Agenda item

To submit the report of the Head of Learning.

Submitted – the report of the Head of Learning in relation to the above.

The Head of Learning reported that a Task and Finish Group was established made up of Head-teachers, school governors, elected members and education officers was established to discuss the provision of free breakfast clubs in Primary Schools. The recommendations of the Task and Finish Groups was as follows :-

•  Schools to run a fee paying pre-school care club between 8.00 a.m., and 8.25 a.m.  Schools to then run a free breakfast club between 8.25 a.m., and 8.50 a.m.  These Clubs to be distinct from each other and attendance at the pre-school club is not a requirement for attendance at the breakfast club;

•  This recommendation to be consulted upon with the stakeholders in a similar way to the previous consultation e.g. use of surveymonkey and correspondence with Governing Bodies.  This to be done as the recommendation outlined above was not an option outlined as part of the original consultation;

•  The new arrangements, if approved, to be implemented in September 2016.  If the on-line payment system is available by April 2016, the new arrangements to be implemented from the beginning of the summer term, April 2016;

•  The Task and Finish Group to continue as a monitoring and standards

group for the new arrangements.  Details for the proposed arrangements

are:-

•  Current staff employed under the Free Breakfast Scheme to continue as

they are employed for one hour under existing arrangements i.e. 7.50 a.m.

to 8.50 a.m.;

•  The fee to be set at 75p per day per child for the pre-school care club.  If

a family has three or more children attending the pre-school care club then

the fee to be set at £2 per day for the family;

•  The Authority will put in place a system for the collection of fees

electronically.  Any cash collected will need to be banked within the

school’s usual banking arrangements;

•  There will be no change in Caterlink’s role as the provider of the

breakfasts;

•  The Authority will have to consider the effect on the need for registration

with CSSIW on an individual school basis as registration is required if the

school runs a pre-school and after school club for a total of more than two

hours in one day.  There is no cost involved with CSSIW registration.

The Committee considered the report and congratulated the Task and Finish Group and Officers for their work.  The following matters were raised :-

•  The collection of the fee for the pre-school clubs should be administered

properly. 

•  That parents, particularly those from poorer background, should make

use of the free school breakfast clubs due to its nutritional value;

•  Officers to consider provision that parents who are entitled to tax credits

 and other benefits associated with child care are made aware of how to

claim back their expenses.

RESOLVED to accept the report and to approve the recommendations of the Task and Finish Group as noted above.