Issue - meetings

The action sheet arising from the meeting of the Education & Learning Scrutiny Committee held on 1^st April, 2021 was submitted, whereupon:-

Welsh Government Grants

School Summer Activity Project (SHEP programme)

A Member enquired if the scheme could be extended to other schools across the borough in the future.  The Education Transformation Manager said there were strict rules around the grant spend and the criteria, for example, associated with free school meal status etc. and had undertaken engagement with a series of schools throughout the school estate.  Moving forward she would look to engage with other schools in the borough regarding eligibility for the scheme. 

In relation to grants, a Member said that in the previous meeting he had requested an update on grants received from the Education Achievement Service (EAS) etc.  He believed that nearly £2m had been received for Pupil Development Grant (PDG) etc. and felt it was important to have those figures.  The Corporate Director of Education confirmed that finance officers were preparing a note for consideration by the Scrutiny Committee on the Pupil Development Grant (PDG).   He advised that in broad terms the grant was to support the more disadvantaged learners, there were specific areas of spend and these would be included in the note to give Members a better understanding of where the grant money was planned and spent.  He said it was a sizeable grant approaching £2m across the school estate and the Education Directorate needed to ensure that the grant was spent appropriately to ensure that through the schools; families, children and learners who were eligible for free school meals had the opportunity to take advantage of that funding to support their development.

The Committee AGREED, subject to the foregoing, that the action sheet be noted.