement proposals in the Primary Swimming Action Plan and report back to this Committee. There was submitted Report No 228-2019 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service, providing an update on the Primary Swimming tests of change set up to agree a different, more effective method of delivering Primary Swimming in Dundee.

The Committee agreed:-

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

(ii) to instruct the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to report progress to this Committee in a years time.

VI SCOTTISH NATIONAL STANDARDISED ASSESSMENT (SNSA) P1

Reference was made to Article VII of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 29th October, 2018, wherein it was agreed that a review of the administration of SNSA in Primary 1 would be carried out. There was submitted Report No 230-2019 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service informing Committee of the outcome of the review.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the content of the report and Appendix 1 of the report;

(ii) to note the content in the Dundee response was included in the national review; and

(iii) to instruct the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to keep the SNSA under regular review and continue to engage with the National Practitioner Forum and Education Scotland in any national developments arising from the national review of P1 SNSA.

VII VALEDICTORY - JANE MARTIN, HEAD OF INTEGRATED CHILDRENS SERVICES AND COMMUNITY JUSTICE/CHIEF SOCIAL WORK OFFICER

The Convener, on behalf of the Committee, paid tribute to Jane Martin, Head of Integrated Childrens Services and Community Justice/Chief Social Work Officer, upon her retiral and wished her well for the future.

The Committee associated themselves with the Conveners remarks.

Stewart HUNTER, Convener.