Policy forum area goes here Early Years, Education and Skills 6 National Policy Forum Report 2018 National Policy Forum Report 2018 7 Early Years, Education and Skills Membership 2017/18 HM Opposition Tracy Brabin MP Mike Kane MP Gordon Marsden MP Angela Rayner MP* NEC James Asser* Rachel Garnham Eddie Izzard† Sarah Owen CLPs and Regions Peray Ahmet, Greater London Region Simeon Elliott, South East Region Natalie Fleet, East Midlands Region Sarah Hayward, Greater London Region Emma Toal, Eastern Region Fiona Twycross, Greater London Region Affiliates Jasmin Beckett, North West Youth Eda Cazimoglu, Labour Students Clare Lally, Scottish Policy Forum Callum Munro, Community June Nelson, BAME Labour Maggie Ryan, Unite Richard Watts, Association of Labour Councillors Anne Western, Local Government Association Elected Reps Lucy Powell MP Julie Ward * Co-Convenor † Replaced Christine Shawcroft 8 National Policy Forum Report 2018 Early Years, Education and Skills Policy Development The Commission met again in January where they heard from Angela Rayner who spoke on the National Education Service, the draft principles The Early Years, Education and Skills Policy underpinning it and the need to take this work Commission is responsible for developing policy forward through a programme of stakeholder on a range of topics related to the wellbeing, engagement. Mike Kane was also in attendance development and care of children, as well as and discussed the issue of teacher retention and education, training and skills from childhood recruitment with the Commission and the need for through to adulthood. better working conditions across schools. This year, the Commission has been tasked with The reference back on school policy, moved by developing the principles of the National Education Colne Valley CLP at Conference, was considered Service (NES) as its priority issue. It has met several by the Commission at this meeting. A discussion times to discuss and hear expert evidence on a was held on the paragraphs referenced back by range of topics related to the National Education Conference and it was noted that ongoing policy Service, including youth services, staff within the work could help to clarify the position of the Party NES, inclusion, Sure Start and alternative provision and the shadow team on the issues which were for pupils who do not attend mainstream school. referenced back. The Commission held a policy seminar at Annual The Commission had a thorough discussion on the Conference, which began with opening remarks submissions received from Party members, with a from the Shadow Education team. Gordon particular focus on faith schools, higher education, Marsden MP, Shadow Minister for Higher a National Education Service, secondary schools, Education, Further Education and Skills, Tracy early years and the wider curriculum. Brabin MP, Shadow Minister for Early Years, Mike In February, the National Policy Forum met in Kane MP, Shadow Minister for Schools and Lord Leeds. Three breakout sessions were held over the Watson were all in attendance and discussed weekend on the consultation topic of ‘Towards a a range of issues with delegates, including National Education Service’. Each of the breakout Labour’s offer for students and young people, the sessions had a panel including Angela Rayner and Government’s failing 30 hours childcare policy and Tracy Brabin representing the shadow education school funding cuts. team. During these sessions, NPF Representatives Sure Start proved a popular topic for delegates highlighted that the relationship between the with many highlighting how centres had been health and education sector is particularly closing in their areas and the concerns they had important with regards to early years and it was for parents that might struggle to travel to their suggested that further work could be undertaken nearest Sure Start centre. Delegates also spoke with other policy commissions, for instance the about children’s mental health, with many arguing Health and Social Care Commission. that the current assessment model in England is They also discussed the need for the National contributing to the crisis in mental health. Education Service to take into account education The Commission met in December and had devolution in the UK, suggesting that there are discussions on the submissions that were sent in lessons the NES could learn from the different and the motions from Annual Conference 2017. education systems in Scotland, Wales and These included points on holiday hunger, stopping Northern Ireland. the expansion of grammar schools and increasing Brexit was a recurring theme throughout the democratic control over academy chains. weekend and it was noted that Erasmus + is At this meeting, the Policy Commission agreed important to protect. Representatives also that the priority area to be taken forward for emphasised that leaving the European Union, consultation would be ‘Towards a National combined with technological changes, could Education Service’, to build on the 2017 manifesto provide challenges in retraining the current promise and the speech Angela Rayner, Shadow workforce. Representatives also had a discussion Secretary of State for Education, gave at Annual on the importance of informal social education for Conference in 2017. young people, stressing the need to understand what good alternative provision looks like. National Policy Forum Report 2018 9 Early Years, Education and Skills The Commission met again in March, where they an opportunity for CLP members to engage in the heard an update from Jo Platt MP, a member of consultation and to discuss education issues with the shadow education team, and Tracy Brabin MP the Shadow Education Team. on the work of the Shadow Education Team. They As part of the Roadshow, the Shadow Education discussed Sure Start and early intervention and Team hosted a roundtable with many many took the opportunity to stress that the health representative organisations from across the and education sectors are entwined. education sector on the principles of the National Themes of the submissions discussed by Education Service. Emma Lewell-Buck MP, Shadow the Commission at the meeting included the Minister for Children and Families, hosted a National Education Service, selective education, roundtable specifically on children and adults with faith schools, academies, the curriculum, and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) apprenticeships. The Commission heard evidence within the NES and Mike Kane also hosted an NES from two expert witnesses on the themes of Roadshow event in Manchester with teachers and alternative provision and youth services. These two education professionals. areas were chosen after the National Policy Forum The Commission met again in May, where Angela weekend, as they were identified as areas the Rayner gave an update on the work of the Shadow National Education Service could look to develop. Education Team and the National Education The Commission heard evidence from Kiran Service Roadshow and consultation. The chair Gill on the subject of alternative provision and also gave an update on the work of the Joint Policy pupil referral units. Kiran is the founder of The Committee (JPC). Difference, a charity which aims to upskill school The Commission heard evidence from expert leaders in supporting mental health and reducing witnesses on the themes of staff within the exclusions. National Education Service and Special Education In the same session, they heard evidence from Needs (SEND) and inclusion. Anntoinette Bramble, Deputy Mayor of Hackney In the first part of the meeting the Commission Council, on the subject of youth services. heard evidence from Kevin Courtney, joint General The Commission had a variety of different Secretary of the National Education Union discussions on the issues raised by Kiran and (NEU) and Sally Hunt, General Secretary of the Anntoinette. Commission members spoke about Universities and College Union (UCU) on the issue the low quality education some students receive of staff within the NES. in some alternative provision settings, and how Sally Hunt thanked the Labour Party for its support this has been exacerbated by the increase in during the recent pension strikes and Commission autonomous academies. They also discussed the members had detailed discussions on a number link between poverty and social exclusion, as well of issues, including academies and accountability, as local authorities that currently provide high- the governance of schools, pensions and the quality alternative provision. marketisation of education. Commission members also discussed the impact The Commission also heard evidence on inclusion austerity is having on children and young people, from Navin Kikabhai, chair of The Alliance for as well as how the National Education Service Inclusive Education (ALLFIE), Richard Rieser, charter could better reflect youth services and consultant for the World of Inclusion and Micheline present a wide offer that extends beyond school Mason, an inclusion campaigner. based education. A detailed discussion was had on how cuts to In April, Angela Rayner launched the National school budgets are impacting on high needs Education Service Roadshow in Swindon. The NES provision. It was suggested that budget cuts Roadshow ran alongside the NPF consultation are leading to a decline in teaching assistants, a “towards a National Education Service” and reduction in SEND support from local authorities involved events in the