Future TRIC Plans/Tayside Plan For Children, Young People and Families - Grant Fund Update
Perth and Kinross Council · 29 May 2024
Back to Learning and Families Committee — 29 May 2024 and its agenda
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Perth and Kinross Council Learning and Families Committee 29 May 2024 FUTURE TRIC PLANS/TAYSIDE PLAN FOR CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES - GRANT FUND UPDATE Report by Strategic Lead – Education and Learning (Report No. 24/165) 1. PURPOSE 1.1 This report provides an update on the implications of the Scottish Government tapered funding model for Regional Improvement Collaboratives (RICs), including in respect of the Tayside Plan for Children, Young People and Families 2023-26. The report highlights amended improvement priorities made considering the reduction in funding. 2. RECOMMENDATION 2.1 It is recommended that the Committee: • Notes the amended reduction in funding and the realigned improvement priorities for 2024/25; and • Requests the Strategic Lead – Education and Learning to provide a progress report in Autumn 2024 in line with statutory annual reporting requirements for integrated children’s service plans. 3. STRUCTURE OF REPORT 3.1 This report is structured over the following sections: • Section 4: Background • Section 5: Financial Implications • Section 6: Proposals • Appendices 4. BACKGROUND 4.1 The Scottish Government stated on 30 January 2024 that they will provide a total of £3m funding support nationally to the RICs for financial year 2024/25. This is in line with the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills’ statement to the Scottish Parliament in November 2023, confirming that RIC funding would be tapered. 4.2 The tapered funding for the period April 2024 - March 2025 has meant that the Tayside Regional Improvement Collaborative (TRIC) leadership group have
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reviewed original priorities and areas of improvement highlighted in the Tayside Plan. The Leadership group have identified priorities that continue to add value to the work that we do in our individual local authorities, avoid duplication and impact positively on the outcomes for our children and young people across Tayside. 4.3 As part of the ongoing Reform of Scottish Education, Education Scotland’s (ES) role in the future of regional working is still unclear. Currently, the Regional Improvement Teams from ES have been removed and are not providing support to RICs 4.4 In relation to education, it has been agreed that the main identified priority will be to continue to deliver the Tayside Virtual Campus. This online virtual campus currently enables 150 learners from across all three local authorities to study Highers and Advanced Higher qualifications. This resource costs £220,000 per school session to operate. Future costs will be dependent on the number of subjects offered and learners enrolled. There are proposals currently being considered for the future upscaling and funding of the Tayside Virtual Campus to ensure sustainability when the grant funding ceases in March 2025. 5. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 5.1 To support delivery of the aims of the Tayside Plan and the TRIC, funding was granted by the Scottish Government. The annual allocation for the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 was £758,726. 5.2 On 30 January 2024, the Scottish Government announced that the RICs funding for April 2024 - March 25 would be 50% of the original grant fund, and that thereafter, there would be no further funding. The TRIC will therefore now receive circa £380,000 for the financial year April 2024 - March 2025. Currently, Council Officers are yet to receive formal notification of the funding amount. 5.3 For the period April 2024 - March 2025, approximately £220,000 of the funding will be allocated to the Tayside Virtual Campus. The remaining budget will be used to fund a part-time Project Officer and some of the priorities listed in Table 1 at Section 6 below. 5.4 The TRIC leadership group are also considering where small amounts of funding might be needed to continue to support professional learning and workforce development across some of the ongoing workstreams. 6. PROPOSALS 6.1 The revised priorities for the tapered funding period 2024 - 2025 are as follows:
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Priority 1: Pre-birth and Early Years Workstream Actions for 2024-2025 Early Learning Centre The current Early Learning Centre group will continue its work and report accordingly. Activities relating to 0-5s at risk of harm will continue to be progressed at a local level with updates provided to the Regional Co-ordinator. Priority 2: Learning and Attainment Workstream Actions for 2024-2025 Digital Learning Widening of curriculum offer through Tayside Virtual Campus model. Full funding in place for one year. Proposals currently being considered for future funding models to ensure longer term sustainability of the campus. Approximately £220,000 funding required. This is dependent on number of subjects offered and learners enrolled. Leadership Continuation of professional learning and induction programme for newly appointed school leaders across Tayside. Exact amounts to be confirmed, some funding required. Curriculum Review of the Senior Phase curriculum to be continued. Priority 3: Health and Wellbeing Workstream Actions for 2024-2025 Mental health and wellbeing There are existing groups for the actions under this priority and they will continue to embed the work which has already progressed. Child Healthy weight This workstream is under review and consideration given to progressing this work across all three local areas. Connected Tayside Continue to embed this work.
