Report of the Director of Education

This report provides an update on the implementation of Manchester’s Inclusion Strategy (2019-2022) and an overview of the key priorities and next steps for July 2022-July 2025.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Education which provided an update on the implementation of Manchester’s Inclusion Strategy (2019-2022) and an overview of the key priorities and next steps for July 2022-July 2025.

The main points and themes within the report included:

• Manchester Inclusion Strategy activity since 2019;
• Impact of the Inclusion Strategy; and
• The Manchester Inclusion Strategy beyond July 2022.

Some of the key points and themes that arose from the Committee’s discussions were:

• To welcome the progress made with this work and that exclusion was now the last resort;
• What were the opportunities for children who had been excluded to get back into mainstream education;
• The adultification of black children and a request for a breakdown of exclusions by ethnicity;
• Increasing numbers of families choosing Elective Home Education and statutory changes in relation to this; and
• Resource provision in mainstream schools for children with emotional and behavioural needs and the need for a trauma-informed approach.

In response to a question about support for homeless families, the Director of Education advised that children from these families were not a specific category within school data and that families did not always inform school of their circumstances; however, she advised that work was taking place to address the impact of poverty and to poverty-proof the school day and she reported that she would give further consideration to how this particular group could be supported.  The Executive Member for Early Years, Children and Young People informed Members that his Deputy Executive Member was undertaking work in relation to poverty, schools and inclusion and that he would discuss this further with her.  The Chair highlighted the issue of homeless families being placed in accommodation in a different area, with the children being a long distance from school and separated from their friends.

The Director of Education advised that there was resource provision for children with social, emotional and behavioural needs in three mainstream primary schools in the city.  She highlighted work to change the way children in secondary schools accessed Alternative Provision, including attending Alternative Provision part time, while still attending their own mainstream school.  She outlined how the range of options available for schools could be used as an early intervention to prevent children from being excluded and keep them in their mainstream school.

The Virtual School Head reported that the Virtual School had been promoting a trauma-informed approach with schools and would be working with them on relationship-based behaviour policies.  She informed Members about the work to re-purpose the Pupil Referral Unit to ensure that, where a young person had to be excluded from school, this was done well and led to a positive trajectory for the young person.

In response to a Member’s comments about difficulties in getting places at nearby schools, particularly for refugee families arriving in-year, the Executive Member for Early Years, Children and Young People suggested that this be focused on in a future report on School Admissions, to which the Chair agreed.  In response to a Member’s question, the Director of Education advised that she would circulate the details of the point of contact within her service for refugee families.

The Director of Education advised that her service did have data on exclusions by ethnicity and that this could be included in a future report on Attendance and Exclusions.  In response to the comments about Elective Home Education, she informed Members of a requirement within the Schools White Paper for families to notify the Local Authority of their intention to home educate their child.  The Chair expressed her concerns about Elective Home Education and requested a report on this to a future meeting.

Decisions

1.            To receive a report on School Places and Admissions, including a focus on in-year admissions and refugee families.

2.            To receive a report on Elective Home Education.

3.            To receive a report on Attendance and Exclusions, including a breakdown of exclusion data by ethnicity.