Cs Sip 2025-28 Ecspb
Renfrewshire Council · 15 May 2025
Back to Education and Children's Services Policy Board — 15 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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1 _________________________________________________________________ To: Education and Children’s Services Policy Board On: 15 May 2025 __________________________________________________________________ Report by: Director of Children’s Services ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Children’s Services 2025-2028 Service Improvement Plan ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1. The Service Improvement Plan for Children’s Services is a three-year plan covering the period 2025-2028. The purpose of the Plan is to identify the priorities being addressed, the key tasks to be implemented, the implementation timetable and our measures of success. 1.2. The Service Improvement Plan is part of a suite of documents which describe the strategic direction for the service and the Council, that also includes the Council Plan, Community Plan, Risk Management Plan, and the Workforce Plan. 1.3. The Service Improvement Plan is appended to this report and includes Performance Indicators, and an Action Plan grouped under the Council Plan themes. A mid-year progress update on the Service Improvement Plan will be submitted to the Education and Children’s Services Policy Board in the Autumn of 2025. __________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1. It is recommended that the Education and Children’s Services Policy Board: (a) Notes the content of the attached Service Improvement Plan; (b) Approves the changes to the action plan and performance indicators outlined in Section 5; and
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2 (c) Notes that mid-year progress of this Service Improvement Plan will be reported to this Board in the Autumn of 2025, with updates to the Performance Indicators and Action Plan. __________________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1. Renfrewshire Council’s Children’s Services are responsible for the delivery of early learning and childcare, universal services such as primary and secondary education, social work services to children and families, justice social work services, and targeted and specialist services for specific identified needs. These include child protection services, the provision of education to children and young people with additional support needs, mental health and addictions services for children and young people, and management and rehabilitation services for people who have committed offences. 3.2. Our approach is strongly focused on prevention, early intervention and providing additional support for the most vulnerable. Whilst children’s health services sit within Renfrewshire’s Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), a key priority of both organisations will be the continuation of effective integrated working to improve outcomes for children and young people. 3.3. The Service Improvement Plan is a comprehensive statement of the outcomes the service aims to achieve, and the actions it will take to achieve these. It fits within the wider planning framework of the Council by taking account of Community Planning themes and Council priorities. It enables elected members to have oversight of developments within the service and to consider and develop policy options which reflect both the needs of our children, young people, and their families and communities, and resource availability. __________________________________________________________________ 4. Service Improvement Plan 2025-2028: What do we want to achieve? 4.1. All Council services continue to operate in a challenging context. Our communities face a cost-of-living challenge, and we will respond by addressing the causes of inequalities. Establishments and children’s social work services are also witnessing increases in scale of need and demand caused by households facing financial difficulty. 4.2. Over the next three years, Children’s Services will play a critical role in Renfrewshire’s local response to poverty, by sharing data and insight to direct resources to areas of greatest impact and improving outcomes for children and families currently living in poverty, complementing the activity outlined in the Council Plan 2022-2027, Renfrewshire Children’s Services Partnership Plan, the Education Improvement Plan, and the Fairer Renfrewshire Programme.
