Agenda and minutes

36.1     The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 22 July 2021.

Disclosure by all Members present of personal interests in matters on the Agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the Member regards the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct

37.1     There were none.

Notification of items which the Lead Member considers to be urgent and propose to take at the end of the appropriate part of the Agenda

38.1     There were none.

Report by the Director of Children’s Serivces

39.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services regarding proposed amendments to the School Transport Policy, 16 to 29 SEND Travel Assistance Policy and the Post-19 SEND Travel Assistance Policy.

39.2     RESOLVED – to approved the proposed amendments to the policies listed above which include an amended appeals process and other minor changes which assist with accessibility and readability.

Reason

39.3     The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) has recommended the improvements to the Councils appeal process set out in the report. The other minor changes in the policies will assist with accessibility and readability.

40.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services seeking approval of the content and authorise the publication of the Excellence for All Strategy for 2021 – 2023.

40.2     RESOLVED to – approve the content and authorise the publication of the Excellence for All Strategy for 2021 – 2023.

Reason

40.3     The Excellence for All Strategy represents the key ambitions that the local authority and its partners share for education in East Sussex. It has been developed through analysis of current educational performance and a consultation process. The strategy provides schools, settings and colleges with a clear and timely message about the ways in which the local authority will support them and the local authority’s role as a champion for children and young people.

41.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services seeking approval to publish a statutory notice in respect of a proposal to lower the age range at Cradle Hill Community Primary School from 4-11 to 2-11.

41.2     RESOLVED – the Lead Member approved:

1) to authorise the publication of a statutory notice in respect of a proposal to lower the age range at Cradle Hill Community Primary School from 4-11 to 2-11. The proposal will take effect from 1 April 2022: and

2) to delegate authority to the Director of Children’s Services to amend the proposal prior to its publication, if required.

Reason

41.3     The proposal to lower the age range at Cradle Hill Community Primary School

from 4-11 to 2-11 will enable nursery provision to be re-established on the school

site. It will support the governing board’s vision to integrate, fully, nursery provision

into the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) to offer high quality early education to

families in the local area. Feedback from the initial consultation was positive, with all respondents supportive of the proposal. A local needs survey also indicated local support for nursery provision on the school site.