Agenda item

The process of resuming responsibility had accelerated, which had made the autumn of 2016 an onerous period. With the 3 lots completed on 1^st September, 1^st November and 1^st December 2016 respectively, SBC had now finished the process. Lot 2 was particularly challenging given the short notice on resuming responsibility for Children’s Centres, and also involved the largest number of staff (109). SBC was currently creating a Senior Management Team as a priority, with the post of Head of Commissioning, Partnership and Performance funded by the Department for Education. Schools were now handled under the ‘Plan on a Page’ presented as Appendix A. There were a very small number of Human Resources issues (e.g. equalisation of annual leave in some limited cases) but these were being resolved.

The Schools Forum had been very supportive, and good working relations with head teachers had been developed. SBC was now looking to appoint to key areas (e.g. Education Consultants) and would also be asking Council to support a Direction from Government to return SEND provision to SBC. Overall, the process of transferring responsibility back to SBC had been successful and had allowed for progress to be made rather than simply maintaining existing performance levels.

The Panel made the following points in discussion:

·  The resumption of direct responsibility had allowed for more action on areas such as school improvement and clarified SBC’s role. Academisation and the arrangement with Cambridge Education had made the relationships involved feel more distant.

·  The schools of concern policy had now been published; this had helped provide clarity on SBC’s role in school improvement.

·  SBC and SCST had also acted in unison on the early health initiative.

·  The new Director of Children’s Services had been selected on the basis of their ability to take forward the changes already underway. The new Director would be in position for a month whilst the Interim Director remained in post to provide a full handover.

·  Early Years provision and Children’s Centres were the areas with the highest numbers of vacancies. There would also be some restructuring of services as the situation settled.

·  The Panel requested that the number of staff at Cambridge Education at the time of the transfer, and the number who transferred over to SBC be circulated to them.

Resolved:  That the report be noted.