1

Minutes of last meeting

These were accepted as a true record.

2

Matters arising

There were no matters arising outside of agenda items.

3

BSF Update (PG)

Now in the final stages of the Evaluation Process.  The Corporate Evaluation Team will meet on Thursday and Friday 10/11 November to consider the sub groups’ recommendations.  Once the preferred bidder is agreed upon, there will be a need to tie down its specific commitments and cost by late November which will then lead into the financial close requirement by the end of February.

CH commented that the timescale was becoming more crucial for discussion with parents of children currently in Yr 6 and Yr 8 at Lister Lane.

4

SEN Review and Consultation Update (CH)

The Deaf Provision proposals have now been agreed by the Council’s Executive.  This, together with the reconfiguration of service delivery from Resourced Nurseries to Children’s Centres plus now concludes the SEN Review.  The consolidation of all decisions is published in 4 papers:

1                    Review of Special Education Needs Provision across the Bradford District – 2002/2005 (tabled)

2                    VI/Deaf Provision

3                    Review of Learning Support Service and provision for ‘anxious children’

4                    Funding Arrangements for pupils in mainstream schools, DSPs and special schools

Two, three and four above will be tabled at the next meeting.  CH will take suggestions of other personnel/groups who would wish to receive copies.

5

Sub-group Updates

Revenue/Finance – PG – Raj Singh (Financial Services) working on a spreadsheet showing revenue requirements for 2006/7 in preparation for presentation to the Finance Strategy Group in late November.  PG agreed to bring this to the next meeting.

Health – JR – The group is working well to produce a paper on the provision required to support the SEN Review.  Publication is expected next May.  DW commented that there are two strong elements within the group – that of Health representatives and the Headteachers Designate. At the moment, these are quite diverse and will need to come together to form a consensus for provision.

The group will visit Oldham to look at their model.

Early Years – MM – The resourced nurseries will close in July 2006.  Statutory notices will need to be published for 5 of these which are located at primary schools.  Meetings taken place/arranged with staff and Headteachers.

Further work is required on Barkerend to consider the space required for a Children’s Centre plus.

CH – Working on pupil population in terms of Miriam Lord, Eastwood and Barkerend.  Are there sufficient resources to meet the needs of the children from the immediate communities of these schools?  Also attempting to plot all special educational needs pupils from 1 month to 5 years old upwards to consider how best to establish a sound educational base for all.

Communications – RT – One Headteacher/Deputy HT is still required for the group.  PC suggested that Governors should also be represented.  RT/DW to take further.  PG also to discuss with RT another possible member for the group.

Further communication will be promoted after the preferred bidder has been agreed.

The Education Vision Conference on 28 November is now looking to be well attended.

A Communication and Marketing Group has been established for Education and will be chaired by Anthony Mugan, Head of Education Client Team.

HR – DaW -  Moving forward with TLRs with existing/new special schools.  Progressing assimilation and looking to do the Skills Audit with schools this half term.  Requiring additional members for the sub-group as some have now left. 

CH – Need to agree the framework for staff from the resourced nurseries and need to write to staff of former Temple Bank school to restate their position.

DW reported that Mary Fowler has been appointed as Chellow Heights Headteacher and interviews will be held on 1 and 2 December for the Haycliffe headship.

Vision and Leadership – DW- Substantial progress has been made with TLRs at a meeting with Heads Designate.  Staffing structures need to be considered with Heads and the shadow governing bodies before they are taken to the OJC.

DW briefed the Group on the study day of 3 November with Heads Designate and Glynn Freeth from the BSF team:

• Looked in detail at key case studies from Darlington Education Village; the Oldham model; Piper Hill, Manchester and the Leeds aspect with Mary Fowler.
• Deliberated on the concept of equal consideration of interest as a core value in each of the 6 new special schools as a contrast to equal opportunities.
• In terms of co-location, discussion on the funding arrangements of those areas of activity which overlap between the special school and the mainstream school.
• How to get things right in terms of the core purpose of education, ie fulfilling the 5 outcomes of Every Child Matters.  Ideally, once this is in place to further consider the concept of Extended Schools and Centres of Excellence.

Outcomes from the study day:

• Captured some essences to a point of consensus for values;
• Hold another study day this half term;
• Feedback to shadow governing body meetings – DW to produce documentation;
• Import to learn certain aspects from other Authorities, eg communication strategy at Darlington Village;
• Headteachers share these ideas with their Governing Bodies.

DW agreed to forward the documentation to Health reps via JR.

DW reported that the sub-group has met to consider vocational education.  Two meetings have been arranged with senior management from the colleges and the LSC to look at the promotion of off site vocational education.  CH commented that a similar meeting had already taken place – it was agreed to meet to clarify a further course of action.

Training – CH – The group meets in mid November.  It was agreed that DW would pass on the Action Plan for the Team Teach meeting and that CH and DaW would meet to consider the audit for Training and Support.  The role of Bradford College needs to be clarified in terms of brokerage/providing courses.

Pupil Transition/Transport – CH – Cannot progress until there is more certainty about the reorganisation date.

7

The Timeline (PC)

PC has recently been able to update the timeline after a 100% return from sub-group leaders.  PC thanked all for these returns.  She commented that a number of reports made in the present meeting could also update the timeline and to this end PC requested that sub-groups look again at the timeline with a view to adding sub sections within their areas with the percentage of completion added.

After the preferred bidder is known, it was agreed that the timeline should be distributed to a wider audience, but not necessarily in the present format – RT, with the communications sub-group to consider further.

The next timeline update required by Friday, 11 November.

8

AOB

None

9

Date and time of next meeting

Friday,18 November, 10.30 am, Future House.