MINUTES OF THE HAVANT PATCH FORUM MEETING
held at the
DAME JUDITH PROFESSIONAL CENTRE PORTSMOUTH
Date: Thursday 20th May 2004
Present: 12 Governors (See attached list)
Apologies:
Chair: Mrs Sylvia Vine
Clerk Mrs Denise Chesney
In Attendance Mr Bob West (Local Governor Services Co-ordinator)
Guest Speaker: Mr Robin Thomas
Acting Assistant County Education Officer (Inclusions)
PRESENTATION:
DEVELOPING HAMPSHIRE'S BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT STRATEGY
Robin Thomas, Acting Assistant County Education office (Inclusion) introduced his presentation by raising shared concerns for behaviour support. Currently Hampshire has a rising number of exclusions with 283 children permanently excluded at July 2003 Comparisons show Hampshire schools having a higher percentage of exclusions than comparator LEA's, a higher percentage than the national average both local and national aim to reduce the number of exclusions.
Mr Thomas highlighted the need to strengthen the partnership between schools and the LEA to resolve `battles' regarding problems of behaviour between schools and the school and LEA . Mr Thomas accepted that behaviour support was
Inconsistent and variable throughout the county
Support not integrated within / between services eg admissions, SEN, EOTAS, EWS etc
Not joined up to outside agencies eg Connexions, Youth Service, and Social Services etc.
The LEA proposed to introduce
One-stop shop
Development of provision made by education centres / EBD school
`inclusion' seen as whole LEA standards and improvement issue
greater flexibility of criteria to access available support eg statements, exclusions
Mr Thomas continued his presentation with details of what was already happening within the County. A very successful F.A.S.T. team has been introduced in Leigh Park which provides co-ordinated multi agency support. A similar team will be developed in Gosport very soon. Ownership of locally managed behaviour support will be encouraged by all schools and headteachers. The LEA will build on principles embodied in the Green Paper and a re-focus on education centres and EBD school provision will encourage a flexible use of existing resources.
Mr Thomas stressed the importance of the LEA and schools working in partnership to address the many issues. It was important to break the cycle of inadequate support for behaviour, rising exclusions, over committed education centre staff and inadequate support for behaviour problems. By introducing a One-Stop Shop schools would benefit by one single point of contact. A more integrated service will provide greater flexibility and head teacher involvement.
Mr Thomas drew his presentation to a close by saying he had raised many issues and concerns without providing all the answers. He hoped his presentation would provide an opportunity for debate with a promise that the LEA would like to do it better.
Members of the Forum raised concerns that parents were taking their children to other schools when behaviour problems were an issue. Headteachers were forced to look at damage limitation to preserve already stretched budgets dependant on school numbers. Schools sometimes felt that permanent exclusions were the only way to receive additional support. Concern was also raised for behaviour problems caused by secondary schools finishing in the early afternoon to reduce lunchtime behaviour problems.
Mr Thomas advised that KS2 behaviour training was available to develop strategies for challenging behaviour. Breakfast Clubs and After School clubs should make a greater impact on behaviour if work was developed with parents to improve parenting skills. Mr Thomas advised that a small proportion of problem children were taking a very large amount of the education budget - it was strongly felt there were better ways of doing things and better ways of spending the money.
GREEN PAPER: Every Child Matters and the Children's Bill
Mr Thomas gave a background to the Green Paper launched in September 2003 and the Children's Bill passed on 9th March 2004. A Children's Act will be passed in October - November 2004 which will have huge implications for schools, parents and agencies such as Social Services. Agencies are now discussing ways of sharing and managing ALL children's individual needs. A single Director of Children's Services responsible for all children's services will be appointed in Hampshire by 2008. A Board will be created by the end of term with County Education Officer, the Head of Social Services and representatives from Headteachers and Voluntary Services. The Board will be looking at the impact the Green Paper will have on families and children in Hampshire. Road Show Briefings are scheduled for September - October 2004 to launch this very exciting project.
Mr Thomas apologised for taking more time than originally planned and hoped that the Forum had felt it was worthwhile. The Forum thanked Mr Thomas for a very informative presentation.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
The Forum discussed the following items:
School Meals
HGRG are concerned about the nutritional value and the small amount of the charge for a school meal that was spent on ingredients. Roger Mead is investigating further.
Reports within the HGRG Meeting
The Forum raised the difficulties in reporting back to Governing Bodies when only verbal reports were given at meetings. The issue will be raised again at county forum and HGRG. Action:
SIMS Sequel
A member of the Patch Forum asked if there would be any additional funding for the SIMS Sequel, particular for small schools. It was agreed to raise the item at County Forum. Action:
Transitional Support Grant
The Patch Forum raised strong concerns that the Transitional Support Grant had been given to schools with a large overspend. The Forum felt that schools who had reduced staffing and spending on resources in order to live within their budgets had been unfairly treated in favour of schools who continued to overspend. The Patch Forums agreed to take the concerns to the next County Forum meeting. Action:
3 Year Budget Plans
The Patch Forums discussed the proposal for schools to go over to 3 academic year budget plans. A member of the Forum advised that education establishments for 14 - 19 year olds had already adopted 3 year planning to assist in long term planning. It was agreed that the issues should be discussed fully.
Policy for Water
The Forum requested clarification for children having water bottles in class. Children in primary schools are encouraged to have water bottles within the classroom to help to combat dehydration and assist in concentration. However this appears to be actively discouraged in secondary schools. It was suggested that children in secondary schools changed classes regularly compared with primary school children who usually remained within the same classroom. The Forum felt that consistency was essential for all children.
Disabled Access
A letter had been received by Governor Services concerning disabled access at the Lysses House Hotel. It was suggested that St John's Church Rooms at Locks Heath could make a preferable venue for future meetings. A disabled member from the Patch Forum advised she had surveyed the rooms but felt that the Lysses House provided fewer problems and was more accessible for all members being closer to the motorway.
There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9.20 pm.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
14th October 2004
DIVISIONAL GOVERNOR CONSULTATIVE PATCH MEETING
20th May 2004
PRESENT:
M Nelson-Allen Waite End primary School
J Harwood Herne Junior School
C Preston Horndean Junior School
S Waller Horndean Technical College
N Phillips Sundridge EBD Secondary School
S Hann Sundridge EBD Secondary School
C Channon St John's Primary School
M Thomas The Hayling School
F Moon St Thomas More's Primary School
D Morris Meadowlands Infant School
T Parkes Hart Plain Infant School