Decision details

This report was also presented by Jonathan Hewitt and Audrey Swan. It provided information on the attainment, progress and achievements of Lancashire Children Looked After (CLA) in 2015. The findings for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 were based on unvalidated assessment information released by the Department for Education (DfE) and local authority information on CLA.

The Key Stage 4 data was school reported data and therefore provisional. The data showed that there were improvements in achievement at the end of Key Stages 1 and 2, but achievement for CLA remained well below that of other pupils in Lancashire. The information indicated that levels of attainment at the end of Key Stage 4 rose in 2015, but remained very low when compared with other pupils.

The report also highlighted pupil progress in key areas of development and the steps taken to implement the Recovery Plan, which were set out at Appendix A to the report now presented.

Whilst it was acknowledged that there were ongoing concerns regarding the achievements of CLA particularly at KS4, it was emphasised that the most important factor to consider was progress rather than attainment in isolation, and not simply attainment in an academic sense but on a broad range of measures.

The Committee's attention was drawn to the five indicators, set out in the report, against which progress was monitored on a termly basis, which helped identify issues in good time for appropriate and effective interventions. They gave a holistic view of how each CLA was progressing and provided an effective tracking system.

It was emphasised that the majority of CLA were making satisfactory or good progress and attendance was good. Schools were responding well to the new system.

The Committee was informed that a guide for meeting the needs of CLA in school was currently being produced, which was intended for all involved. It was confirmed that 'Designated Teachers' received regular training and it was important that CLA knew who the Designated Teacher in their school was.

There was a brief explanation of how the Pupil Premium Grant, which was used for raising the attainment of disadvantaged children, was allocated.

Resolved: That,

  i.  Officers be thanked for the report and for their attendance at this Committee.

  ii.  A further report be provided to the Education Scrutiny Committee when appropriate, to include the recovery plan for 2015/16.