Agenda item

To provide Members with an update on Education Pandemic Recovery

The Chair welcomed Councillor Sarah Merry (Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education, Employment & Skills), Melanie Godfrey (Director of Education & Lifelong Learning), and Mike Tate (Assistant Director of Education & Lifelong Learning) to the meeting.

Councillor Merry was invited to make a statement, during which she provided Members with an update on activities over the summer and expressed gratitude to teachers, staff and partners who had taken part.

Officers provided Members with a presentation and provided with details of the Summer of Smiles, Enhanced Youth Service Provision, Summer Holiday Enrichment Programme, and the School September Restart.

Members were asked to comment or raise questions on the information received.  Those discussions are summarised as follows:

·         Members thanked and commended Officers on the social media campaign around the summer activities and the level of engagement it had inspired. Members sought clarification on whether participation was representative of the population of Cardiff, and whether there was any positive impact on school attendance. Members were also interested in whether there was detailed data for the different categories of young people, such as Children Looked After or with  additional learning needs (ALN). Members were advised that data was being collated for a report that would address some of these questions. Attendance in September was lower than in previous years, but this was partly to be explained by the impact of outdoor events such as festivals immediately before the return to school.

·         Members were interested in learning whether there were any plans to follow up the engagement particularly in relation to young people most at risk of becoming NEET. Members were advised that the identification of and intelligence on vulnerable groups had improved over the course of the pandemic because of the support that had been put in place. It is intended to build on that knowledge and share the intelligence with schools. Multi-agency support will continue in a long-term and sustainable way.  Both young people who attended a project, and those who did not have been assigned a youth mentor for ongoing support. Members were advised that data in relation to tracking these young people can be provided at a future meeting together with information about the schools view of the impact of the summer programme.

·         Members sought clarification on what equalities monitoring had revealed about the level of engagement with different communities. Members were advised that more information would be shared with the Committee when Officers had collated it.

·         Members asked for information the guidance given to schools in relation to Track and Trace and the circumstances in which teachers and pupils have to self-isolate. Members were advised that the Council follows the Welsh Government guidance. People who are under 18 or have been double vaccinated and are close contacts of someone who has tested positive for Covid-19 do not have to isolate. It is suggested that if there are people in the same household who have tested positive it is more sensible to self-isolate. This however is not a legally enforceable requirement. If cases rise more measures may be put in place. 

·         Members were advised about the widespread use of Lateral Flow Device Tests (LFTs), pupils in secondary schools and school staff have been very proactive in the use of these tests.  The key thing is continuity of education, but staff illness or staff having to stay home as they are looking after children who have tested positive for Covid could prove a challenge.  To help with this,  62 additional Non Qualified Teachers (NQTs) have been put in place for the autumn term,  funded by Welsh Government. Schools can use their top up recovery monies to fund those placements for a further two terms.  Members also queried the inconsistencies in the approach taken by different schools and were advised that further conversations are taking place.  Currently there are national guidelines in relation to isolation, but there are occasions when it would be prudent for pupils to remain at home, for example if there are a large number of cases recorded at the school.

·         Members sought clarification on the engagement to be carried out with parents and children by schools and the Council in relation to vaccinations.  They were advised that Welsh Government and NHS will be administering the programme. 

·         Members queried the arrangements for pupils being removed from role as they have been abroad, for example in Pakistan.  Members were advised admissions are working closely with schools to ensure that the policy followed appropriately.

·         Members sought reassurance that some of the successful programmes will be run again.  Members were advised that there must be continued evaluation and celebration of those schemes with a view to ensuring continued funding from Welsh Government and continued involvement of partners who helps in ensuring the continued success of those schemes.

RESOLVED:

That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee expressing their comments and observations during the way forward.