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3 4.3. In accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), we will ensure that the voices of children and young people are heard and included, and their human rights are respected. Children and young people’s human rights will be at the heart of the planning and delivery of services that affect them. Children’s Services will inform Renfrewshire’s response to UNCRC by promoting awareness of children’s rights, not just amongst children and young people but also adults. 4.4. By ensuring that robust child protection procedures are in place, we will protect the most vulnerable members of our communities, including children and young people who are at risk of harm. Our Equally Safe Strategy has been refreshed and will be implemented across our services including education settings, underpinning our commitment to eradicating violence against women and girls and providing safety for all. Justice services will review and develop the unpaid work scheme to improve outcomes for individuals and communities. 4.5. Children’s Services are committed to supporting and nurturing our children, families, and communities, through our approach to the whole family wellbeing model. We will also promote early and preventative intervention, and continue supporting children, young people, and their families to prepare for the move into adult services and greater independence. We aim to engage with, and encourage participation of, children, young people, and their families to ensure that their needs are met, and collaborate with our key partners to ensure our children and young people enjoy good physical and mental health 4.6. The Scottish Government’s Promise Implementation Plan and The Promise Plan 2024-30 were published in Summer 2024, with Renfrewshire’s response at a key stage in the overall 10-year programme. Children’s Services will continue to progress Renfrewshire’s response, through mapping and planning sessions around the wider implications for all Council services in relation to our planning, priorities, and governance arrangements. 4.7. We will continue to strengthen our approach to planning and future proofing our learning estate, showing commitment to developing modern, energy efficient and fit for purpose buildings, and creating an inclusive environment to allow children and young people to thrive. 4.8. Closing the poverty-related attainment gap remains a priority for Children’s Services. Central to this effort, we will continue to improve the attainment and achievements of our learners through effective use of data, universal and targeted approaches, the launch of our learning and teaching strategy ‘The Renfrewshire Way’, and robust systems for assessment and monitoring. 4.9. We remain committed to collaborating with establishment leaders to provide ongoing support for children and young people with additional needs throughout their education. Additionally, we will ensure that vulnerable young
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4 people receive the guidance they need to achieve and maintain positive opportunities beyond school. 4.10. There is a commitment to ensure that compulsory supervision is only utilised in the children’s hearing system where it is in the best interests of the child and reflects national policy. Our focus will be on securing permanency arrangements for children where this is the best outcome. Ultimately, we aim to support children, young people and their families to prepare for the transition to adult services and greater independence. 4.11. Following the re-design of children and justice social work services, we will review and evaluate the progress and develop a new operating model for Children’s Services. To enable the effective delivery of our key workforce priorities to support the health, safety, and wellbeing of our staff, we will address the priorities identified within the 2024 staff survey. __________________________________________________________________ 5. Proposed changes to the Action Plan and Performance Indicators 5.1. The action ‘Progress development work in relation to the priority schools identified in the Learning Estate Management Plan’ has been updated to reflect the Learning Estate Strategy, and the additional new build priority school and extension to an existing secondary school. 5.2. The action ‘The Promise Strategic Oversight Board and workstreams will progress and ensure Renfrewshire ‘Keeps the Promise’ and delivers improved outcomes for individuals who are care experienced, wherever possible keeping children within their families’ which was reported through both the Service Improvement Plan and the Council Plan with a due date of March 2025, will extend into this SIP and for the duration of the existing Council Plan. This will ensure that we report on Renfrewshire’s progress in #KeepingThePromise, which will run nationally until 2030. 5.3. Upon the completion of the action ‘Refresh Renfrewshire’s Equally Safe Strategy’, which is expected to be finalised in June 2025, this will be replaced by a new action titled ‘Implement Renfrewshire’s Equally Safe Strategy’, which will be monitored over the 3-year duration of this plan. 5.4. We have also included the following actions to align with the corporate priorities relating to data and digital strategies, and workforce planning: • Ensure that evidence-based data driven decision making improves outcomes for children, families and communities. • Take forward findings from Employee Survey and develop actions across the following three priority areas.
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5 • Play a key role in the Reshaping Renfrewshire – Transformation Programme and associated workstreams. • Engage with the Data Advisory Group to ensure data activities align with the Data Strategy Framework, cross-service data sharing opportunities are identified, and data improvement activities are carried out in a consistent manner across the organisation. __________________________________________________________________ 6. Monitoring progress 6.1. Progress on the implementation of the Service Improvement Plan is regularly monitored by the extended Senior Leadership Team and will be reported to the Education and Children’s Services Policy Board on a six-monthly basis. A mid- year review of progress will be brought to this Board in the Autumn of 2025, with an annual outturn reported in Spring 2026. Implications of the Report 1. Financial – The Service Improvement Plan highlights resourcing pressures arising from increasing demand for services and the current financial environment. 2. HR & Organisational Development – The Service Improvement Plan also highlights workforce development and wellbeing considerations. 3. Community/Council Planning – The report details a range of activities which reflect Council and Community Planning themes and a direct link to the delivery of the Council Plan. 4. Legal – none. 5. Property/Assets – none. 6. Information Technology – Service developments relating to information technology are key enablers of service improvement, modernisation, and support service-level and corporate objectives. 7. Equality & Human Rights – The Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report. If required following implementation, the actual impact of the recommendations and the mitigating actions will be reviewed and monitored, and the results of the assessment will be published on the Council’s website. 8. Health & Safety – none. 9. Procurement – none.
