COMHAIRLE NAN EILEAN SIAR 23 APRIL 2014 COMMITTEE DECISION REPORT EDUCATION AND CHILDREN’S SERVICES COMMITTEE: 15 APRIL 2014 At its meeting on 15 April 2014 the Education and Children’s Services Committee considered the business referred to below. The Committee has approved the recommendations detailed for approval by the Comhairle. Where the Committee has exercised delegated powers or used the conditional delegation provisions for any item, this is stated. Items marked with an asterisk* were considered with the press and public excluded from the Meeting. Item Title Agenda Committee’s Decision Number Minute of Meeting 1 The Minute of Meeting of 4 February 2014 was approved. of 4 February 2014 Minute of Meeting 2 The Minute of Meeting of 7 February 2014 was noted. of the Education and Children’s Services Sub- Committee of 7 February 2014 Declaration of 3 Mr Iain Morrison declared an interest in Items 7 and 20 being a bus contractor and left Interest the meeting during consideration of these items. School and Room 4 This Item was withdrawn. Letting Policy Policy on E-Safety 5 It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle approve the Policy on E-Safety and and Acceptable Acceptable Use of Communication Technology in Schools as detailed at Appendix 1 to Use of the Report. Communication Technology in Schools Performance 6 It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle note the Report. Management – 2013/14 Quarter 4 Revision of the 7 It was agreed to recommend that there should be no change to the catchment areas of Catchment Area Lionel School and Sgoil an Taobh Siar and that the catchment areas boundary remain Boundary for Lionel as noted below. School and Sgoil and Taobh Siar, CATCHMENT AREA Isle of Lewis SCHOOL CATCHMENT AREA Lionel Adabrock, Butt of Lewis, Cross, Cross Skigersta, Dell, Eorodale, Eorpie, Fivepenny, Galson, Habost, Knockaird, Lionel, Port of Ness, Skigersta, Swainbost Sgoil an Ballantrushal, Barvas, Borve, Brue, Melbost Borve, Shader Taobh Siar Revision of the 8 It was agreed to recommend that the catchment areas for Breasclete School and Catchment Area Shawbost School be defined as indicated in the ordnance survey map which forms Boundary for Appendix 1 to the Proposal Document with effect from August 2014. Shawbost School and Breasclete PROPOSED CATCHMENT AREA School, Isle of Lewis SCHOOL CATCHMENT AREA Breasclete Breasclete, Callanish, Garynahine, Grimersta, Linshader, Tolsta Chaolais Shawbost Arnol, Bragar, Carloway, Dal beg, Dalmore, Doune Carloway, Shawbost Review of the 9 It was agreed to recommend that the catchment areas for Leverhulme Memorial Catchment Area School and Sir E Scott School be defined as indicated in the ordnance survey map Boundary for which forms Appendix 1 to the Proposal Document with effect from August 2014. This Leverhulme would entail moving the previous catchment boundary from the Northton village road Memorial School end on the A859 to just before the village of Seilebost on the A859 which would and Sir E Scott effectively move the villages of Scarista, Borve and Horgabost into the Leverburgh School, Isle of School catchment area. Following the outcome of the consultation, authority is sought Harris to consult on the proposal to include the villages of Lickisto, Manish and Geocrab in the Sir E Scott catchment area and not to charge for school transport from these villages to Sir E Scott School pending the outcome of the consultation. Leverhulme Memorial Sir E Scott Ardvey Aline Geocrab Meavaig North Borrisdale Amhuinnsuidhe Govig Meavaig South Borsam Ardhasaig Grosebay Plockropool Borve Ardvey Stockinish Horsaclete Rhenigidale Finsbay Ardvourlie Hushinish Scadabay Flodabay Bedersaig Isle of Scalpay Scaladale Horgabost Bowglas Kendibig Seilebost Leverburgh Bunavoneadar Kyles Scalpay Stockinish Lingerbay Carragreich Leacklee Tarbert Northton Cliasmol Lickisto Urgha Quidinish Cluer Luskentyre Rodel Collam Maaruig Scarista Diracleit Manish Strond Drinishader Inspection Progress 10 It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle note the key strengths and the main Report by points for action, as listed in the Report. Education Scotland and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar: The Nicolson Institute - February 2014 Direct Management 11 It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle approve the direct management of of Pairc Playschool the Pairc Playgroup in their current premises at Kershader Resource Centre in August Provision 2014, with a view to moving pre-school provision into the Gaelic Class in Pairc School should the building of new facilities not be possible and that a further Report on this matter be submitted to the Comhairle by June 2015. Gaelic Action Plan 12 It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle note the progress as detailed in the 2011-2014 Report with the Report on the Gaelic Action Plan 2011-2014. Gaelic Schools : 13 It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle undertake Community Conversations Community in the following Primary Schools to establish support for Gaelic School status: Conversations Balivanich School, Bernera School, Breasclete School, Castlebay