To receive apologies for absence from Members.

Councillor Ian Spiller

Invitees:

Emma Davies, Early Intervention Locality Manager

Stuart Farrow, Assistant Headteacher, Archbishop McGrath

To receive declarations of personal and prejudicial interest (if any) from Members/Officers in accordance with the provisions of the Members Code of Conduct adopted by Council from 1 September 2008 (including whipping declarations)

Councillor Amanda Williams – Personal – children attend a Bridgend County Borough Council School, Local Education Authority (LEA) Governor at two schools.

Councillor Heather Griffiths – Personal – Chair of Governors Coleg Cymunedol Y Dderwen and Granddaughter attends a Bridgend County Borough Council School.

Councillor Johanna Llewellyn-Hopkins – Personal – Governor at Cynffig Comprehensive School, a teacher and child attends a Bridgend County Borough Council School.

Councillor Melanie Evans – Personal – Child attends a Bridgend County Borough Council School, Governor at Croesty Primary and Pencoed Comprehensive School.

Councillor Tim Thomas – Personal – Governor at Coleg Cymunedol Y Dderwen and Brynmenyn Primary School and children attend Bridgend County Borough Council Schools.

Samantha Lambert-Worgan – Personal – Governor of Heronsbridge School and children attend Bridgend County Borough Council Schools.

Invitees:

Councillor Jon-Paul Blundell – Cabinet Member Education

Lindsay Harvey - Corporate Director – Education and Family Support

Michelle Hatcher – Group Manager Learner Support

Mark Lewis – Group Manager Inclusion and School Improvement

Emma Davies – Early Intervention Locality Manager

Susan Roberts – Group Manager (School Support)

Neil Arbery – Lead Officer, Strategic Development (Primary Sector)

Kathryn Morgan – Principal Educational Psychologist (INC)

Joanne Bendon – Whole School Approach to Health and Well-being Coordinator

Christina Morgan – CAMHS Senior Nurse

Michelle Joyner-Head – Head, The Bridge Alternative Provision

Helen Jones – Headteacher, Maesteg School

Mike Stephens – Headteacher, Porthcawl Comprehensive School

Sara Johns – Headteacher, Cefn Glas Infants

Carmen Beveridge – Headteacher, St Robert’s

The Whole School Approach to Health and Well-being Coordinator presented the report, the purpose of which was to update the Committee on the progress on the whole-school approach to emotional and mental wellbeing and provide background information on the statutory Welsh Government guidance document and how this had been implemented with Bridgend schools as a whole-school approach.

The Chairperson thanked the Officer and Invitees and Members discussed the following:

·       The current position on the recruitment and retention of School Governors and exploring what could be put in place to support the recruitment and retention of School Governors in order to attract the best candidates in the communities to support schools.

·       The Welsh Government Guidance and the support available, referred to in the report, the need for assurance that all governing bodies had the skills and ability to be able to monitor schools’ performance in improving emotional health and mental well-being of both pupils and staff, and the Bridgend Governors Association which had restarted and gave all Governing Bodies the opportunity to come together, be involved and access training required.

·       Concern over the loss of school support staff to higher paying vacancies that could offer a more blended working environment, whether   employment routes could be made more attractive, and how the issue was being raised with the Minister and Welsh Government were looking at how this could be changed and how teachers could be recruited.

·       The initial analysis of the self-evaluation process findings were about children and young people’s emotional and mental well-being across the county borough, the national evaluation which had shown leadership and commitment to be a priority, the focus on staff well-being training and the impact of low morale on learners.

·       Concern regarding the pressures on teachers which could result in absence due to stress and anxiety and what further support was needed from the Local Authority to support teachers and ensure their well-being.

·       On a practical basis Schools adopting the sickness absence procedures consistently and the importance of recognising and valuing education as a public service.

·        The lack of breakfast club facilities at some schools, which meant at times some of those most in need were not receiving breakfast and given the cost of living crisis and going into Winter it was imperative for children to receive breakfast.

The Chairperson advised that there were no further questions for the Invitees, thanked the Invitees for their attendance and, advised that they may leave the meeting.

RESOLVED:            Following detailed consideration and discussions with Cabinet Members and Officers, the Committee made the following Recommendations:

1.     That an audit of schools be undertaken to identify the significant level of School Governor vacancies along with an audit of School Governor skills to assist Members in understanding what can be done to attract more people with the right skills to becoming Community School Governors, and the outcome of the audits be made available to the Committee for information in the first instance.

2.     That the Bridgend Governors’ Association be requested to clarify  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

Following detailed discussions, the Committee made the following recommendations:

·       That the Universal Primary Free School Meals (UPFSM) and Operational Issues within the Catering Services reports be brought forward to the 4th December meeting with the Additional Learning Needs (ALN) provision report to be moved to the Spring.

RESOLVED:   The Committee approved the FWP in Appendix A,

                                 subject to the above, noted the Recommendations

                                 Monitoring Action Sheet in Appendix B and noted that                    

                                 the FWP, Recommendations Monitoring Action Sheet

                                 and any updates from the Committee would be

                                 reported to the next meeting of COSC.

To consider any item(s) of business in respect of which notice has been given in accordance with Part 4 (paragraph 4) of the Council Procedure Rules and which the person presiding at the meeting is of the opinion should by reason of special circumstances be transacted at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

None.