Children And Families Services Committee - 07/09/2020

At a MEETING of the CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICES COMMITTEE held remotely on 7th September, 2020.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

External members for Articles I to VI

Ms M LECK, Roman Catholic Church Representative

Ms J BARCLAY, Teacher Representative

Mr D BAXTER, Teacher Representative

Ms K RADTKE, Parent Representative

Mr J ANDERSON-McGUINNESS, Parent Representative

Councillor Stewart HUNTER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 9th March, 2020 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II PARENT AND PUPIL REPRESENTATION ON THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICES COMMITTEE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN21-2020 where reference was made to Article V of the minute of meeting of the City Council held on 22nd May, 2017, wherein it was agreed to seek nominations for parent and pupil representatives on the Children and Families Services Committee.

With regard to parent representation, Katie Radtke had been re-nominated as the primary representative and John Anderson-McGuinness had been re-nominated as the secondary representative.

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

With regard to pupil representation, it was noted that the nomination had been withdrawn and an update would be reported to a future Committee.

The Committee agreed the above appointments.

III PROPOSAL TO CHANGE THE SCHOOL TERMS, HOLIDAYS AND IN-SERVICE DAYS FOR SESSION 20202/2021

There was submitted Agenda Note AN20-2020 advising that agreement had been reached by the Dundee Negotiating Committee for Teachers (DNCT) in relation to school terms, holidays and in‑service days that had arisen following the decision by the Scottish Government for all Scottish Schools to re-open on 11th August, 2020.

Impact for previously agreed Calendar for 2020/2021:-

- The week of Monday, 10th to Sunday, 16th August, 2020 would be added to the 2020/2021 calendar.

- Monday, 10th and Tuesday, 11th August, 2020 would both become in-service days for staff.

- Return of pupils would be Wednesday, 12th August, 2020.

- The in-service day on Thursday, 12th November, 2020 would be moved, to accommodate the extra in-service day, to Tuesday, 11th August, 2020.

- The seven week holiday had been realigned from 2019/2020 to 2020/2021 giving an end of term date as Friday, 25th June, 2021, a move from Friday, 2nd July, 2021.

Miss K Mands, Ms M Leck, Mr M Chohan, Mr D Baxter, Ms J Barclay, Ms K Radtke and Mr J Anderson-McGuinness (external members of the Children and Families Services Committee) and the Trade Unions, Head Teachers and Parent Council Chairs had been consulted on this change.

The Committee noted that, in view of the timescales involved, the Executive Director of Children and Families Service, in consultation with the Convener, Labour Group Spokesperson, Conservative Group Spokesperson, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson, Councillor Murray and the Lord Provost had agreed this note.

IV CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICE COVID-19 RECOVERY

There was submitted Report No 202-2020 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service briefing members on the Children and Families Service response to and recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic. The report covered both Education and Social Work elements of the service and included details on approaches towards all children, young people and families from pre-birth through to early learning and childcare, primary and secondary school, post-school destinations and aftercare.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the extensive measures adopted to protect staff, support key workers, minimise disruption for children and young people and support vulnerable families;

(ii) noted the Local Education Phasing Delivery Plan 2020-2021 alongside continued measures to support vulnerable children, young people and families;

(iii) instructed the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to write to the Scottish Government seeking ongoing multi-year commitment for the provision of IT devices for young people without access to allow them equal opportunity to online learning to ensure no-one was left behind; and

(iv) instructed the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to agree with the Executive Director of Corporate Services to prioritise the IT Section time to ensure the devices provided for pupils were fully customised and available as soon as possible.

V SCOTTISH ATTAINMENT CHALLENGE PROGRESS REPORT

There was submitted Report No 203-2020 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service providing a progress update of the Scottish Attainment Challenge (SAC) 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 (SIMD) Deciles 1 and 2.

The Committee:-

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

(ii) instructed 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.

VI CARERS (SCOTLAND) ACT 2016 AND YOUNG CARERS

There was submitted Report No 204-2020 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service providing members with the second annual progress update on the Councils response to Young Carers as outlined in the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016. The report detailed activities carried out to enhance support to Young Carers during the last 12 months, including through co-production, early identification and intervention. It further detailed the plan to update a Caring Dundee: A Strategic Plan for Supporting Carers in Dundee 2017-2020 following a review of this plan by the Dundee Carers Partnership.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the progress, success and impact of awareness raising and support provided to Young Carers to date;

(ii) instructed the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to provide a further update report on the implementation of the Act in 12 months; and

(iii) instructed the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to present a revised Young Carers Strategy for approval no later than 31st March, 2021.

Stewart HUNTER, Convener.