STIRLING COUNCIL

MINUTES of MEETING of the EDUCATION COMMITTEE held in the COUNCIL CHAMBERS, OLD VIEWFORTH, on THURSDAY 17 AUGUST 2017 at 10 am

Present Councillor Susan MCGILL (in the Chair)

Councillor Alastair BERRILL Councillor Margaret BRISLEY Councillor Martin EARL Councillor Graham LAMBIE

In Attendance

Lisa Boa, Depute Head of Establishment, Hillview and Wellgreen Nurseries Judith Edwards, Service Manager, Children, Communities & Enterprise Elizabeth Hancock, Head of Establishment, Crianlarich and Nurseries Kevin Kelman, Senior Manager, Children, Communities & Enterprise (Chief Education Officer) Tracey Mills, Team Leader, Assetts & Support Muriel McKenzie, Educational Psychologist Karen McLaughlin, Head of Establishment, Cowie Nursery Bryony Monaghan, Service Manager, Children, Communities & Enterprise Colin O’Brian, Religious Representative Elaine Peddle, Acting Head of Establishment, Arnprior and Nurseries Mary Rennie, Religious Representative Isabelle Smit, Forward Planning Officer Samantha Smith, Team Leader, Early Years & Early Intervention Patricia Stefanovic, Early Years Expansion Manager Jean Houston, Governance Officer, Localities & Infrastructure (Clerk) Mary Love, Committee Officer, Localities & Infrastructure (Minutes)

ED1 APOLOGIES AND SUBSTITUTIONS

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Bryan Flannagan, Councillor Evelyn Tweed and Jane Morris, Religious Representative.

ED2 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

ED3 URGENT BUSINESS BROUGHT FORWARD BY THE CONVENER

There were no items of urgent business.

ED4 PERFORMANCE AND SERVICE PRIORITIES PROGRESS REPORT

The report presented the latest information on the performance indicators and on progress in implementing the Service objectives, overseen by the Education Committee.

The presentation and report to the Committee provided an overview of the development of the Children and Young People Improvement Collaborative (CYPIC). In March 2017 £400k growth money was awarded by the Council to support development of a Parent and Family Support Team and to provide Support for Learning Assistants (SLAs) in schools. Discussion took place around the use of improvement methodology, which Officers offered to discuss again at a future meeting of the Education Committee. The overview also noted the introduction of Fallin Primary School Walking Bus, which had been implemented to encourage pupils to walk to school, accompanied by staff, and which had improved attendance figures. In response to a question, Officers confirmed that the Walking Bus may be introduced in other schools.

It was noted that slide 3 of the CYPIC presentation was difficult to read and officers agreed to circulate that a full size copy of the slide to all Committee Members via Democratic Services. It was also agreed that a briefing on the CYPIC report would be circulated by Officers. An explanation of the drop in teacher absence figures was also requested by the Committee.

It was noted that the impact of additional funds would be useful, with regard to the increased number of SLA posts in schools.

The Committee highlighted that the language and phraseology used in the report should be simplified, to enable a clearer understanding of the content.

Decision

The Committee agreed:-

1. to consider the performance of reported indicators, (Appendix 2 – Section 1 and 2);

2. to consider progress on the service objectives, which are overseen by the Education Committee (Appendix 2 – Section 3); and

3. to note the updates on key areas of work within the service.

(Reference: Report by Chief Education Officer dated 24 July 2017, submitted).

ED5 MOTHBALLING OF PRIMARY SCHOOL

The report outlined the declining roll at Trossachs Primary School and that, as no children had enrolled for 2017/18 session, it was proposed to mothball the school for a further year.

It was also proposed that the mothballing be reviewed in Spring 2018 in order to see if there was a desire from parents to enrol their children at the school. The Committee expressed concerns that the school was an unused asset and asked whether options were available to allow the building to be accessible for community use. Officers advised that Education were not looking to maximise the asset and that insurance and supervision matters could be problematic. Maintenance work had been carried out and the building was fit for purpose. Officers were asked to plan consultation with the community on any proposed uses of the school.

Decision

The Committee agreed:-

1. to continue to mothball Trossachs Primary School for school session 2017/18;

2. that during the period of mothballing, the catchment of Primary School will be extended to include the current catchment of Trossachs Primary School; and

3. that a further report be brought to Committee prior to the start of school session 2018/19 relating to the mothballing of Trossachs Primary School.

