Agenda item

Children Services

Karen Dolton, Executive Director Children’s Services to update at the meeting. Report attached.

 

 

Minutes:

Karen Dolton, Executive Director Children’s Services provided an update on School’s. Following the lockdown Schools have been open for key workers and vulnerable children. There has been a large amount of work that has took place to encourage parents of vulnerable children send their Children to school during this time. Extended opening up on 22.06.2020 to other cohorts of students; Reception, Year one, Year six and Year ten. Following this risk assessments have been taking by schools to outline if they can take wider cohorts of children.

 

Before the summer schools were between 15-17% of children back in Schools, which was one of the best in Greater Manchester. Large amount of work before September opening. Heads want children to return to school, however a large amount of the first term is likely to consist of chasing parents and families up to discuss about children returning. Throughout the pandemic, remote and distance learning has been provided for home use and the Bury’s Teachers Alliance is doing a review on the provision so any good practice can be continued.

 

Specialist Schools in the Borough have had a fairly low number of students returning, this is due to a large amount of the students shielding under Government Guidelines and the provision for remote learning has been so excellent it has felt safer for parents to continue this.

 

On return from lockdown some children may have thrived during the lockdown period but some may need support to catch up. So re baselining will take place and the first term will likely be teachers assessing where the children are at in their abilities and providing a work programme to support them.

 

The Board discussed how confident they are that schools have worked hard to support their children and families. Along with a special thanks for the strong contribution of Karen Dolton, Julien Kramer and Paul Cooke who have provided great leadership behind the scenes. Karen Dolton is due to leave the Council soon and this is her final Health and Wellbeing Board so the Board wanted to place their thanks on record for all her work at Bury Council.

 

Councillor Tariq, Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member Children, Young People and Skills advised that as a department we have been leading and engaging with the advisory group of Head Teachers. They have given focus and accountability accompanied by daily briefings. Weekly meeting with teacher union leads.

 

The Borough reopened schools on the 22/06/2020 going against Government guidance however following the opening there was 3 episodes of COVID-19 outbreak within schools. This demonstrated why moving to a later opening date than the Governments request for the 1st of June felt justified. Fiona Robinson who runs St Marie’s Roman Catholic Primary School was commended across Greater Manchester for the way they dealt with the outbreak. A Virtual Conference with all Bury Head teachers is due to take place just before the term begins after the summer to support Schools.

 

It was agreed:

 

1.   Karen Dolton be thanked for her update

2.   Councillor Tariq be thanked for his update

3.   Karen Dolton be thanked for all her contribution to Bury’s Health and Wellbeing Board and we wish her well for her future.

 

Supporting documents: