Agenda and draft minutes

There were apologies received from Cllr Mushtaq and Cllr Moores.

Cllr Ken Rustidge substiutted for Cllr Eddie Moores.

There were no Public Questions received.

The Minutes of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Board held on 20^th March 2024 are attached for approval.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 20^th March 2024 be approved as a correct record.

Commencing with the first Committee of the municipal year, Matt Bulmer Director for Education and Skills explained to the Committee what his role and responsibilities are to the Oldham Council. Members were informed that there were three Children Services Directors which was Gerard Jones, Julie Daniels, and Matt Bulmer, with there being potential for all three directors to be in regular attendance at Committee meetings.

Paula Healey, Head of Early Years and Matt Bulmer Director for Education presented the Start for Life and Family Hubs Progress Report.

The Director for Education and Skills presented to the Committee the background for the Start for Life and Family Hubs Progress Report. Members noted that in April 2022 the Department for Education (DfE) announced that Oldham was one of 75 upper tier local authorities to receive government funding to deliver Start for Life and Family Hub Services over the fiscal years 2022-23, 2023-34 and 2024-25. Members noted that Oldham Council had received £3,648,000 capital and revenue funding to create a network of Family Hubs.

The Director for Education and Skills raised with Members 1.3 of the report, where Members noted that the Department of Education had set out core services that it expects to be delivered through Family Hubs. Members noted Appendix 1, which detailed how the main funded services had received £3,648,000, and how they had subsequently been implemented into Family Hubs and Start for Life programmes. Activities detailed in appendix 1 was themes ranging from infant feeding, Home Learning Environment/ Early Language Support and Parental Support.

Appendix 2 was a case studies on how these services have been received by the families. The case study was based on the original ‘National Children’s Bureau Making it REAL Programme,’ REAL enhanced had been developed locally and piloted in 2023 as an intervention to support children who may have special educational needs and/ or disability which could have long term impact on their learning.

The interventions aim was to support children who are not attending an educational setting and provide Families with the skills and strategies to use in a home environment with their child.

The Director for Education and Skills noted that this was being conducted so that families and children in Oldham receive the best start in life, acting as a preventative measure to ensure a higher standard of living for children.

Members were informed that there was 7 Family Hubs, with community work being carried outside of these hubs.

The Director for Education and Skills informed Members that finance runs out in March 2025, with there being no guarantee the authority would receive another generous sum of £3,648,000. The Director for Education and Skills stated that they were hopeful that a government of whatever political affiliation would provide that finance and avoid consequences of no funding.

In response to questions concerning support for young people undertaking examinations in schooling system, the Head of Early Years stated that limited funding would be split into priority areas. Members were informed that increased funding  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The Chair stated that if there was anything to add to the programme to please contact constitutional services.

Members noted that the Work Programme was a working progress, which would need to be updated at the next meeting.

Resolved that-

1)    That Members of the Scrutiny Board noted the Work Programme.

There was no Key Decesion Document.

To consider any rule 13 or 14 decisions taken since the previous meeting.

There was no Rule 13 and 14.