1

Minutes of last meeting

These were accepted as a true record.

2

Matters arising

Sub-group updates:

            HR – PG – Not yet in a position to send the letter to the ex Temple Bank             staff.  Action – PG/CH to discuss further.

            Communications – Continuing to follow-up on the Education     Vision event.  PG added that the group is looking to replicate the event in        2007.

3

BSF Update – PG

• Now in the final stages of appointing the preferred bidder.  At present working on the preferred bidder letter which is a substantial document setting out details of what has to be agreed and done.  This document has already been cleared by legal and finance.
• The announcement of the preferred bidder is likely to be before or on 11 January.
• The implementation date is more unlikely to be September 2007 and the possibility of a judicial review needs to be built into the timing.  Also, for sound educational reasons it has been agreed previously that work should not be done in haste to try to make up for lost time and it would appear that there is much support for this view across the whole District.
• The possible new implementation date will not affect the Heads Designate release time previously agreed.
• The group was reassured that they and other interested parties would be informed of the preferred bidder before it reached the press and until this point all should keep to the properly managed process and maintain confidentiality.
• DW stated that an added difficulty arising from the delayed timing of the preferred bidder announcement was that of processing the annual reviews of the Year 6 special school pupils in time for the statutory deadline of 15 February.
• CH added that around 12 pupils in mainstream schools have a preference for special schools and this also needs to be resolved by 15 February.
• CH also indicated that as a consequence of the possible new implementation date of September 2008, there will be smaller existing schools requiring extra support.  Action – PG/DW to discuss further.
• RT raised the issue of how parents will be informed of the implementation date before it reaches the press.  It was suggested that a mid-day announcement would go some way to solving this problem. PG added that a schedule of who should be informed and by what means needs to be drawn up.  Action – RT to consult with Carolyne Coyle of the Council Press office.

4

Deaf Review/Implementation – CH

• There is a delay on the publication of the statutory notices until the capital build monies have been secured.
• Managers have met to discuss future governance and management arrangements.
• There is a major concern about the recruitment of staff for the DSPs. Girlington Primary, which is a Beacon school, has not received any suitable applications from teachers of the deaf nor any applications from those who would be willing to train for this qualification.
• No real progress has been made in securing a DSP for the north of the District, although CH is at present in discussion with one school.

5

Sub-Group Updates

Revenue/Finance – PG tabled and talked through the spreadsheet showing the 22 areas requiring revenue for 2006/7 and 2007/8.  Costs have been categorised as priority A for the former year and priority B for the latter. These figures will be taken to the next Finance Strategy Group in early January where the increase in the Dedicated Schools Grant should allow for the absorption of these costs.  PG thanked the group for making substantial progress in such a short time.

PG added that the mainstream co-located primary schools will each receive £20,000, direct to the school, for the back-filling of staff who will be released to work on co-located issues.

Health – JR –

• The group has met in November and will meet again in January. 
• The work commissioned with the Health Education Working Group is going well and to time.
• The visit to Oldham resulted in very interesting learning points, a key one being the high level of staffing for Health, although there were some problems encountered within the middle ground between Education and Health.  This is something to learn from and to focus upon.
• JR, DW, KB and MC have met with Jane Hayward of the Children’s Workforce Development Council to seek financial support.  Further work to take place with a view to making a bid for finance in April of next year.

Early Years – PG

• RH has presented a paper on costs/staffing for the reconfiguration from Resourced Nurseries to Children’s Centres Plus to the Finance Strategy Group. Further figures will be presented in the New Year.
• CH stated that there are major issues concerning the reconfiguration.  Action – PG/CH to discuss.

Communications – RT – At present working on the follow-up to the Education Vision event and the communication strategy for the announcement of the preferred bidder.

HR – DW – At present discussing TLR issues with the Unions who have now been reassured concerning career structures within Bradford special schools.

PG added that there is no reason why staff will not be assimilated to their posts by the summer of 2006.

Vision and Leadership – DW - A second Study Day has taken place to consider staffing structures and the vision for the curriculum.  A 2 day residential will take place towards the end of January 2006 to work further on staffing structures with more days booked in 2006.

Training – CH – The group has not met recently.  Awaiting the names of other Headteachers to join the group before another meeting takes place.

Pupil Transition/Transport – CH – The group has not met.

6

AOB

PG – For information to current Headteachers of special schools is the issue of Single Status, ie equal pay for equal work.  There may be claims, particularly from non-teaching staff, if the pay of a staff member is less than someone doing the same job.  Retrospective claims can also be made. Education Bradford HR staff will be briefing Headteachers and Chairs of Governors about this.  Funding for any successful claim will be made from outside of schools’ budgets.

7

Date and time of next meeting

It was agreed to go ahead with the 6 January meeting (10.30 am at Future House) with a one item agenda - BSF Update.