Outcome Theme Group

Enjoying and Achieving

Time: 9.00am – 11.00am
Date: 22nd September 2008
Venue: Flowery Centre Hyde

Present:

Graham Ashford - Chair
Sue Garnett - SCYP
Caroline Gregory – Housing & Community Regeneration
Kim Brooks – SCYP Education Resource Team
Catherine Mosely – SCYP Access & Equality
Ameena Ahmed – SCYP
Joyce Swann, School Improvement, SCYP
Lyndsey Whiteside - Tameside School Sport Partnership
Lynn Barker – SCYP Childrens Centres
Alan Fish, Voluntary Sector
Nick Caws, TMBC
Jude Crabtree – Education Welfare

Note taker: Lindsay Patchett

Item 1: Welcome

Graham welcomed everyone to the meeting and introductions were made around the table.
Sue introduced Ameena Ahmed as the new coordinator for this meeting, and welcomed Lynn Barber who is a new representative on the group. Also Jude Crabtree who will be presenting a report card.

Item 2: Apologies

Bev Connolly

Item 3: Notes of last meeting and matter arising

Items 4 & 5 – Inclusion – to be presented at the next meeting
Items 6 & 7 – Heavy focus in JAR on schools action and school action plus
Nick stated that the PSA target of 80% of children with statements would make adequate progress had been met about 6-7 months ago.
Items 8 & 9 - New Charter Academy now up and running
Items 10 & 11 – No of primary schools with surplus places went up from 17 to 18 surplus places
Action – email figures to Lindsay
Comparative figures required against statistical neighbours

Minutes agreed as correct

Item 4 – Report card 3.4 (Needs of Young Carers)

Deferred

Item 5 – Discussion & Judgement

Deferred

Item 6 - Report card 3.4 (Children and Young People are enabled and encouraged to attend and enjoy school and to achieve highly)

Jude Crabtree presented the report card and made the following comments

• We are an Intensive Support Authority with 7% Persistent Absence – 6 Weekly meetings held with the Government
• Primary schools are less willing to partake 
• Schools should look at their data and challenge persistent absence
• Education Welfare Officers are to sit down with School Heads and draw up an action plan
• Fast Track work with families with 60% attendance
• Joint working with PCT regarding children’s illness absence – support for families with genuine illness – taking responsibility of Heads.
• CAF’s will trigger multi-agency response 
• Need to look at the alternative curriculum to ensure young people are engaged.
  

Item 7 - Discussion & Judgement

•  Good work put in place by EWO’s
•  Need for multi-agency working/responsibility
•  Time focussed model is too prescriptive – this year EWO’s issuing Penalty Notices three times a year – based on Wigan Model

The group judged the report card to be Heartening with exceptions

Item 8 - Report Card 3.8a update (Children and Young People with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities are helped to enjoy and achieve) – Bev Connolly

To be presented at future date

Item 9 - Discussion & Judgement

Awaiting update

Item 10 - Report Card 3.8b update – (Children and Young People with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities are helped to enjoy and achieve – Portage Service)

To be presented at future date

Item 11 - Discussion & Judgement

Awaiting update

Item 12 – Inclusion Awards Presentation

Nick Caws gave an informative presentation regarding the Inclusion Awards.

• Index for inclusion sent to all schools
• Steady but sure take up
• Originally 12 standards – now 6
• Schools aim to reach at least 5 of the standards
• All the schools included had volunteered
• During the assessment visits, the same information was checked with staff, parents, pupils and governors
• Eventually a senior member of staff within schools will become an Assessor
• Feedback given is constructive, no negative feedback given
• Feedback from schools that have taken part is positive
• Self-evaluation has improved as a result of the Inclusion Award
• Schools which have undertaken the Inclusion Award received a similar Ofsted report to their own findings.

Item 13 – Discussion & Judgement on Reports Card 3.3 Inclusive Practice

The group considered the report card to be Heartening with exceptions – what happens after assessment?

Item 14 – Judgement on report card 3.5b

Update required - Card to be re-presented at a later date.

Item 15 – DVD School Sports Presentation

This item was postponed at chairs request – Lyndsey has kindly agreed to present this at a future meeting

Item 16 – Action Plan

Reminder given to update the Action Plan
Awaiting outcome from JAR. The Action Plan will be re-visited at a future meeting.
Susan informed the group that the Area Coordinators have looked at the Report Cards format and changes have been made for presentation at CLT ( Children’s Leadership Team) in October.

Item 17 – AOB/Venues for 2009

The dates for 2009 to be arranged.

Action – Graham/Ameena to arrange dates – suggest that meetings take place on Wednesday mornings

Graham thanked Sue for her hard work as meeting Coordinator and wished her well for the future.
Sue Responded by thanking the group members for all their work in making the meetings a success and hoped that the group would go from strength to strength.

Graham thanked all members for attending.

Item 18 – Date & Venue for next meeting

24th November  Hyde CC at Post Office House, Hyde
8-45am for 9-00am