Issue - meetings

To receive and consider a report outlining the Children’s Services response to Covid-19.

The Children’s Services Response to Covid-19 report was presented by Adam Davis.

Adam Davis stated that the report contained a review of how the service had operated since the lockdown in March and how the services continued to be delivered.  He highlighted that the service was able to continue to offer sustained respite care during this time and undertake a children’s social care audit for quality assurance.

During the discussion of the item the following comments were made:

·           Councillor Swaddle asked what the key learning points for the department during this time were.  Adam Davis stated that it was noticeable how workers were able to quickly adapt to working from home and deliver services differently, keeping staff and children safe;

·           Councillor Mickleburgh asked if there any particular concerns in relation to supporting schools during the next phase of the pandemic.  He also asked about attendance rates and if there any groups or localities that were more affected by the pandemic;

·           Sal Thirlway stated that schools provided data on attendance daily to the DfE, the attendance in the Borough was currently very good, in the range of 90%, this compared well with neighbouring authorities.  This data was not broken down in gender or localities;

·           Councillor Grandison asked what support was being offered for parents of pre-school children.  Adam Davis stated that the Early Help service has been offering support virtually to the families they were working with, this was a targeted service;

·           Councillor Grandison asked how the local authority was supporting pre-schools and nursery settings.  Sal Thirlway stated that support had been offered to all early years and childcare settings throughout out the pandemic.  Sal stated that were settings had to close temporarily parents had been helped to find alternative arrangements.  Sal believed that two settings had closed during the pandemic but not as a result of the pandemic;

·           Councillor Loyes asked how the service was being delivered to children with disabilities.  Adam Davis stated that Bridges had remained open throughout the pandemic, and the Saturday club for children with disabilities was re-opening.

RESOLVED That the report be noted.