School, Daliburgh School, Iochdar School, Leverhulme School, Sgoil an Taobh Siar, Shawbost School, Sir E Scott School. Corporate Property 14 It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle approve the Corporate Property Asset Asset Management Management Plan (PAMP) included at Appendix 1 to the Report, insofar as the Plan Committee’s interests were concerned. Professional 15 It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle approve the Professional Review and Review and Development Policy as detailed in the Appendices to the Report. Development Professional The Committee agreed to determine the above recommendation on behalf of the Update for Comhairle in accordance with Paragraph 17 of the Scheme of Administration to enable Teaching Staff implementation of the Professional Review and Development Policy, as soon as possible, on the basis that the recommendation was not contentious and did not breach a major policy consideration of the Comhairle. Masters Level 16 It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle approve the acceptance of the award Learning Scottish in the sum of £64,000 for Masters Level Learning as detailed in the Report. Government Award Specialist Mainland 17* It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle note the forecasted costs for Placements for Specialist Mainland Placements 2013/14, as detailed in the Report, insofar as the Children 2013/14 Committee’s interests were concerned. Western Isles 18 It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle note the content of the Report insofar Library Service - as the Committee’s interests were concerned. Development of a Forward Plan School Transport 19 It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle note the progress of the Working Smartcard System Group in relation to the School Transport Smartcard System . Laxdale School 20 It was agreed to recommend, insofar as the Committee’s interests were concerned, Traffic that the Comhairle: Management and School Bus (a) agree the revised scope of infrastructure improvements at Laxdale Primary Arrangements School detailed in Appendix 1 to the Report; (b) note the prudential borrowing costs of £9,629 per annum associated with revised scope of infrastructure works listed at Table 1 in the Report; and (c) note that a further Report confirming the source of funding for the additional services detailed in paragraph 4.3 will be provided to the Comhairle when the final costs of the current retendering exercise are known. It was further agreed to recommend that the Director of Education and Children’s Services should submit a Report to the June 2014 series of meetings detailing the level of demand from pupils in the Newvalley and Newmarket area attending The Nicolson Institute for transport on which they would pay a fare. Bus Services – 21 It was agreed to recommend, insofar as the Committee’s interests were concerned, t Uist, Barra and that the Comhairle: Vatersay (a) agree that the options outlined in the body of the Report form the basis of a consultation exercise, the results of which will form the basis of recommendations to the Comhairle in October 2014; and (b) agree the procurement timetable included at Appendix 2 to the Report. Report by 22 It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle note the strengths and the main Education Scotland points for action as identified in the two Validated Self Evaluation Reports. and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar: Validated Self Evaluation (VSE) Inspection of the Department of Education and Children’s Services Customer 23 It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle note the responses from the 2013 Satisfaction Survey: Department Parent/Carer survey. 2013 Parent/Carer Survey Results Department of 24* It was agreed to recommend that, insofar as the Committee’s interests were Education and concerned, the Comhairle: Children’s Services – Senior a) note the responses received during the consultation process on the senior Management management restructure of the Education and Children’s Services Restructure Department; b) agree that the date of implementation of recommendations (c)(i)–(iv) below be 14 August 2014; c) approve the following changes to the structure of the Department: (i) disestablish the post of Head of Education and Resources, Grade M; (ii) establish the posts of Head of Education, Grade M, and Head of Children’s Services and Resources, Grade M and, following the match of the current postholder of Head of Education and Resources to one of these posts in accordance with good employment practice as determined by the Chief Executive, that recruitment to the remaining post shall be by means of external advertisement; (iii) disestablish the remaining two Learning Community Principal posts, Grade QIM, and (iv) disestablish the posts of Quality Improvement Officer, Grade QIO3, and establish the posts of Senior Education Officer and match the existing Quality Improvement Officers and Allan Smithyman to these posts. It was further agreed to note that the Chief Executive would submit a further Report on this matter to the June 2014 series of meetings.