Meeting Details

In terms of Standing Order 20 and the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, there were no declarations from Group Leaders or Spokespersons in regard to any prior decisions taken on how Members will vote on any item on the agenda or any declarations of Member’s interests in respect of any item on the agenda.

The meeting resolved in terms of Section 50A (4) and (5) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, as amended, the public and media representatives be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the items of business appearing at the relevant paragraphs of this minute as specified below, so as to avoid disclosure of exempt information of the class described in the appropriate paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

The minute of the meeting of the Children and Young People's Services Committee dated 27 June 2018 was submitted and approved.

The Committee noted that no written questions had been submitted.

Under reference to paragraph 14 of the minute of the previous meeting of 26 September 2018, Mrs Slater sought clarification on her request for the number of Principal Teacher posts which were advertised and not filled which have since gone to Joint Principal Teacher Posts?

In response, the Head of Schools and Curriculum Development advised that the figures had not been circulated.  This was due to the information not being recorded however, she was able to confirm that less than 10 were filled due to the inability to fill the post, some were done for salary reasons to make a post more attractive, a few were done for sustainability of a subject in 1 person departments and some were for budgetary reasons when a post became vacant.

Councillor Ross questioned the Chair why she had not shared a letter received from the Educational Institute of Scotland detailing its findings after a survey of its Members on Scottish National Standardised Assessments.  The results of this survey raised enormous concerns particulary regarding Primary 1 testing.  The letter was sent to all Children and Young Person Committee Chairs and Education Committee Chairs.

In response the Chair said that she had not been aware that she was expected to share the letter but could circulate the letter if that is what was requested.

Councillor Ross thanked the Chair.

Councillor Creswell requested an update on the impact of the new 33 period week in Secondary Schools.

In response, the Head of Schools and Curriculum Development stated that it is still early days and discussions are still taking place on the best use of the time but feedback so far has been positive.

Councillor Alexander sought clarification on whether there is a Council policy on Head Teachers encouraging parents to consider sending their children to the Head Teacher’s school following him being advised about a video on social media.

In response the Acting Corporate Director (Education and Social Care) confirmed that it is not a policy of the Council for Head Teachers to make promotional videos pitting one school against another and thanked Councillor Alexander for bringing the video to his attention.  He acknowledged that the Head of Schools and Curriculum Development and himself will look at the video closely and consider what was said and will discuss the issue with the Head Teacher concerned.

Councillor Allan asked the Chair to join him in congratulating Mrs Mumford and the pupils from Lossiemouth High School who had recently performed their song Skies the Limit in the music room at Buckingham Palace. 

Councillor Morrison asked the Chair and the Acting Corporated Director (Education and Social Care) if they were aware of the work that is being done at Banff Academy alonside Aberdeen University, looking at developing a Scots language award as their appears to be links between attainment and the use of your own dialect and whether this could be considered in Moray.

In response the Head of Schools and Curriculum Development confirmed that in the 1 plus 2 languages have instances where Scots is the additional language that is being taught.

The Acting Corporate Director (Education and Social Care) further added that it is well proven through research that being bi-lingual has a major effect on their attainment.

Councillor Alexander congratulated the Education section on the video that has been made and distributed via social media encouraging people to come and teach in Moray.

Councillor Coy requested whether a press release could be written to help banish the myth that Moray does not welcome teachers from other countries.  Councillor Coy added that there is a preconception out there that Moray will not employ other nationalities and works hard to dispel the myth.

The Acting Corporate Director (Education and Social Care) further added that teachers of any nationality are welcome provided they are registered with the General Teaching Council Scotland.

A report by the Acting Corporate Director (Education and Social Care) informed Committee of the Primary and Secondary School Functional Capacities and Occupancy for session 2018/19 and asked Committee to note that a further report will be brought to Committee if physical or functional capacities change throughout the course of the session.

Following consideration the Committee agreed to note:

i)     the primary and secondary school functional capacities and occupancy for session 2018/19; and

ii)     that a further report will be brought to Committee if physical or functional capacities change throughout the course of the session.

A report by the Acting Corporate Director (Education and Social Care) informed Committee about the strategy and series of Committee reports which will provide a clear plan to improve education and children's services whilst also delivering a sustainable school estate.

During discussion Councillor Feaver raised concerns regarding the lack of strategy surrounding the plans presented in the report.

In response the Acting Corporate Director (Education and Social Care) confirmed that at 3.11 in the report the table listed the reports and the Committees that these reports would be presented.

In response, Councillor Feaver therefore proposed a motion that an additional recommendation be added which read "Committee notes that the plans are in place to put forward a strategy."

The Head of Schools and Curriculum Development further added that the action plans are supporting the strategy to improve outcomes for children in Moray.  Six key areas have been identified and will drive forward improvements throughout the schools.  She further added that there is a clear strategy to improve attainment and that action plans are needed to improve the outcomes and the action plans are being worked on by working groups.

