Agenda item

Members to consider the service response to the pandemic and the impact of the lockdown on Children and Families

The Executive Director of Children’s Services delivered a presentation on the pandemic response and the impact on children and families. The presentation consolidated previous updates provided to Scrutiny on the pandemic response and acted as a baseline for a more in-depth look at the impact of the lockdown on children and families in future Board meetings:

-        Services had continued to operate throughout the pandemic and continued to be very busy. Many members of staff had volunteered to assist other response functions, including the early morning schools support helpline. Staff absences had continued to be low and those members who had been self-isolating had in most cases continued to work.

-        Engagement with the educational establishments across the Borough had been excellent. There had been initial weekly meetings with the Department for Education which had continued and now occurred bi-weekly. A Return to School Support Strategy had been developed which focused on the welfare of children and young people.

-        Sandwell had enabled Sandwell Children’s Trust to access various Covid-related grants which supported services against increased costs and fast tracked additional equipment for social workers.

-        During the School year STEPS had supported 160 homes with learning packs for International New Arrival Children. There had been 950 wellbeing follow up calls to check progress and resolve any issues. A centre supporting these families opened fully in early-March.

-        Those children and young people being Electively Home Educated (EHE) was recorded at 557 at the end of January Half-Term. An EHE Advisory Teacher had been recruited to support these children and half-termly newsletters had been distributed. Free School Meals had been provided to those EHE children who were eligible.

-        Vulnerable children had been a priority during the pandemic, the service had:

o       Conducted an average of 254 contracts per week including phone calls, emails and in person visits;

o       Delivered an average of 357 meals per week;

o       Delivered 1334 Learning Resource Packs ;

o       Supported 86 children living in hostels with Learning Resource packs and food parcels;

o       Supported Alternative Provision settings to monitor their pupils;

o       Supported the Return to Schools strategies

-        There had been some negative developments due to lockdown:

o       Free School Meals eligibility had increased by over 27%;

o       There had been an increase in domestic abuse and safeguarding incidents;

o       Children’s mental health had been impacted;

o       Digital exclusion for a number of students;

o       An increase in demand for EHCP assessments;

o       Increased pressures and increases in SEND assessments.

-        The next 12 months were going to focus on a number of key areas:

O      Catch-up and recovery in education and child development;

o       Social care recovery;

o       Planning ahead, expecting an increase in demand for the service;

o       Continuing to deliver emotional and wellbeing support;

o       Managing the increase in Education, Health and Care Plan assessments;

o       Supporting staff;

o       Moving back to Business as Usual.

Following comments and questions from members of the Board, the following responses were made, and issues highlighted:-

-        The impact of lockdown had many detrimental effects on families. Some pupils were not where they ought to be with home learning not sufficient in some cases.

-        The Learning Resource Packs had been well received.

-        The behaviour of children at school was good and the vast majority were enjoying being back at the school setting.

-        The Pupil Referral Units were going to be taking part in a two-year pilot scheme bringing together young people and professionals, in a bid to enhance skills and pupil engagement.

-        Although there had been an increase in the numbers of children and young people requiring an assessment it was not possible to shorten timeframes every assessment needed to follow a particular process.

-        The Prevent Team had been working with schools in a bid to combat extremism. Training programmes had been running and safeguarding champions established.