Agenda, decisions and minutes

As noted above.

To receive any declaration of interest by any Member or Officer in respect of any item of business.

Councillor Euryn Morris declared a personal interest in respect of Item 5 – Additional Learning Needs & Inclusion Report as he is employed by Gwynedd Council.

To submit, for confirmation, the minutes of the previous meeting held on 14 January, 2025.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 14 January, 2025 were confirmed as correct.

Arising thereon:-

Item 5 – Corporate Safeguarding

Action 1 – The Chairs/Vice-Chairs Scrutiny Forum to be invited to consider the contribution of the Education Panel and the Social Services Scrutiny Panel to the work of scrutinising Corporate Safeguarding reports before they are presented to the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee.

An item has been included on the agenda of the next meeting of the Chairs/Vice-Chairs Scrutiny Forum to be held on 25 March, 2025.

Action 2 – To ensure that both Elected Members and staff prioritise attendance at mandatory training on cyber security.

The action is a priority for all Directors and Heads of Service.  Attendance Data : Staff : 69%/Elected Members : 97%

Action 3 – That arrangements be made for a presentation to a Member’s Briefing Session on the contribution of schools to the Authority’s Corporate Safeguarding arrangements. 

An item has been included on the agenda for the Elected Member’s Briefing Session to be held on 3 July, 2025.

Action 4 – To consider the structure of future Corporate Safeguarding reports, in the future, and specifically the priority of including separate information on safeguarding arrangements in schools.

The action has been considered and progress will be undertaken. 

To submit a report by the Director of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer.

The report of the Director of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer was presented for consideration by the Committee.

The Portfolio Member for Education and the Welsh Language said that the Council’s current Welsh language policy was adopted in 2016 when statutory Welsh language standards came into force, since then, the understanding of the standards has matured, and the Authority’s practices in relation to the language have developed significantly.  The Welsh language policy affects all those who deal with the Council and the draft policy is designed to meet the statutory requirements of the Welsh language standards.  He further said that the draft policy contributes to the aims of the Council Plan and the Welsh language promotion strategy.

The following were points of discussion by the committee :-

·     Questions were raised as to the main challenges of implementing a Welsh language policy.  The Portfolio Member for Education and the Welsh Language responded that whilst 55.8% of the Island population can speak Welsh, the Authority is fortunate that recruitment to posts broadly attracts local people with the ability to meet the Welsh language criteria.  Whilst acknowledging that some posts are difficult to fill with Welsh first language speakers, the Authority affords training to improve levels of language ability.  He further said there is strong enthusiasm within the Authority staff towards the Welsh language and numerous staff are also enrolling to improve their language skills.  The Head of Democracy said that this is a review of the Welsh Language Policy and staff are familiar with the Welsh language standards of the Authority.  During the induction sessions of new staff, they are made aware of the Welsh language standards and information is also included within the Authority’s internal website for staff. 

·     Questions were raised as to how has the Council’s practices changed since the Welsh language standards came into force in 2016?  The Portfolio Member for Education and the Welsh Language responded that the Welsh language skills has been incorporated within posts available within the Council.  He further said that the culture of the Authority has changed with meetings conducted through the medium of Welsh with translation facilities available for non-Welsh speakers. Reference was made that during the recent meeting of the Democratic Services Committee members raised concerns about the language medium of some training sessions and a general culture that risks alienating non-Welsh speakers.  The Head of Democracy responded that discussion have been undertaken internally as regards to the matter and will be reported to the next meeting of the Democratic Services Committee.  The training sessions will be afforded to Elected Members in both Welsh and English languages as is currently afforded to staff.  He further said that contact has been made with the Equality and Human Rights Commission regarding the issue raised and to date no response has been received.

·     Questions were raised as to what are the main differences between the draft and the current Welsh language policy?  The Policy and Welsh Language Manager responded that the revised Welsh Language Policy has  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To submit a report by the Director of Educaiton, Skills and Young People.

The report of the Director of Education, Skills and Young People was presented for consideration by the Committee.

The Portfolio Member for Education and the Welsh Language said that the Additional Learning Needs & Inclusion (ALN & I) Service was established in September 2017 as a joint service between the Isle of Anglesey County Council and Gwynedd Council.  The service has evolved over the years to respond to changes in demand and the wider context.  The service was reviewed externally in 2020 and again in December 2023.  All schools receive funding to accommodate learners with an Individual Development Plan. 

