Children, Families and Education Committee Update

The Children, Families and Education Committee for Wirral Council met at Wallasey Town Hall on Wednesday 27 November 2024.

The full agenda for this committee meeting is available on the council website - the meeting was also live webcast and can be watched back online via the link on the agenda.

Items on the agenda included:

Pupil Place Planning Phase Three – Wallasey

Full details can be found in the committee report

In March 2021, this Committee endorsed the Pupil Place Planning Strategy 2021 -2026.

This strategy set out a planned framework for the review of school places in both primary and secondary mainstream schools over the next five years. Phase three of the primary phase of the review commenced in October 2023 looking at small planning areas in and around Wallasey, specifically: North Wallasey and South Wallasey. The purpose of the report is to outline the recommendations arising out of phase three of the pupil place planning review.

The report states that the population of children aged 0-9 is expected to decline in Wirral over the next five years. Population changes and local projections are evidencing that surplus is growing in schools. The report further offers that this can have a detrimental impact on school viability as well as how pupils are supported in their education. The report goes on to identify schools that would have the highest proportion of vacant places by 2028.

After noting the contents of the report, the committee approved that:

• Mount Primary School consults on having a Published Admission Number (PAN) of 45, reducing from 50
• Ss Peter & Paul RC Primary School consults on having a PAN of 30, reducing from 45
• St Alban’s RC Primary School consults on having a PAN of 45, reducing from 60
• Somerville Primary School consults on having a PAN of 60, reducing from 90
• Egremont Primary consults on having a PAN of 45, reducing from 57.

2024/25 Budget Monitoring for Quarter 2 (to 30 September 2024)

Full details can be found in the committee report

This report sets out the financial monitoring information for the Children, Families and Education Committee as at Quarter 2 (30 September) of 2024/25. The report provides members with an overview of budget performance, including progress on the delivery of the 2024/25 saving programme and a summary of reserves and balances.

Members noted the contents of the report and that the Director of Finance has contacted the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) to make them aware of the Council’s overall financial position.

Fostering Service Annual Report 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024

Full details can be found in the committee report

This report provides an overview of the Fostering Service Annual Report for the period of 1st April 2023 - 31st March 2024. The report covers; key performance over the period, analysis of current practice, key issues and risks and focus areas for the next 12 months. 

Members reviewed the contents of the report and signed off its contents for publication.

Council Plan Performance Report Quarter 2 2024-25, theme: Early Help for Children and Families

Full details can be found in the committee report

This report provides a quarterly performance report in relation to the Council Plan: Wirral 

Working Together 2023-27, focusing on the theme of ‘early help for children and families’.

The committee considered the report and this can be viewed on the webcast here.

Wirral Home to School Transport for Young People 

Full details can be found in the committee report

The report provides the committee with an overview of the current delivery model for home to school travel for Wirral children.

It discusses current provision and financial information relating to the service, as well as the need to develop a Assisted Travel for Young People policy, to be undertaken through significant stakeholder engagement. The report states that this policy would ensure the council fulfils its statutory responsibilities in making sure young people can access their education.

Members approved the development of a new Assisted Travel for Young People Policy and for this policy to be approved at a future committee meeting. They also approved the development of the strategies outlined in the report to embed a more effective service delivery model.

Care Programme Progress Update

Full details can be found in the committee report

This report provides an update on the care programme endorsed by the committee on 23 September 2024.

The aim of the Care programme is to safely reduce the borough’s reliance on residential care placements by, wherever possible, enabling children and young people to be raised by their families, within their family network, or in a family environment.

The Care Programme seeks to align good quality care with proactive transformation work to mitigate against significant budget pressures in Children’s Services.

Members noted the progress update and agree to receive a further update in January 2025.

SEND Improvement

Full details can be found in the committee report

Members received an update on the improvement programme for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) for the local area.

The committee noted the progress of the Local Area SEND Partnership Board tackling system improvement as required by the Department for Education’s (DfE) Improvement Notice.

Work Programme

Full details can be found in the committee report

The Children, Young People and Education Committee is responsible for proposing and delivering an annual committee work programme. This work programme should align with the corporate priorities of the Council, in particular the delivery of the key decisions which are within the remit of the committee. This report allows the committee the opportunity to plan and regularly review its work across the municipal year

Members discussed the proposed Children, Young People and Education Committee work programme for the remainder of the 2024/25 municipal year.