(Reference: Report by Chief Education Officer dated 9 August 2017, submitted).

ED6 GETTING IT RIGHT FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN STIRLING: CHILDREN’S SERVICES PLAN 2017 – 2020

The Children and Young People Act (Part 3) established a legal framework and arrangements for Children’s Services Planning. Stirling’s new Children’s Services Plan 2017 – 2020 provided a strategic framework for children’s services across Stirling and was built around the multiagency Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) approach.

Children’s Services Plan was for all children and young people and their families, and for all staff working in the Stirling area, who provide children’s and related services. This paper outlined the approach in the Plan to improving outcomes, the model for delivering services across agencies to children and young people, and links to wider Community Planning.

Stirling Strategic Planning Group for Children would assume the leadership and governance role for the Children’s Services Plan.

The Committee commented that there was a lack of context within the Plan around whether progress achieved was positive, negative or on target. Officers advised that key measures had been added and there would be a baseline, which would also be linked with the use of methodology, as detailed in the CYPIC report. The Committee noted that the improvement in attainment was pleasing and congratulated everyone involved. Decision

The Committee agreed:-

1. to consider and comment on the content; and

2. to recommend the Social Care & Health Committee on 24 August 2017 approve the Children’s Services Plan for Stirling 2017 – 2020.

(Reference: Joint Report by Chief Education Officer & Senior Manager, Children & Families (CSWO) dated 17 July 2017, submitted).

ED7 INSPECTION OF KILLIN NURSERY - PUBLICATION OF EDUCATION REPORT

The report informed the Education Committee of the outcome of the published report by Education Scotland on their inspection of Killin Nursery.

Officers highlighted the quality indicator evaluations for Killin Nursery School which were all very good. The Committee agreed that it was an excellent report. In response to a question as to whether all the questionnaire results were available, Officers replied that the appendices within the report were all the information they had been provided. However they advised that there was an Education Scotland website link, which Officers could use to access further information. It was agreed that Officers would include contextual information such as the number of children and staff in nurseries within future reports and provide a synopsis of previous history. The Committee congratulated staff and pupils for an excellent report and added that the results of the inspection were great news for Stirling. Thanks were also conveyed to the families in Killin for their support.

Decision

The Committee agreed to note the outcome of the inspections and the key findings identified in the published inspection reports, attached as appendices to the submitted report.

(Reference: Report by Chief Education Officer dated 11 July 2017, submitted).

ED8 CARE INSPECTORATE REPORTS

The purpose of this report was to inform the Education Committee on the outcome of the published reports by the Care Inspectorate on their inspections of Arnprior, Cowie, Crianlarich, Hillview and Nurseries.

Officers outlined the inspection gradings awarded within the report. The Committee noted that it was useful to see historical information included within the report and congratulated the staff in the nurseries for the excellent results. In response to a question from a Member, the Officer explained that parental engagement was generally high, with mixed responses across the various nurseries. Decision

The Committee agreed to note the outcome of the inspections and the key findings identified in the published inspection reports, attached as appendices to the submitted report.

(Reference: Report by Chief Education Officer dated 24 July 2017, submitted).

ED9 EXPANSION OF EARLY LEARNING AND CHILDCARE

This report provided the Education Committee with the background to the expansion of Early Learning and Childcare from 600 to 1140 hours from August 2020 and the initial scoping in Stirling to support the expansion.

Officers outlined the considerations of the report and highlighted that a scoping exercise had been undertaken but capital funding required would likely be more than the £8m stated by the Scottish Government.

In response to a question, Officers advised the Committee that the reason for the proposed closure of Whitecraigs Nursery was unknown and that it was a risk for partners.

The majority of partner providers did not currently pay their staff the living wage and further consultation was planned with the providers, with a view to increasing the funded hourly rate by 2020.

Callander only had one nursery at present and was a priority for consideration in expansion plans.

Design work had been undertaken and plans were scheduled to be submitted to the Scottish Government, at which point, the more detailed timeline would be clearer, then confirmed. Once the plans were submitted, it was hoped for a quick turnaround by the end of the year, in terms of confirmation of the 3 year capital and revenue funding. Officers agreed to keep the Committee informed on this matter.

Decision

The Committee agreed to consider and comment on the information and content provided in the Stirling Council Draft Delivery Plan for the Expansion of Early Learning and Childcare.

The Convener declared the Meeting closed at 11.25 am.