Performance Scrutiny Committee - People

The Performance Scrutiny Committee (People) considered the mid-year report for Education Services for 2024/25, which covers April to September 2024. The Cabinet Member for Education and Early Years gave an overview, and members questioned officers. The committee recommended that officers consider a whole city approach to keeping pupils in Welsh-medium learning from Meithrin (Welsh-medium nursery) to Reception (first year of primary school), and asked for further data. The minute does not record a vote on the report as a whole.

1. Education Services mid-year performance 2024-25

   Decided

   The committee recommended that officers consider a whole city approach to improve continuity in Welsh-medium learning from Meithrin to Reception. It requested the number of hours English-medium schools timetable for Welsh lessons, NEET destination data and drop-off rate (NEET means young people not in education, employment or training), and figures for children who move from Welsh-medium to English-medium provision.

   Why

   The service's own report says all five objectives and their actions are rated green, meaning on track. It says the service is using its strongest headteachers, about 30 per cent of them, to support other schools, and that attendance remains fragile in all schools. Two new schools, St Andrews and the new Pillgwenlly Primary, are near completion, and rising costs of ALN (additional learning needs) transport and placements outside the county are named as financial pressures.

   Based on the minutes, Item 4 - CR - People Mid-Year Reviews - Edu, Item 3 - Education Mid Year Report v1

2. Actions, work programme and outcomes monitoring

   Decided

   The Scrutiny Adviser noted that the work programme had no changes and gave the date of the next meeting as 14 January 2025. The committee was told that the outcomes had been updated but still await responses.

   Why

   The committee's action sheet and outcomes table track what it has asked officers and Cabinet Members to do, so members can follow outstanding issues. Scrutiny means members checking the council's work and decisions.

   Based on the minutes, Item 5 - Scrutiny Advisor Report, Item 5.1 - Actions, Item 5.2 - FWP, Item 5.3 - Outcomes

Written by AI from the council's minutes and reports. Sentences with a number or name that can't be found in those papers are removed automatically, but mistakes are still possible. Councils publish no word-for-word record of meetings, so this says what was decided and why. Read the official papers to be sure.

1. 2

   Declarations of Interest

   Minute

   None.

2. 3

   Service Area Mid Year Reports 2024-25 - Education Services

   Minute

   The Cabinet Member for Education and Early Years provided an overview of the report to the Committee. Members questioned the Officers and Cabinet Member on the content of the report - to access a full recording of the comments made please refer to the Council's YouTube Channel Democratic Meetings / Cyfarfodydd Democrataidd Outcomes: • The Committee recommended that Officers consider a whole city approach to improve Welsh-medium learning continuation from Meithrin to Reception. • The Committee requested the number of hours that English-medium schools have timetabled for Welsh lessons. • The Committee requested NEET destination data and drop-off rate. • The Committee requested figures for children who transition from Welsh to English-medium provision.

   Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

   Papers: Item 4 - CR - People Mid-Year Reviews - Edu, Item 3 - Education Mid Year Report v1
3. 4

   Scrutiny Adviser Reports

   Minute

   a) Actions Arising The Scrutiny Adviser highlighted the updated table. They added that communications had been sent to all Members inviting them to visit the Assistive Technology Hub. b) Forward Work Programme The Scrutiny Adviser noted no changes to the work programme and the date of the next meeting of the 14th January 2025. c) Outcomes The Scrutiny Advisor informed Committee that these had been updated and still awaiting response.

   Papers: Item 5 - Scrutiny Advisor Report, Item 5.1 - Actions, Item 5.2 - FWP, Item 5.3 - Outcomes

4. Meeting recording

   Minute

   Please click here to watch the meeting.

   Part of an issue followed across 16 meetings

Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.

The minutes record no declarations of interest.

• David Fouweather, ChairConservativePresent
• Bev Davies, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Carmel Townsend, Committee MemberLiberal DemocratSent apologies
• David Mayer, Committee MemberGreenPresent
• Debbie Harvey, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Debbie Jenkins, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Janet Cleverly, Committee MemberNewport Independent PartyPresent
• Stephen Marshall, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Trevor Watkins, Committee MemberLabourPresent

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