Issue - meetings

Report of the Executive Director of Children’s Social Care and Education

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Children’s Social Care and Education outlining the safeguarding arrangements for vulnerable children who did not attend school during the first Covid-19 lockdown, between March to June 2020. The report also referenced information relating to the wider re-opening of schools following this period. The report indicated that the Covid Act 2020 had removed statutory enforcement of school attendance.

Members of the Committee asked questions/raised issues on the following:

·       The roll-out of equipment to children in order for them to participate in on-line learning.

·       The number of children attending school during the current lock-down restrictions.

·       The number of children currently attending school who were deemed to be vulnerable.

·       Monitoring of attendance.

·       The number of primary children currently attending school and whether numbers were too high given risks associated with Covid-19. A response would be sought from Public Health.

·       How to donate unwanted laptops, etc. to schools. Information on the BBC donation scheme would be sought.

·       Support available to schools for both home learning and classroom learning.

·       The possibility of schools operating beyond their risk assessments.

·       Funding and continuity planning available for schools in the event of emergency situations.

RESOLVED: That

(1)      the report be noted;

(2)      the Director of Public Health be requested to provide information on whether numbers of primary children currently attending school were too high given the risks associated with Covid-19, to the Senior Democratic Services Officer, for circulation to Members of the Committee; and

(3)      the Head of Communities be requested to provide information on the BBC donation scheme of unwanted IT equipment to schools, to the Senior Democratic Services Officer, for circulation to Members of the Committee.