Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Education Committee will take place REMOTELY on Wednesday 18 November 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.    Good News/Outstanding Achievements
Naidheachdan Matha/Coileanaidhean Air Leth

4.    Education Recovery
Ath-shlànachadh Foghlaim

i.    Public Health
Slàinte Phoblach

The Director of Public Health, NHS Highland, will provide a verbal update.

ii.    Recruitment
Fastadh

The Workforce Planning and Staffing Manager will provide a verbal update.

iii.    Curriculum
Curraicealam
    
There will be a presentation by Primary School Head Teachers on learning, teaching and assessment.

5.    Improving Outcomes for Young People Update
Fios às Ùr mu Leasachadh Thoraidhean do Dhaoine Òga

There is circulated Report No EDU/20/20 dated 4 November 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer – Education and Learning.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    note that the Scottish Government has taken the decision not to produce INSIGHT data until February 2021 and that Members will receive a full report once data has been analysed and benchmarked with national data;
ii.    agree the content of ward attainment meeting data to be presented by officers and the tool kit provided to allow Members to scrutinise data;
iii.    note the positive attainment results achieved though the delivery of senior phase courses within The Highland Council virtual academy; and
iv.    agree that officers will bring a report to future Education Committees on the impact of the Scottish Attainment Challenge audit on Highland Schools.

6.    Developing a Whole Systems Approach to Supporting Mental Health and Wellbeing
Ro-innleachd Mathais

There is circulated Report No EDU/21/20 dated 30 October 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer – Education and Learning.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    become involved in this initiative and increase Members’ knowledge and understanding of good mental health and wellbeing, what causes stress in the individual and in organisations and how the Council can effectively promote wellbeing and support resilience in Highland communities;
ii.    acknowledge the work already being done across Education and Learning to support wellbeing and resilience and the plans to build on this and to create coherence across the system – including networking with colleagues in Health and Social Care, 3rd sector partners, NHS Highland services, High Life Highland and the Health and Social Care Committee. This will also include making links with the work of the Communities and Place Committee building upon the COVID response from volunteers across Highland communities where many volunteers developed skills and approaches locally as part of the humanitarian response. The capacity and ambition within communities to provide localised support to families provides an excellent opportunity for a holistic approach to mental health and wellbeing rooted in communities first;
iii.    recognise The Highland Council’s commitment to being an ACE Aware Council and to increase Members’ knowledge and understanding of the adversity in childhood and how this can manifest as distress in schools and may later result in mental ill-health if not supported effectively at an early stage; and
iv.    consider and agree the ambitious approach proposed to more consistently support the wellbeing of children, families and staff across all Highland schools through the application of a framework of support, service provision and training over the next 5 years. This framework will map out the role of mental health support services, family support, school and care support, resources for curriculum development and training and approaches to working with communities to develop a community first response.

7.    Additional Support Needs Update
Fios às Ùr mu Fheumalachdan Taice a Bharrachd

There will follow Report No EDU/22/20 by the Executive Chief Officer – Education and Learning.

8.    Early Learning and Childcare 1140 Hours
Fios às ùr mu Thràth-ionnsachadh is Chùram-chloinne

There is circulated Report No EDU/23/20 dated 22 October 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer – Education and Learning.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.    the updated position regarding Early Learning and Childcare and provision of 1140 hours;
ii.    the further progress towards delivering 1140 hours in all Highland settings;
iii.    the current status of Early Learning and Childcare capital projects and work being taken forward to progress project delivery; and
iv.    the updates provided regarding ongoing discussion with the Scottish Government and other local and national developments.

9.    Revenue Budget Monitoring 2nd Quarter 2020/21
Sgrùdadh Buidseat Teachd-a-steach 2na Cairteal 2020/21

There is circulated Report No EDU/24/20 dated 27 October 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer – Education and Learning.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    consider the revenue budget outturn forecast for the year; and
ii.    note the improvement in forecast as a result of adjustment in costs and additional funding.

10.    High Life Highland Progress Report
Aithisg Adhartais High Life na Gàidhealtachd

There is circulated Report No EDU/25/20 dated 9 November 2020 by the Chief Executive, High Life Highland (HLH).

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.    the excellent partnership working and the contributions that HLH staff have made to the Council’s resilience work during lockdown;
ii.    the services that were delivered during lockdown through the innovative use of technology, including over 2 million online customer engagements;
iii.    the update on the recovery work which is underway to re-establish services which HLH delivers on behalf of the Council;
iv.    and comment upon the updates on facility opening; staff feedback and health and wellbeing; customer feedback and next steps (at Appendix B of the report);
v.    that, in the light of the above and the restrictions which have been imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, HLH has met or exceeded the outcomes expected in the Service Delivery Contract with The Highland Council for the operating period to September 2020;
vi.    that HLH’s 2019/20 financial statements were unqualified and prepared on a going concern basis;
vii.    that HLH’s financial position has improved throughout the year due to the actions taken by the HLH Board but that there could still be a deficit which it is not possible for it to contain within its reserves;
viii.    that HLH will be very likely to face significant financial pressure into the next financial year as it recovers income streams; and
ix.    that HLH will explore opportunities for capital development with sportscotland to support the recovery of the Highlands from the coronavirus pandemic.