Agenda item - Fairer Brighton & Hove - November 2022 update

Report of the Executive Director Families Children & Learning

RESOLVED: That the Committee –

      i.         Noted the update on A Fairer Brighton & Hove – our disadvantage strategy framework.

     ii.         Noted the Framework recommendations provided at 3.11 below.

27.1    The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Families     Children & Learning which provided an update on A Fairer Brighton &      Hove – our strategy framework for children, young people and families      at risk of disadvantage.

27.2    Cllr Nield was informed that Patcham High School had adopted specific      alternatives to fixed term exclusions for the past couple of years and    had begun sharing their practice with other schools in the city. The           Service Manager – Policy & Business Support advised that the       restorative practice model, was a continuation of that work, to improve

          inclusion in the city’s schools.

27.3    Mr Muirhead was advised that the Council’s community and voluntary          sector colleagues were integral to this work and their role would be key          throughout the lifetime of the framework. Particularly to continue to     engage, challenge, influence, and work collaboratively with the Council     to ensure the voices of those in the communities were heard.

27.4    In response to Cllr O’Quinn, the Service Manager – Policy & Business    Support confirmed that data transformation had played a key part in     successfully securing the Family Hubs Transformation Programme           fund money. They also advised that significant work had been done     with the police in recent years to reduce the criminalisation of

          young people. Additionally, the Youth Offending Service was also       inspected as Outstanding, which signalled good practice across the board, however, the area remained a focus. In relation to school attendance, the Head of School Organisation advised that over the         COVID-19 period, the permitted attendance of the city was in line

          with the national average, and we now awaited the publication of the     last academic year’s data to confirm if this level had been sustained   since schools returned to regular opening.

27.5    Cllr Grimshaw proposed the Council purchase drying racks for schools     to ensure children turning up in damp clothes, had an opportunity to get           them dried. Given the bleak financial situation of the Council and        limitations of the current budget, Cllr Grimshaw stated she would          donate the remaining money from her ward budget towards the           drying racks and that her Labour colleagues would do so too. The        Assistant Director - Education & Skills advised that they would review    the potential costs further and have a discussion with schools about the           suitability in terms of space, and what children would wear while their          clothes are drying.

27.6    RESOLVED: That the Committee –

      i.         Noted the update on A Fairer Brighton & Hove – our disadvantage strategy framework.

     ii.         Noted the Framework recommendations provided at 3.11 below.