Issue - meetings

To receive any questions or petitions.

Notes:

1.    The deadline for Member’s questions is 12.00pm four working days before the meeting (26 September 2023).

2.    The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting(25 September 2023).

3.    The deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting, and no petitions have been received.

The public retain their right to submit questions for written response, with such answers recorded in the minutes of the meeting; questioners may participate in meetings to ask a supplementary question. Petitioners may address the Committee on their petition for up to three minutes Guidance will be made available to any member of the public wishing to speak at a meeting.

1. There was one public question, two Member’s questions and no petitions.

2. Amy Rieley asked a supplementary question on private Educational Psychologists (EP) assessments. The Assistant Director for Inclusion and Additional Needs answered that the acceptance of private EPs had been updated on the Council’s website on 22 September 2023 and all staff were informed on 25 September 2023.

3. The Chair queried when the website was updated with the latest information on extended acceptance of private EPs. The Assistant Director for Inclusion and Additional needs noted that the website was updated on the 25 July. It was further updated on the 13 of September which made information on imbursement clearer to parents.

4. The Chair noted that the update in July 2023 was not clear to parents and stressed the importance of communicating to parents effectively.

5. A Member noted that the information on reimbursements was difficult to find following the previous public Select Committee meeting in July 2023. The Member said that not everyone could afford to pay for the private assessments and could be disadvantaged as a result.

6. A Member asked a question on high suspension rates, a school absence multi agency network and improving school absences for girls with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The Director for Education and Lifelong Learning to respond to the question as an action.

Actions/requests for further information:

1. Director for Education and Lifelong Learning will provide a written response to Catherine Powell’s question on the school absence multi-agency network and school absences for girls with ASD. 

2. Director for Education and Lifelong Learning tosend the High Sheriff’s report to the Committee.