Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Education Committee will take place REMOTELY on Thursday 2 July 2020 at 10.35 am.

Webcast Notice: This meeting will be filmed and broadcast over the internet on the Highland Council website and will be archived and available for viewing for 12 months thereafter.

You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.

Yours faithfully

Stewart Fraser
Head of Corporate Governance

Business

1.    Apologies for Absence
Leisgeulan

2.    Declarations of Interest
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt

Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting. Any Member making a declaration of interest should indicate whether it is a financial or non-financial interest and include some information on the nature of the interest. Advice may be sought from Officers prior to the meeting taking place.

3.    The Phased Reopening of Schools and Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Settings
Fosgladh Sgoiltean Mean air Mhean agus Suidheachaidhean Tràth-ionnsachaidh agus Cùraim-chloinne

There is circulated Report No EDU/08/20 dated 22 June 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer - Education and Learning.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    note the recent national and local level developments in relation to the reopening of schools and ELC provision, representing contingency planning for implementation in the event of the conditions for full reopening of schools not being met;
ii.    note that the Council will continue to work with all schools to support the re-opening of schools and ELC settings in a way that is safe and protects staff and pupils;
iii.    note the risks and implications relating to the reopening of schools and ELC settings as set out within this report; and
iv.    agree that the Chief Executive and the Executive Chief Officer for Education and Learning, if required, are to develop further planning options to support the safe and secure reopening of schools and ELC settings in August should national directives change during the period from 2 July to 6 August 2020.

4.    Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Programme Update
Cunntas às Ùr mu Phrògram Tràth-ionnsachaidh agus Cùraim-chloinne

There is circulated Report No EDU/09/20 dated 22 June 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer - Education and Learning.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    note the recent national and local level developments in relation to ELC, the financial context and also the implications arising from COVID-19, as set out within this report;
ii.    agree that from August 2020 onwards, the Council will continue to fund existing ELC settings delivering 600 or 1140 hours, at those levels, to provide sustainability and allow settings to continue funding ELC funded provision as and when circumstances allow;
iii.    note that this would continue to support over 50% of Highland ELC settings funded to deliver the 1140 agenda, with actual delivery subject to permissible capacity and COVID-19 circumstances;
iv.    note that a further report taking cognisance of the change to legislation regarding the expansion of ELC (that was invoked during COVID-19 lockdown) will be subject to discussion at the Education Committee in August once a complete impact assessment of the Council’s financial position and the recovery programme is finalised;
v.    note that the re-opening of ELC settings, Council and Partner/Childminders, is being taken forward as part of the Council’s overall schools return programme, as detailed as a separate agenda item for this Committee; 
vi.    note that the Council will continue to engage with Partner Providers, Childminders, and Council staff, relating to ELC developments; and
vii.    agree the design principles that have been prepared to shape the Council’s planning around ELC, that are set out in section 4.6 of the report.