Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor D Isaac and K Phelan.

Members are reminded of their personal responsibility to declare any personal and prejudicial interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government and Finance Act 1992 relating to Council Tax, the Local Government Act 2000, the Council’s Constitution and the Members Code of Conduct

Note:

(a)  Members are reminded that they must identify the item number and subject matter that their interest relates to and signify the nature of the personal interest and

(b)  Where Members withdraw from a Meeting as a consequence of the disclosure of a prejudicial interest they must notify the Chair when they leave

No declarations of interest were received.

To consider the attached report

The Chair introduced the item and explained to the committee that the Work Programme can be revised and amended at any point throughout the year.

Resolved that:

The Committee approved the Draft Forward Work Programme.

To consider the attached report

Sue Walker introduced Jacqui Roome Head Teacher at Troedyrhiw Primary School and Keith Maher Head Teacher at Pen-y-Dre High School. Both Head Teachers provided comprehensive PowerPoint presentations highlighting the demands and challenges faced by their schools since the start of the Pandemic in March.

Denise Morgan (Chair of Governors – Troedyrhriw Primary School) provided an update in relation to the role the Governors played in assisting in the detailed plan set out to ensure Troedyrhiw Primary School met the targets they set out at the start of the Pandemic.

The following questions were raised by the committee and answered in detail by the Head Teachers and Officers in attendance.

·         In relation to the seesaw app is it a one way or two way communication tool – does it provide parents/pupils with the ability to ask questions of the teachers

·         It was stated that attendance has dropped from 94% to 80%. Is the majority of the drop due to illness or fear of Covid-19

·         Have all schools in the County Borough carried out the same level of research as Troedyrhiw Primary in relation to identifying digitally excluded families, as it would be very useful to be able to pinpoint families that would require additional support if we do end up in another lockdown situation

·         How many digitally excluded learners are there in the County Borough

·         Do you think the plan is currently working, keeping the class bubbles, social distancing etc especially in Troedyrhiw Primary as it is an old school with a very different layout compared with the modern Primary schools in the Borough.

The Chair thanked the Head Teachers for their fantastic insight into how their schools have dealt with the many issues they have been faced with in such difficult times and also thanked them for all of their hard work.

Sue Walker provided the committee with an overview of the Update on Activity – Pandemic report that was produced for the committee.

The Chair requested an update from Chris Hole in relation to the Parenting Strategy.

To receive an update from the Chair

The Chair reflected in detail on the items discussed in the meeting. 

The Chair thanked everyone for their attendance and the officers for the excellent presentations and report and as there was no other business deemed urgent the meeting was closed.