Following further discussion Councillor Feaver withdrew her motion.

Following consideration the Committee agreed to:

(i)     note the contents of the report; and

(ii)     agreed the suite of papers as detailed in 3.11 and in Appendix 1 to be reported to future meetings of this Committee and Moray Council.

A report by the Acting Corporate Director (Education and Social Care) sought approval from Committee to continue to improve outcomes for children and young people.

Following consideration the Committee agreed to approve the three year strategy as the first of a series of reports about policy, strategy and capacity to continue to improve outcomes for children and young people.

A report by the Acting Corporate Director (Education and Social Care) informed Committee of the progress the Raising Aspirations in Science Education (RAiSE) National Initiative and the local progress made against the RAiSE objectives from March 2018 to present.

The Chair asked the Committee to join her in thanking the Primary Science Development Officer for the fantastic work she had done in embedding RAiSE in the Council along with our partners.

Following consideration the Committee agreed to note the contents of the report.

A report by the Acting Corporate Director (Education and Social Care) asked the Committee to note the progress of the Active Schools and Sports Development in Moray during and the last academic year and to approve the extension of the Service for a further year in partnership with sportscotland.

The Acting Corporate Director (Education and Social Care) updated the Committee that since the report was written the Chief Executive, the Active Schools and Sports Development Manager and himself have met with sportscotland senior managers and agreed that should the programme continue a further recommendation would be added which would read:

• agree that the active schools and community hub sports programmes should focus and maintain the involvement and inclusion of children and young people in the most deprived areas of Moray and collect evidence of that impact.

Councillor Eagle sought clarification on when the e-booking will be available for parents wishing to book their children onto the programme.

In response the Active Schools and Sports Development Manager confirmed that e-booking system will be available when the new programme goes live on 10 December 2018.

Following consideration the Committee agreed:

1. to note the progress of Active Schools and Sports Development in Moray during the 2017/18 academic year
2. approve the extension of the Active Schools and Community Sports Hub programmes from existing budget for a further one year period from 1 April 2019 in partnership with sportscotland at a cost of £130,000, with the potential of continuing this partnership on an annual basis up to 31 March 2023
3. agree that the Active Schools and Community Sports Hub programmes should focus and maintain the involvement and inclusion of children and young people in the most deprived areas of Moray and collect evidence of that impact.

A report by the Acting Corporate Director (Education and Social Care) informed Committee of the projects and proposed expenditure for Capital Budgets within Education and Social Care for 2018/19.

Following consideration the Committee agreed to note the contents of the report.

The Acting Head of Integrated Children's Services joined the meeting during the discussion of this item.

A report by the Acting Corporate Director (Education and Social Care) informed the Committee of the budget position for Education and Children and Families Services as at 30 September 2018.

Following consideration, the Committee agreed to note the budget position at 30 September 2018.

A report by the Acting Corporate Director (Education and Social Care) invited the Committee to scrutinise and note the outcomes of the recently published report on a Moray School following inspection visit by Education Scotland.

Following consideration the Committee agreed to note the content of the report.

A report by the Acting Corporate Director (Education and Social Care) invited Committee to scrutinise and note the outcomes of the recently published report on a Moray school following inspection by Education Scotland.

Following consideration the Committee noted the content of this report.

A report by the Acting Corporate Director (Education and Social Care) invited Committee to scrutinise and note the progress reports for two schools following Education Scotland inspections in March 2017 for Milne's High School and Tomintoul Primary School in April 2017.

Following consideration, the Committee agreed to note the content of the report.

A report by the Acting Corporate Director (Education and Social Care) informed Committee of the content of singleton inspection reports of Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) centres by the Care Inspectorate which were published during August to September 2018.

Following consideration the Committee noted the contents of the report.

A report by the Acting Corporate Director (Education and Social Care) asked Committee to scrutinise and note the attainment of secondary schools in Moray for session 2017/18.

Following consideration the Committee agreed to note the position in respect of attainment of young people in Moray.

A report by the Acting Corporate Director (Education and Social Care) informed Committee of redetermination funding that has been allocated by the Scottish Government to reinvigorate Whole Systems Approach, in Youth Justice.

The Chair clarified for the Committee that at section 3.7 and 3.10 (iv) it should read up to their 26 birthday as this was important in relation to recommendation (iii).

Following consideration the Committee agreed to note:

1. the content of the report;
2. the sum of £25,000 being paid by the Scottish Government in each of the financial years 2018-2020; and
3. the overall planning for how the sum will be used for the purposes of re-invigorating and extending the age range up to the 26th birthday of young people who might benefit from this approach.

The meeting was chaired by Councillor Sonya Warren.

The Committee joined the Chair in welcoming Mrs Nicola Belcher, the new parent representative to her first Children and Young People's Committee.

The Chair asked the Committee to note that Item 6 on the agenda, Question Time would be taken following item 19 on the agenda.