Minute of meeting of 2 April 2025
Perth and Kinross Council · 28 May 2025
Back to Learning and Families Committee — 28 May 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Learning and Families Committee Minute of hybrid meeting of the Learning and Families Committee held in the Council Chambers, 2 High Street, Perth on Wednesday 2 April 2025 at 1.00pm. Present: Councillors J Rebbeck, M Frampton, Bailie C Ahern, L Barrett, D Cuthbert, J Duff, K Harvey (substituting for Councillor S Carr), D Illingworth (substituting for Councillor N Freshwater), N Khogali, I MacPherson, I Massie, Provost X McDade, C Shiers, G Stewart and A Watt; Ms L-J Grant, Ms A Laverty, Mr R Stubbs. In attendance: D Macluskey, Strategic Lead – Education and Learning; A Singh, Strategic Lead – Children, Families and Justice; G Doogan, F MacKay, B Martin-Scott, K Robertson, S Stephen and S Turner (all Education and Learning); L Richards (Children, Families and Justice); K Molley, S Hendry, A Brown, and M Pasternak (all Legal and Governance). Apologies: Councillors S Carr and N Freshwater, Ms M Conway, Mr A Ferguson. Councillor J Rebbeck, Convener, Presiding. 1. Welcome and Apologies The Convener welcomed all those present to the meeting. Apologies for absence were noted as above. 2. Declarations of Interest There were no declarations of interest made in terms of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct. 3. Minutes (i) Learning and Families Committee of 29 January 2025 The minute of meeting of the Learning and Families Committee of 29 January 2025 was submitted, approved as a correct record, and authorised for signature. (ii) Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff of 2 December 2024 The minute of the Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff of 2 December 2024 was submitted and noted. (iii) Children, Young People and Families Partnership of 13 September 2024 The minute of meeting of the Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff of 13 September 2024 was submitted and noted.
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4. Outstanding Business Statement Resolved: The status of action in the Outstanding Business Statement (25/68) be noted and completed actions removed accordingly. 5. Reserved Places in Schools 2025/2026 and Maximising Capacities Update There was submitted a report by the Strategic Lead – Education and Learning (25/69) (1) proposing the number of reserved places for session 2025/26, within primary and secondary schools, in accordance with Section 28A of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, as amended, and (2) informing where primary class capacities have been maximised during school session 2024/25. Resolved: (i) The number of reserved places, within schools which have classes with a limited number of spaces at specific stages, for session 2025/26, as shown in Appendix 1 to Report 25/69, be approved. (ii) The Strategic Lead – Education and Learning be requested to revise these numbers each year to reflect historical or anticipated patterns of migration, information about known movements of families in to (or out of) an area, and any current residential developments. (iii) Responsibility to keep under review, the reserved places for all schools, in light of any building work in schools and in light of residential development, be delegated to the Strategic Lead – Education and Learning. (iv) The primary schools where class capacities have been maximised during session 2024/25, be noted. 6. Personal Mobile Device Policy for Schools 2025-2028 There was submitted a report by Strategic Lead – Education and Learning (25/70) providing guidance to Perth and Kinross Council (PKC) schools on the use of personal digital devices. Resolved: (i) The Personal Mobile Device Policy for Schools 2025-2028, attached as Appendix 1 to Report 25/70, be approved for implementation in schools from August 2025. (ii) The Strategic Lead – Education and Learning be requested to bring back an update on the effectiveness and implementation of the policy to the Learning and Families Committee by April 2027. (iii) The Strategic Lead – Education and Learning be requested to bring back an updated policy for 2028-2031 to the Learning and Families Committee by April 2028. 7. Corporate Parenting Plan 2025-2030 There was submitted a report by Strategic Lead – Children, Families and Justice (25/71) seeking approval of the Perth and Kinross Corporate Parenting Plan 2025- 2030.
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Resolved: (i) The Corporate Parenting Plan 2025-2030, attached as Appendix 1 to Report 25/71, and the Action Plan 2025-2030, attached as Appendix 2 to Report 25/71, be approved. (ii) The Strategic Lead (Education and Learning) be requested to bring back an annual update report to the Learning and Families Committee and the Children, Young People and Families Partnership on the progress of actions. 8. Additional Support Needs Special Education Provision (Viewlands Primary School) – Options Appraisal There was submitted a report by Strategic Lead – Education and Learning (25/72) providing options to improve and increase intensive-level education for children and young people with complex Additional Support Needs (ASN) in the Perth City locality. Resolved: (i) The options outlined in the Options Appraisal, attached as Appendix 1 to Report 25/72, to increase provision of locally available Intensive Support Provision (ISP) placements for children and young people with complex and multiple ASN in a Perth Academy catchment primary school in Perth City. (ii) Option 2, to establish an ISP at Viewlands Primary School to increase the provision of locally available ISP placements for children and young people with complex and multiple ASN who live in the Perth Academy catchment area in Perth City, be agreed. (iii) The Strategic Lead - Education and Learning be requested to prepare and publish a proposal paper to establish an ISP as a new stage of education in Viewlands Primary School, in terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010. (iv) The Strategic Lead - Education and Learning be requested to formally consult the appropriate bodies and persons on the terms of the proposal papers, in terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010. (v) The Strategic Lead - Education and Learning be delegated authority to investigate and manage any alleged omissions or inaccuracies during the consultation process and to take appropriate action in accordance with the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010. (vi) The Strategic Lead - Education and Learning be requested to prepare a report on the results of the Statutory Consultation and report back on the outcome of the consultations at a future meeting of the Learning and Families Committee in due course. 9. Valedictory The Convener referred to Gill Doogan’s last meeting of the Learning and Families Committee. Gill had worked at Perth and Kinross Council for nearly 32 years and had worked with many Councillors and Officers throughout that time. The Convener thanked Gill for her hard work and involvement in the Committee over the years. Members passed on their best wishes to Gill in her new role at Edinburgh City Council.