Agenda item

To consider any declarations of interests and dispensations made.

There were no declarations of interest or dispensations reported.

VERBAL UPDATE - COVID-19 PANDEMIC

At the request of the Chair, the Corporate Director of Education provided a verbal update on the Education Directorate’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The Director advised Members that the amount of positive Covid-19 incidences experienced across the County Borough had reduced to 38 per 100,000 population.  That was the stable position over the last 10 days and showed that all of the collective work had contributed to making a difference. 

In relation to the schools’ update there had only been one positive case in a school setting and from a workforce perspective the number of staff that were either self-isolating or had been identified as being in the shielding category was just over 20, again that was a very stable position and no significant workforce and staffing issues were being experienced across education at this juncture.  He was pleased to update Members that engagement with schools had continued to be very encouraging and schools had agreed strategic decisions and taken a common approach in terms of our response.  The Executive Planning Group meetings with Headteachers were continuing on a fortnightly basis and recently there was a move towards foundation phase learners now returning to school settings for face to face learning from 22nd January.  He advised Members that these arrangements had run smoothly with no real difficulties and this was a credit to the primary sector for the way they managed those arrangements as they move towards increasing numbers of face to face learning.  

Over the spring term, there was continued hub provision for both vulnerable learners and critical workers.  In the last admissions round there were approaching 460 children that continued to be supported.  Slightly worryingly, from a free school meals perspective, direct payments had increased to 1,768 learners and that excluded Foundation Phase learners, he felt that this demonstrated the economic impact locally of Covid-19 on some families across the County Borough.  The direct payments to those families had been working effectively and were reviewed on a weekly basis. 

From a remote blended learning perspective, there had been close liaison with colleagues in the EAS on the Celebrate, Share, Support and Refine (CSSR) pilot initiative across southeast Wales and he was pleased to report that out of Blaenau Gwent’s 25 schools, 13 were participating in that pilot, more than 50% and that was the highest proportion of any local authority area within the region.

From an ICT perspective the amount of devices and support for learners and families was now approaching 1,600 devices that had been issued to families where there was identified need.  The Education Transformation Manager and the team had worked closely with the SRS to ensure that support for learners was comprehensive.

Vaccinations for staff in special schools and those teaching and non-teaching staff in resource bases had started.  With regard to testing, lateral flow tests had been delivered over the last 10 days and the Director confirmed that the initiation of lateral flow testing for staff started on Wednesday, 3rd March.

Some extraordinary meetings had been held with Secondary, Primary and Special School Headteachers, following the Welsh Government announcement, that also included engagement with the Trade Unions so that discussion could take place on some of the planning arrangements for an increased level of face to face learning from 15th March.  The current position planned with Headteachers involved all of the primary learners returning from the 15th March and would include Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2.  Also from 15th March a return would include secondary year 11’s and there would be one day per week set aside for year 10’s as part of the examination assessment requirements over the next 18 months.  There was a planned approach for years 7’s, 8’s and 9’s all of whom would receive at least one full day check-in prior to the Easter holiday period.  There had been some initial dialogue with Headteachers across the board around the post Easter provision, subject to Welsh Government review, but with a view to a potential move towards full return for all learners.

In response to a Member’s question regarding flow testing for teachers, the Corporate Director of Education confirmed that lateral flow testing for all teaching and non-teaching staff was in place and that included ancillary staff such as catering and cleaning staff.  Testing would take place twice weekly and were self-administered tests, if there was a positive case identified via the lateral flow testing arrangements then a PCR test, which was more robust, would be arranged to ensure that any potential positive incidences that arise could be managed appropriately.

A Member referred to Legionella testing in schools and enquired regarding an update on the consultants who raised the issue of different ways of testing for Legionella.  The Corporate Director of Education said that revised arrangements were in place in line with the report presented to full Council on water testing.  There were now weekly monitoring arrangements in place whereby schools had to confirm that, for example flushing arrangements were reported through to Technical Services in line with the latest Legionella guidance and there was monitoring within the Education Transformation team.  Where there was any non-compliance, schools were contacted and any recourse was taken with prompt action.  He confirmed that schools had responded positively to the new and enhanced flushing regimes that were expected from a local authority perspective.

A Member enquired regarding the use of personal electronic devices taken into school and used for school purposes.  The Corporate Director of Education said that 1,600 reconditioned devices had been distributed to learners and many learning activities now took place by a ‘bring your own devices’ (BYOD).  This was carried out in conjunction with the SRS to ensure that there were control measures in place to make sure that the activity was done in a safe environment so that the learners were not disadvantaged and not placed at any further risks through using their own devices.  Moving forward he felt that this would become more of the norm especially in relation to blended learning.

The Member raised concerns regarding loss or damage to the devices.  The Director of Education said that in relation to damage the Council had its own insurance arrangements. There would need to be localised arrangements within schools to ensure that those situations were kept to an absolute minimum and any personal devices were protected.

A Member raised concerns regarding the increase in free school meals and the effect this would have on the Pupil Deprivation Grant (PDG) and enquired if the Welsh Government were looking at the redistribution of the PDG in line with the pandemic and the number of pupils that are now receiving free school meals.  The Corporate Director of Education said that at this point in time it was difficult to give a strong indication on how the Welsh Government would respond to the increased levels of free school meals eligibility across Wales.  FSM levels were measured at the annual PLASC level returns in January and that should be reflected in the PDG, he confirmed that PLASC returns were used to assess PDG grants.

The Member raised further concerns regarding the reopening of schools and felt that a report needed to be prepared for consideration by the Education and Learning Scrutiny Committee.  The Education and Learning Scrutiny Committee had met in February 2020 and due to the pandemic had not met again until September 2020, he felt that a record should be kept and a report be prepared to consider any discussion or concerns that Scrutiny Members may have on the reopening of schools.  He also referred to Legionella and water testing for schools.  The Corporate Director of Education said that an education Covid-19 update report had been presented in November that covered aspects of the water testing issues that were faced over the summer term and he was happy to bring forward a further Covid-19 update report to the Education & Learning Scrutiny Committee in April. 

In response to a Member’s questions regarding vaccinations and PPA, preparation, planning and assessment, the Director of Education said that discussions around a regional approach had taken place with Headteachers and Trade Unions and some schools had confirmed they had capacity to undertake PPA under normal arrangements and other schools may have some difficulty and were considering a slightly earlier finish on a Friday to accommodate PPA, but this would be a matter for the Headteacher and the Chair of Governors to decide and that would allow the facilitation of statutory requirements around PPA.  In relation to vaccinations he clarified that they were only being issued to staff in Special Schools and in Resource Bases at this point in time.