Minutes

26      VARIATION TO SCHOOL ADMISSION ARRANGEMENTS FOR 2021/22 AND 2022/23 COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTARY CONTROLLED SCHOOLS - The Director: Learning, Skills and Culture submitted a report seeking approval to implement the proposed varied admission arrangements for the 2021/22 and 2022/23 academic years.

The 2021 School Admissions Code (the Code) required children who appeared (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted to be given equal first priority in admission arrangements, alongside looked after children and children who were previously looked after by English local authorities. These children were referred to as internationally adopted previously looked after children.

The draft Code and associated regulations were laid before Parliament on 13 May 2021. The Code was laid in Parliament for a 40-day period during which both the House of Commons and the House of Lords had the opportunity to review the Code and any Member could pass a motion to not approve it. This 40-day period was expected to expire on 1 July 2021, and provided there was no such motion, the new Code would come into force on 1 September 2021.

Paragraph 1.7 of the new Code would require that highest priority was given to “looked after children and all previously looked after children, including those children who appear (to the admission authority) to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted”.

This new provision would necessitate variations to determined admission arrangements to take effect from 1 September 2021. Admission authorities would need to vary their admission arrangements for 2021/22 (which would have been determined by 28 February 2020) and their admission arrangements for 2022/23 (which would have been determined by 28 February 2021). Without these variations, admission arrangements that had already been determined would no longer comply with the Code from this date.

Variations would be conditional on the Code passing through its Parliamentary process (i.e. a date on or around 1 July 2021). If any variations were agreed before then, they must be expressed to be conditional on the Code passing through Parliament. All such variations should come into effect on 1 September 2021.

Resolved – That the proposed varied admission arrangements for the 2021/22 and 2022/23 academic years, set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved.

27      STATEMENT OF PURPOSE FOR ADOPTION 2021/22 – The Director: Children and Community Resilience submitted a report seeking approval of the revised Statement of Purpose for Adoption 2021/22 and the Young Persons Statement of Purpose for Adoption 2021/22.

The Adoption Service was required by The Children Act 1989 Guidance; Adoption Regulations and the National Minimum Standards (Adoption) 2014, to have in place a Statement of Purpose that was reviewed on a regular basis and updated as appropriate.

The Statement of Purpose for Adoption 2020/21 was approved in October 2020.  The key revisions to the 2021/22 versions were summarised in the report.

Resolved – That the changes to the Statement of Purpose for Adoption 2021/22 and the Young Persons Statement of Purpose for Adoption 2021/22 be approved.

28      STATEMENT OF PURPOSE FOR FOSTERING 2021/22 – The Director: Children and Community Resilience submitted a report seeking approval of the revised Statement of Purpose for Fostering 2021/22 and the Young Persons Statement of Purpose for Fostering 2021/22.

The Fostering Service was required by the Fostering Services: National Minimum Standards (NMS) 2011 and Regulation 3 of the Fostering Services Regulations 2011 to have in place a Statement of Purpose that was reviewed on a regular basis and updated as appropriate.

The Statement of Purpose for Fostering 2020/21 was approved in October 2020.  The key revisions to the 2021/22 versions were summarised in the report.

Resolved – That the changes to the Statement of Purpose for Fostering 2021/22 and the Young People’s Statement of Purpose for Fostering 2021/22 be approved.

29      STATEMENT PURPOSE FOR SPECIAL GUARDIANSHIP 2021/22 – The Director: Children and Community Resilience submitted a report seeking approval of the Statement of Purpose for Special Guardianship 2021/22 and the Young Person’s Statement of Purpose for Special Guardianship 2021/22.

It was not a regulatory requirement to have a Statement of Purpose for Special Guardianship arrangements, though as good practice a Statement of Purpose for Special Guardianship had been prepared in line with the Fostering and Adoption Statements of Purpose. 

Statement of Purpose for Special Guardianship 2021/22 - This was the first Statement of Purpose for Special Guardianship that had been completed and set out the context in which support was provided to those who cared for children through Special Guardianship arrangements.

Young Person’s Statement of Purpose for Special Guardianship 2021/22 - This was the first Statement of Purpose for Young People in respect to Special Guardianship. It was intended to be an abbreviated version of the main Statement of Purpose, specifically designed for use with children and young people.

Resolved – That the changes to the Statement of Purpose for Special Guardianship 2021/22 and the Young People’s Statement of Purpose for Special Guardianship 2021/22 be approved.

30      STATEMENT OF PURPOSE FOR THE ONE FAMILY APPROACH HUB – 2021/22 – The Director: Children and Community Resilience submitted a report seeking approval of the Statement of Purpose for the One Family Approach Hub 2021/22.

The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 stated that “The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. (Regulation 16 – (1).

These matters were:

1.       Quality and purpose of care

2.       Views, wishes and feelings

3.       Education

4.       Enjoyment and achievement

5.       Health

6.       Positive relationships

7.       Protection of Children

8.       Leadership and management

9.       Care planning

The physical development of the One Family Approach (OFA) Hub had now concluded and was due to be registered as a Children’s Home with Ofsted offering short term/crisis care in exceptional circumstances. The Statement of Purpose had been prepared and was to be submitted to Ofsted as part of the registration application.

In accordance with the Children’s Homes (England) regulations 2015 “The registered person must keep the Statement of Purpose under review and where appropriate revise it”. As this was the initial Statement of Purpose for the OFA Hub it was the intention that the document would be regularly reviewed and revised at least on an annual basis. 

The list of staff members in the Statement of Purpose would be updated when the current staffing review to establish the OFA Hub team was complete.

Resolved – That the Statement of Purpose for the One Family Approach Hub 2021/22 be noted and approved.