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Priority 4: Care Experienced Children and Young People Workstream Actions for 2024-2025 Children’s Rights This shared priority focuses on the provision of advocacy, listening, brothers and sisters, housing, and The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which are implemented separately at a local level. No funding required from the TRIC. The UNCRC enactment may invite further opportunities for joint activity but there will be no need for regional reporting. Priority 5: Safeguarding and Child Protection Workstream Actions for 2024-2025 Safeguarding There is a group being re-established to co-ordinate Bairns Hoose and Scottish Child Interview Model (SCIM) as well as, potentially, an overview of Care and Risk Management (CARM) and vulnerable adolescents. Discussions are underway with partners to agree which actions would be in or out of scope and where these actions will sit for reporting purposes. Author Name Designation Contact Details Audrey May TRIC Lead Officer ECSCommittee@pkc.gov.uk 01738 475000 Approved Name Designation Date Sheena Devlin Strategic Lead – Education and Learning 17 May 2024
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ANNEX 1. IMPLICATIONS, ASSESSMENTS, CONSULTATION AND COMMUNICATION Strategic Implications Yes/None Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement None Corporate Plan None Resource Implications Financial None Workforce None Asset Management (land, property, IST) None Assessments Equality Impact Assessment None Strategic Environmental Assessment None Sustainability (community, economic, environmental) None Legal and Governance None Risk None Consultation Internal Yes External Yes Communication Communications Plan Yes 1. Strategic Implications Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement 1.1 This section sets out how the proposals relate to the delivery of the Perth and Kinross Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement in terms of the following priorities: (i) Giving every child the best start in life; (ii) Developing educated, responsible and informed citizens; (iii) Promoting a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable economy; (iv) Supporting people to lead independent, healthy and active lives; and (v) Creating a safe and sustainable place for future generations. This report relates to Objective No. (ii) Corporate Plan 1.2 This section sets out how the proposals relate to the achievement of the Council’s Corporate Plan Objectives: (i) Giving every child the best start in life; (ii) Developing educated, responsible and informed citizens; (iii) Promoting a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable economy; (iv) Supporting people to lead independent, healthy and active lives; and
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(v) Creating a safe and sustainable place for future generations. This report relates to Objective No. (ii). 1.3 The report also links to the Education & Children’s Services Vision, Values and Priorities in respect of the following key Priority area: • Learning and Achievement 2. Resource Implications Financial 2.1 There are no financial implications arising from this report other than those outlined previously. Workforce 2.2 There are no workforce implications arising from this report. Asset Management (land, property, IT) 2.3 N/A. 3. Assessments Equality Impact Assessment 3.1 Under the Equality Act 2010, the Council is required to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between equality groups. Carrying out Equality Impact Assessments for plans and policies allows the Council to demonstrate that it is meeting these duties. 3.1.1 The proposals have been considered under the Corporate Equalities Impact Assessment process (EqIA) with the following outcome: (i) Assessed as not relevant for the purposes of EqIA. Strategic Environmental Assessment 3.2 The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 places a duty on the Council to identify and assess the environmental consequences of its proposals. 3.2.1 The proposals have been considered under the Act; however, no action is required as the Act does not apply to the matters presented in this report. This is because the Committee are requested to note the contents of the report only and the Committee are not being requested to approve, adopt or agree to an action or to set the framework for future decisions.
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Sustainability 3.3 Under the provisions of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003, the Council has to discharge its duties in a way which contributes to the achievement of sustainable development. Under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 the Council also has a duty relating to climate change and, in exercising its functions must act: • In the way best calculated to delivery of the Act’s emissions reduction targets. • In the way best calculated to deliver any statutory adaption programmes. • In a way that it considers most sustainable. 3.3.1 N/A. Legal and Governance 3.4 N/A. 3.5 N/A Risk 3.6 N/A. 4. Consultation Internal 4.1 The Strategic Lead – Education and Learning has been consulted in the preparation of this report. External 4.2 The content of this report has been consulted on with colleagues in Angus Council and Dundee City Council. 5. Communication 5.1 The communication of this report content is being arranged via the TRIC. 2. BACKGROUND PAPERS 2.1 No background papers, as defined by Section 50D of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (and not containing confidential or exempt information) were relied on to a material extent in preparing the above report: 3. APPENDICES 3.1 None.