Agenda item

With reference to article 4 of the minute of its previous meeting, the Committee had before it a report by the Interim Executive Director – Families and Communities which detailed the current picture in relation to behaviour in Aberdeen schools; the arrangements in place to promote positive behaviour in schools and outlined procedures currently in place to improve incident reporting.  The report also detailed collaborative work undertaken with Trade Unions to develop a shared Action Plan for consideration by the Committee, and an overview of the January Magpie meet and an update on the work of the sub group of Head Teachers looking at how best to utilise resource, in line with the instruction from the last meeting of the Committee.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      note the content of this report;

(b)      instruct the Interim Chief Officer - Education and Lifelong Learning to work with Trade Unions to co-deliver the Action Plan in Appendix B;

(c)      delegate authority to the Interim Chief Officer - Education and Lifelong Learning to make any amendments necessary, in consultation with Trade Unions, following the publication of the National Behaviour Plan and update Members of any changes through Service Update; and

(d)      instruct the Interim Chief Officer - Education and Lifelong Learning to update on progress against the Action Plan through the established performance management reports.

The Convener, seconded by the Vice Convener, moved:-

That the Committee approve the recommendations in the report, and:-

(i)             acknowledge the challenges related to children's wellbeing, which can impact the behaviour of children and young people in school settings;

(ii)           thank Education staff for their flexibility in supporting children and young people with impaired wellbeing and acknowledge how challenging this can be;

(iii)          thank the EIS, GMB and others for their continuing constructive engagement with Aberdeen City Council on improving our school environments to create safe and nurturing settings for all;

(iv)          instruct the Interim Chief Officer - Education and Lifelong Learning to continue constructive engagement with Unions and others; such as those with an interest in the provision of supports for those with additional support needs including local organisations and the Northfield Advisors, to allow a continuous improvement journey in all of our schools;

(v)           instruct the Interim Chief Officer - Education and Lifelong Learning to review the adequacy of the current allocation of pupil support staffing and provision of specialist placements across the city;

(vi)          further instruct the Interim Chief Officer - Education and Lifelong Learning to consider the output of (iv) and (v) and report options for consideration back to the Education and Children’s Services Committee within three cycles;

(vii)        instruct the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to include in the annual School Estate Plan update a workstream to evaluate the physical ASN provision in individual settings and include a timescale within the plan on when recommendations on potential space for future ASN purposes could be brought forward;

(viii)       instruct the Interim Chief Officer - Education and Lifelong Learning to continue to work in collaboration with Trade Unions to deliver and evaluate the impact of the agreed Action Plan on children, young people and staff;

(ix)          note that Head Teachers remind staff of agreed school behaviour policies and procedures on the first in-service day;  and instruct the Interim Chief Officer - Education and Lifelong Learning to seek assurance from Head Teachers of the percentage of staff given the opportunity to engage with this;

(x)           instruct the Interim Chief Officer - Education and Lifelong Learning to report the number of staff who complete the Maybo training as part of the regular update on progress against the Action Plan;

(xi)          note that Aberdeen City Council was leading the way on driving innovative positive change in various areas within Education and Children’s Services; however acknowledge this was an ongoing improvement journey and reinforce our commitment to education in this city;

(xii)        therefore, further instruct the Interim Chief Officer - Education and Lifelong Learning to develop a system in data recording which differentiates information on incidences in schools; to allow further qualitative analysis of need, and to further allow identification of need and targeting of resource.

Councillor Malik, seconded by Councillor Blake, moved as an amendment:-

That the Committee –

(i)       note the content of this report;

(ii)       note the continued concerns raised by the Trade Unions about ASN provision within the city and instructs the Interim Chief Officer - Education and Lifelong Learning to implement a review of specialist ASN provision and the finding of the review to be considered as part of the school estate plan;

(iii)      recommend to Council that it establishes a working group of Officers, Trade Unions and Elected Members to work to co-deliver the Action Plan in Appendix B with the addition of (ii) to the action plan with authority to make any amendments necessary, following the publication of the National Behaviour Plan, and update Members of changes through a report to the next Education and Children’s Services Committee following publication of the National Plan;

(iv)      agree that the Scottish Government was failing school staff with the continued delay to implementing their National Behaviour Plan; and

(v)      instruct the Interim Chief Officer - Education and Lifelong Learning to update on progress against the Action Plan through a separate and distinct report to Committee.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (13) – the Convener; the Vice Convener; Councillors Allard, Bouse, Brooks, Hazel Cameron, Hutchison, MacGregor, McLeod and Radley; and Mrs Cardno, Mr Crawford and Mrs Smith; for the amendment (3)  - Councillors Blake, Crockett and Malik; declined to vote (4) – Mr Haywood, Ms Munro, Mr Murray and Mr Regmi.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to note that Mike Paul could present learning to the Committee on the trial Bucksburn Academy were undertaking; and

(ii)       to adopt the motion.