To receive apologies for absence from Members.

Cllr Mike Clark; Cllr Pam Davies; Cllr Martyn Jones; Cllr Kay Rowlands; Cllr Steve Smith; Cllr Jane Gebbie; Cllr D White; Ciaron Jackson; Rev. Canon Evans.

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)

William Bond - Governor at Heronsbridge.

To receive for approval the minutes of a meeting of the Subject Overview and Scrutiny Committee 2 of the 27/03/2019

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Subject Overview and Scrutiny Committee 2 of 27 March 2019 be approved as a true and accurate record.

Invitees:

Lindsay Harvey - Corporate Director - Education and Family Support;

Cllr Phil White - Cabinet Member for Social Services and Early Help

Nicola Echanis, Head of Education and Early Help;

Andy Rothwell, CSC Senior Challenge Advisor;

John Fabes, Specialist Officer Post 16 Education & Training;

Kathryn Morgan, Principal Educational Psychologist

Robin Davies, Group Manager Business, Strategy & Performance

The Specialist Officer Post 16 Education and Training presented the report providing an update on the review of Post-16 Additional Learning Needs (ALN) across the authority. In 2016, a strategic review board (SRB) was established and in turn, the SRB set up a Post-16 Operational Board to review post-16 provision across Bridgend County.  These Boards have presented a series of reports to Cabinet.  Throughout the journey, there were critical areas that required specific bespoke solutions. Due to the significant complexities around ALN provision, a specific piece of work ran alongside mainstream post-16 provision. Meetings were held with additional learning needs co-ordinators (ALNCos) in schools and special schools, together with senior leadership teams, Careers Wales, Bridgend College and senior managers in the Inclusion Service, referred to in the findings.  Inclusion Service led on a piece of work funded by the ALN Innovation Fund to develop a ‘map and gap’ analysis, which is expected to become a set of Protocols. Much work is being driven at a regional level and local authority officers continue to engage with Bridgend College in order to develop and support provision for post compulsory school-aged learners.

Current progression routes are predominately in three settings. Heronsbridge learners progress through the school until they are 19, a cohort that attend Ysgol Bryn Castell (YBC) with the greatest number of learners attending Bridgend College. The Specialist Officer Post 16 Education and Training highlighted the need to focus on the relationship with Bridgend College and the provisions for learners with ALN. In terms of pressures from Welsh Government (WG) and the types of qualifications that the Further Education Sector (FE’s) need to concentrate on, this is being monitored. Provision at YBC is well regarded with some learners on day release to College as a provision. Provision at Heronsbridge School is tailored to each cohort and focuses on work based learning/vocational skills. Due to greater clarity around placement criteria for entry to Heronsbridge School Key Stage 3 pupils have more complex learning needs and this will require the Post-16 provisions to be adapted to suit the needs of these cohorts.

The Specialist Officer Post 16 Education and Training highlighted the work of visiting schools to identify the features that work well in successful transitions including, links with ALNCos, connections with Bridgend College and the work with Careers Wales advisors.  They also support learners in making applications, in visits and speaking with parents and co-ordinators in college, although this is a much-stretched resource. There is a need to clearly understand the students and parents view points and the aspirations they have for transition. Getting the course right is critical going forward and getting them to upskill themselves is seen as a valuable part of transition. 

The Specialist Officer Post 16 Education and Training highlighted suggestions for improvement in support for transition of ALN learners including improved early transition planning for Key Stage 4 and the importance of transition and taster sessions, especially important for leaners with Autism Spectrum Disorder.  In addition, more frequent  ...  view the full minutes text for item 79.

The Head of Legal and Regulatory Services submitted a report to nominate a Member to sit on the Public Service Board Overview and Scrutiny Panel.

Resolved: That Councillor S Dendy be nominated to sit as a Member of Subject Overview and Scrutiny Committee 2 on the Public Service Board Overview and Scrutiny Committee Panel

The Head of Legal and Regulatory Services submitted a report which requested the Committee to nominate a Member as its Corporate Parenting Champion to represent the Committee as an Invitee to meetings of the Corporate Parenting Cabinet Committee.

Resolved: That Councillor M Clarke be nominated to sit as a Member of Subject Overview and Scrutiny Committee 2 on the Cabinet Committee Corporate Parenting in the capacity of an Invitee.

Resolved:

The Committee:

1             Approved the feedback from the previous meeting;

2             Noted that Safeguarding would be the next item allocated to SOSC 2;

Prioritised Home to School Transport for the meeting scheduled for September 2019.

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