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The Assistant Director for Early Help, Prevention and Effectiveness presented the report on behalf of the Director of Children, Families and Education which outlined the recommendations arising out of phase 3 of the pupil place planning review.

In March 2021, the Committee endorsed the Pupil Place Planning Strategy 2021-2026. This Strategy had set out a planned framework for the review of school places in both primary and secondary mainstream schools over the next 5 years.

Phase 3 of the primary phase of the review commenced in October 2023 looking at small planning areas in and around Wallasey, specifically, North Wallasey and South Wallasey.  A detailed review framework and process had been undertaken and had included information gathering, stakeholder discussion.  This had culminated in the recommendations presented within the report. 

Recommendations relating to schools controlled under the auspices of both the Diocese of Chester – Church of England, and the Diocese of Shrewsbury – Roman Catholic, had been presented, discussed, and approved as well as proposals relating to Academy Trusts.  This had demonstrated the strength in partnership working and collaboration across the education sector which would be harnessed as the parties progressed as a local education partnership.

Members discussed the data comparing Wirral with other Authorities within the report and queried why some charts showed blanks information.

The Assistant Director for Early Help, Prevention and Effectiveness stated that any blank areas were due to a lack of comparative data. He noted that if Members wished for specific information, they could contact him directly and officers would look into it.

Members asked why school attendance and attainment figures were lower that national statistics.

The Assistant Director for Education noted that a more detailed report would be coming to Committee in March 2025. He noted that the service was working hard to drive up attendance.

Members discussed dental care for young people and asked if there was any work being done to encourage them to sign-up to their local dentists.

The Director for Children, Families and Education responded that dental care was good for the majority of children in Wirral, however low rates of dental care were specific to those looked after children that were living out of borough. She noted that this was being picked up by the Safeguarding Lead through the Children’s Partnership.

Members noted that the report showed that the percentage of domestic referrals had gone up, while the number of children in need had gone down. They queried if this was a seasonal occurrence as it had not happened before.

The Assistant Director for Early Help, Prevention and Effectiveness responded that the report covered the summer period and did not include the recent Christmas period. He felt that the increase in contact from those seeking support for domestic abuse was a good thing and that it showed that early prevention work was working. Those increased contacts were generally for lower levels of need, this meant that services were making contact earlier and helping children before issues escalated.

Members sought clarity on whether a rise in repeat referrals fitted in with early the success of early prevention.

The Assistant Director for Early Help, Prevention and Effectiveness responded that repeat referrals did not show the same level of improvement and that the ideal case was to reduce them. He noted that Wirral was currently comparable in performance for repeat referrals with most other similar authorities.

Members asked for detail on why the percentage of visits completed within the statutory timescale for children in need had gone down over the past few years, but the percentage of visits completed for child protection was improving. They also asked for clarity on what the difference was between children in need and child protection.

The FFC Programme Leader – Practice responded that those children with a child in need plan are not considered to be at risk of significant harm, whereas a child under a child protection plan are deemed to be at risk of immediate and significant harm.

The Assistant Director for Early Help, Prevention and Effectiveness stated that as far as the visits completed within statutory timescales he would provide further information for Members in writing.

Members discussed the crime statistics and in particular the apparent spike in first-time entrance to the criminal justice system. They queried if there was any particular reason for this.

The Assistant Director for Early Help, Prevention and Effectiveness stated that overall, Wirral’s performance on first-time entrances to the criminal justice system was consistent. He noted that in the period of 2023-24 there was an increase in of arrests regarding possession of controlled substances and violent offences, but that overall, the statistics were fairly steady.

Members noted that the report showed that Wirral had a lower instance of electively home educated children and queried if there was any particular reason for this.

The Director for Education responded that while Wirral was lower, they still wanted to reduce the number of children being electively home educated and were carrying out work to support families that chose to home educate their children, but also to support them if they wished to bring those children back into mainstream education.

Resolved – That the report be noted.