Agenda item

Report of Cabinet Member for Education (and SEND)

The Committee considered a report of the Cabinet Member for Education (and SEND) regarding the Schools White Paper, “Opportunity for All: Strong Schools with Great Teachers for your Child”, which had been published in March 2022 (schedule 1 to the signed minutes).

The White Paper set out the Government’s ambition for a school system that helped every child in England to fulfil their potential by ensuring:- (i) “an excellent teacher for every child; (ii) high standards of curriculum, behaviour and attendance; (iii) targeted support for every child who needed it? and; (iv) a stronger and fairer school system”?. A Schools Bill followed in May 2022 in order to provide the legislation necessary to enact the reforms.

The Committee heard of potential implications for the Local Education Authority arising from the proposed legislation which included:- (i) their retention of various statutory duties eg ensuring fair access to school places, provision of suitable home to school transport etc; (ii)  a requirement for Local Safeguarding Partnerships to commission safeguarding audits every three years; (iii) the establishment and maintenance of a Children not in School Register; (iv) provision of support to parents who chose to home educate their children; (v) changes to the School Attendance Order process requiring Orders to be issued within three days of the relevant event triggering the duty to issue and; (vi) a change in the non-statutory status of Government guidance entitled “Working Together to Improve School Attendance”, to make it statutory.

During his presentation of the report the Cabinet Member highlighted that progress of the Schools Bill through Parliament was currently on-hold pending a review of current reforms by the new Secretary of State for Education. 

In the full and wide-ranging discussion which ensued Members gave detailed scrutiny to the contents of the White Paper asking questions, seeking clarification and raising areas of concern to help inform the County Council’s response, as necessary, including:- the need for any new legislation to reflect the importance of parental responsibility in raising children; (ii) the importance of ensuring all children were able to attain their full potential including those pupils with high ability; (iii) the future role and relevance of the Office for Standards in Education; (iv) the advantages and disadvantages of elective home education for children and how parents could better be supported by the Local Education Authority in the future; (v) how the specific needs of children with behavioural problems were to be addressed by future legislation and; (vi) how changes in the length of the school week helped to support the Government’s ambitions for children.

In conclusion, the Committee were generally supportive of the findings of the White Paper and proposed legislation. They welcomed efforts to ensure every child reached their full potential. However, they were mindful of the extra responsibilities which were likely to be placed on Local Authorities and the corresponding resource implications for the County Council.

RESOLVED – (a) That the report be received and noted.

(b) That the Cabinet Member be urged to have regard to their comments in his on-going correspondence with Government in implementing their new ambitions for the school system in England.