Agenda item

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 difficult situations that may arise within the school’s environment.  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that the Education Service provides Welfare Officers to support the teaching staff together with the Medra Counselling Service.  He further said that following the half-term a ‘Well-being’ Day will be afforded to staff with several external agencies providing support to the teaching staff.

It was RESOLVED to note the progress made during the last period in terms of the work of the Education Scrutiny Panel.