To receive a report from the Corporate Director of Children’s Services.

The Corporate Director of Children’s Services introduced the item and the Officers who would deliver the item.

The Director of Director Education Standards, Quality, and Performance spoke about the early years part of the report which had been prepared by the Head of Early Years and Family Help who was unable to attend the meeting and any questions would be responded to afterwards.

The Consultant in Public Health informed the Committee that the impact on children was particularly felt with 60% of homes across GM having reported some instances of food insecurity. Energy bills had reduced due to people needing to use the heating less, but other costs were continuing to rise. The problems people faced were exacerbated by the lack of residents claiming the benefits they are entitled to. Even when people did claim benefits, they were often insufficient to meet the need they were intended to address for example the cost of formula was more than the benefits people were given to buy it. Within early years 68% of providers were struggling to pay for heating. The living room project provided 58 warm spaces across the borough. Figures had not been collected as to how many people were attending the warm spaces, but anecdotal information was that they were being used, particularly when activities were held at the spaces. The warm spaces located in buildings used by older people were seeing them bring their children and grandchildren along with them. With regards to the Council’s work force support was being provided to staff who were on the lower pay bands through salary uplifts.

The Director of Education Standards, Quality, and Performance then spoke to the Committee about the early years provision and the impact the Cost-of-Living crisis was having upon the sector. There had been a noticeable impact on the work force with the sector seeing a steady reduction as the crisis went on. The Council had seen a marked improvement in the awarding of Primary School places with the latest sufficiency statement showing 95% of children had been placed at their first choice and a 100% had been placed at one of their top 3 choices although there were still difficulties for placements among higher age groups. The take up of the Councils early education offer was very high as was the two-year-old nursery hours take up. Trafford was a net importer of children, but they were still able to meet the demand within the borough. Spoke about increase of take up to 80% from 68%.

The Director of Education Standards, Quality, and Performance spoke about support packages being offered which were detailed within the report. The Committee were informed of action being taken at a national and regional level with uplifts being provided at both levels, but it was still not enough to meet all of the increases schools faced. This was especially true within special schools due to the additional associated costs they faced. The Committee were informed of the additional funding which had been made available and the work the Head of Exchequer services had been doing to track where the funding had gone. The majority of the funding had been used to provide free school meals, energy, and water plus additional food support. The majority of the award had been distributed through cash, then vouchers, and third-party providers.

Following the overview Councillor Hornby asked what could be done to encourage those not claiming free school meals and the healthy start offer. The Director of Director Education Standards, Quality, and Performance responded that the health care workers and family information service worked to promote the support offered. There had been a drop off in uptake after the universal provision ended and the Council was working to help people know they can apply and to take the stigma away.

Councillor Hornby asked if there was data as to who was not claiming. In response the Director of Education Standards, Quality, and Performance stated that it was Trafford assist who provided that information to the service and they would ask the service for the information and feed back to the Committee. The Consultant in Public Health sated that it was no longer a voucher which had improved take up and removed some of the associated stigma.

The Chair asked if anything was being done to signpost to those who had not had to access the service before. The Director of Director Education Standards, Quality, and Performance responded that the information was available through the Council Website and Family information service but would feedback the Committee’s points around signposting.

Councillor Blackburn asked whether there was an increase in unregistered child minders or whether families were picking up the slack from the reduced number of registered workers. The Director of Director Education Standards, Quality, and Performance responded answered that she was not aware of there being any more unregistered and that she felt families were providing more care due to changes in working styles leading to more free time.

Councillor Proctor asked whether Trafford were working with the National Childminders association on recruitment. The Director of Director Education Standards, Quality, and Performance responded that she would have to take this back to provide a response. However, it was a national problem with many factors leading to people leaving the service and was a very complex picture with no simple solution and despite the reduction Trafford was still one of the highest nationally in delivering the sufficiency.

The Executive Member for Children’s Services noted the comment about the reduction of people qualifying with those skills and whether the council was doing anything to address that. The Director of Director Education Standards, Quality, and Performance responded that work with Trafford College was ongoing to address this. Funding had been received which was focused on the current workforce but could be a mechanism to do more around workforce development. The Corporate Director of Children’s Services added that there was work being done in adult social care to offer lessons to encourage young people into the profession and looking to learn from this and do something similar for young people’s services.

Councillor Welton noted that Councillor Winstanley was working with Springfield Primary School around a green energy scheme to reduce energy costs and asked whether the roof spaces across all schools and nurseries could be utilised. The Director of Education Standards, Quality, and Performance responded that many schools were aware of schemes, but the amount of time it took to see the 25% reduction had reduced the uptake. However, it was looking like uptake would increase as the high costs of energy continued.

Councillor Zhi noted that there was additional capital funding and asked whether the schools did those projects on their own or if the Council coordinated those programmes. The Director of Education Standards, Quality, and Performance responded to Councillor Zhi that schools were responsible for that funding and ensuring that the schools get the most out of that funding, although the Councils finance team that would support schools in using contractors.

RESOLVED:

1)    That the report be noted.

2)    That additional information regarding claims of free school meals and whether the Council work with National Childminders association be provided to Committee Members.