The following were points of discussion by the committee :-

·         Questions were raised as to what extend does the ALN & I service provide value for money, and what plans are in place to utilise AI to reduce bureaucracy and improve efficiency and value for money?  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that the use of AI is not currently used within the ALN & I service as there are safety and legal implications but there is research undertaken that will help the introduction of AI in the future.  The Senior Manager – Additional Learning Needs & Inclusion said that the focus is undertaken with the regard to the pupil’s individual development plans and the Co-ordinators needs to keep the plans up to date.  She noted that the Head Teachers are requesting targets that the school may use for pupils with specific needs which will reduce bureaucracy, and it is hoped that moving the new formula-base funding method in March 2024 will also reduce bureaucracy.

·         Questions were raised as to what, if any, are the potential negative impacts of the new formula-based funding method set to take effect in March 2025 and whether the formula approach encourages discord amongst schools.  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that a Briefing Session on the new formula-based funding method and the ALN & I Action Plan details can be arranged.  He noted that the new formula-based funding method is only relevant to the primary sector at present.  The Senior Manager – Additional Learning Needs & Inclusion said that new formula will provide more financial stability to maintain staffing levels and will have a more consistent regime across schools.  She noted that the formula is based on the number of learners with Individual Development Plans, in addition to the severity of learners’ need areas.  The new formula will be based on individuals and the complexities of the pupil.   Further questions were raised as to when the new formula will be escalated into the secondary school’s provision.  The Senior Manager – Additional Learning Needs & Inclusion responded that it is hoped that discussion will be undertaken next year as to a similar system been afforded within the secondary schools. 

·         Questions were raised whether more parents of children with Additional Learning Needs choose to educate their children at home.  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that the education service creates individual plans for children with Additional  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To submit a progress report by the Chair of the Education Scrutiny Panel.

 The Chair of the Education Scrutiny Panel, Councillor Gwilym O Jones said that this is the fifth progress report which covers the period October 2024 to January 2025.  He noted that the Panel has met on four occasions during this period and considered the following matters :-

·     The Welsh Language;

·     Improve Teaching and Learning;

·     Mental Health and Wellbeing Framework;

·     Additional Learning Needs and Inclusion;

·     Scrutiny Panel work programme for the period October 2024 – January 2025.

The following were points of discussion by the committee :-

·     Questions were raised as to what suggestions can be made to further strengthen the work of the Panel?  The Chair of the Education Scrutiny Panel responded that following the two tragic incidents in two schools recently, the Director of Education, Skills and Young People has been requested to prepare a report to the Panel regarding security and safety within schools on the Island. 

·     The Chair questioned whether it was more appropriate for the Education Scrutiny Panel to scrutinise the school’s expenditure rather than the Finance Scrutiny Panel.  The Chair of the Education Scrutiny Panel responded that the Panel does consider wide ranging topics within its role as a Scrutiny Panel and funding of schools is consider by the Panel.  Members of the Committee considered that it is a matter for the professional Officers to discuss the funding of schools and to report to the Finance Scrutiny Panel.  It was further raised that minutes of the 3 Scrutiny Panels should be made available to all Members of the Scrutiny Committee to allow them to be informed and understand the discussions undertaken within these Panels.  The Portfolio Member for Education & the Welsh Language said that he considered that the Education Scrutiny Panel does strengthen the Education Service.  He noted that the Executive Committee has decided not to reduce the funding towards education within the 2025/2026 budget proposals and one of the main reasons for the decision was due to the  pressure on the Additional Learning Needs & Inclusion service.  He noted that pressure is put on the WLGA to source funding for education and the additional learning and inclusion service.  The Head of Democracy said that a Scrutiny Working Group was undertaken recently and the roles and the relationships between the Scrutiny Panels were discussed.  He noted that as part of phase 2 of the Scrutiny Review implementation, a discussion will be undertaken as to how the three Scrutiny Panels reports to the parent Scrutiny Committees.  He further said that the role of the Finance Scrutiny Panel is to monitor the budget, and their role should not be weakened. The Chief Executive said that the comments made as regards to the work of the three Scrutiny Panel can be discussed further between the relevant Officers and thereafter report to the Chair/Vice-Chairs Panel in due course. 

·     Reference was made to the pressures on schools in respect of vulnerable pupils, additional learning needs and inclusion.  Questions were raised as to the support and provision for the teaching staff following  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To submit a report by the Scrutiny Manager.

The report of the Scrutiny Manager was presented regarding the nomination of a member of the Committee on the Finance Scrutiny Panel.

It was RESOLVED to defer the item to the next meeting of the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee to be held on 12 March, 2025.

To submit a report by the Scrutiny Manager.

The report of the Scrutiny Manager setting out the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee’s indicative Forward Work Programme for 2024/2025 was presented for consideration.

It was RESOLVED to:-

·       agree the current version of the forward work programme for 2024/2025.

·       note the progress made thus far in implementing the forward work programme.