Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member – Councillor Beca Brown

To consider a report on the above.

DECISION

1. To accept the report and to note the observations.
2. To note concern regarding the lack of resources available to move the work forward.
3. That the committee looks forward to seeing wider cooperation with the other relevant agencies.
4. To request an update to this Committee in a year.

The Early Years Service Manager was welcomed to the meeting. ⁠

Submitted – the report inviting the committee to scrutinise:-

·       What were the steps intended to take to transform education for children in their early years?⁠

·       What was the timetable and the key milestones to transform the service?

·       How was it intended to fund the transformation of the early years service?

The Early Years Service Manager provided a brief summary of the content of the report.

Members were given an opportunity to ask questions and offer observations. ⁠ 

Disappointment was expressed regarding the progress of the work thus far. It was noted that the barriers in terms of staffing and funding was understood, but it was emphasised that the early years was the most important period in a child's development.

It was enquired how much close collaboration happened between the Education Department and the Children's Department because, according to the Government's definition, the early years included 0-7 years old, but there was no reference in the report to the period after the children started at school. In response, it was noted that the Early Years Unit's work programme focused on the pre-school period mainly, which was nursery education and the plans for children under 4 years old.

Reference was made to the new policy that would be coming into force next year regarding toileting, and it was enquired how they intended to pay for the provision. An enquiry was also made regarding whether a child that was not toilet trained could be deprived from going to school with their peers. In response, it was noted:

·       That the policy would expect parents to teach their children about toileting, with support provided to do so.

·       That the plan was welcomed by the schools as it re-defined the relationship between parents and school, to ensure that parents were parenting and schools were educating the children.

·       That the commitment of the Education Department and the Children's Service to the early years was substantial in terms of time and in terms of what was attempted, and was also challenging as they had to try to overturn complex systems, incorporating the health services into it too.

·       That the schools themselves paid to dispose of nappies, which was very costly for them. There would be no cost for the schools as a result of introducing the new policy as the children would be required to be toilet-trained before coming to the school, but the cost of the support through the health service etc., would come from the grants available.

An enquiry was made as to why there was not much reference to the Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin and the health service in the plans. In response, it was noted:-

·       That the relationship with the Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin was good. However, there was more work to be done to further develop that relationship, and that was part of the work currently achieved by the Early Years Unit.

·       It could be argued that Gwynedd had more Cylchoedd Meithrin than other counties, and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7