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6 10. Risk – Risks related to the delivery and management of services are regularly monitored and included in Renfrewshire Council’s Corporate and Strategic Risk Registers. 11. Privacy Impact – none. 12. Climate Risk – Actions and performance indicators aligned to Strategic Priority 4: Green, of Renfrewshire’s Council Plan, highlights activities across the Council to tackle climate change. 13. Children’s Rights – Children’s rights and the articles which underpin them have been considered as part of the preparation of this report. The report highlights many of the activities which partners in Renfrewshire undertake to achieve positive outcomes for children and their families through wider child, adult, and community protection work. 14. COSLA Policy Position – none. ___________________________________________________________________ List of Background Papers: None ___________________________________________________________________ Author: Alasdair Mann, Senior Policy Officer Contact Officer: Yvonne Farquhar, Policy Manager (People) Appendix I: Service Improvement Plan 2025-2028 ___________________________________________________________________
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Children’s Services Service Improvement Plan 2025 –28
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Welcome to our Service Improvement Plan I am delighted to introduce the 2025-2028 Service Improvement Plan (SIP) for Children’s Services. The plan sets out our vision for the three years ahead, and how we as a team will help ensure the organisation delivers on the strategic outcomes set out in the Council Plan. Councils everywhere are facing a very challenging financial context over the years ahead, while the cost-of-living crisis and poverty- related inequalities will continue to affect our communities. So that makes it even more important we have a clear sense of direction on how to focus our resources to deliver on what’s most important – helping deliver the best start to life for Renfrewshire’s children and young people. This plan will help us do that. I have been impressed by the commitment and great work already being delivered by colleagues across the service, and the plan sets out where we can continue and build on that over the next three years. Our areas of focus will include putting children and young people at the heart of our services, tackling the impact of poverty, protecting the most vulnerable, raising attainment for all, and creating the best possible environment for our children and young people to thrive. That will mean a team effort across the service, the wider council and our partners. I look forward to working with all of you to do that. Janie O’Neill Director of Children’s Services
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Our Children’s Services
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Children’s Services - about us Children’s Services are responsible for the delivery of early learning and childcare, primary and secondary education, social work services to children and families, and justice social work services. Children’s Services provides universal services such as education, and targeted and specialist services for specific identified needs. Our specialist provision includes child protection services, providing education to children and young people with additional support needs, mental health and addictions services for children and young people, and management and rehabilitation services for people who have committed offences. The Director of Children’s Services is the Council’s Chief Education Officer and is supported by three Heads of Service: two Heads of Education and the Head of Children and Justice Social Work. The Head of Children and Justice Social Work is also the Chief Social Work Officer for the Council and the Health and Social Care Partnership. Director of Children’s Services Janie O’Neill Head of Children and Justice Social Work John Trainer Head of Education Emma Henry Head of Education Gerard McLaughlin
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Our Resources and Risks BUDGET The Children’s Services revenue budget for 2025/26 is approximately £267m, equating to almost half of the Council’s General Services budget. As part of the capital budget, over £76m will be invested in 2025/26 in Schools and Early Years establishments, with £151m to be invested over the period 2025/26 to 2029/30. RISK MANAGEMENT The Council’s risk management arrangements are well established with all strategic, corporate and service risks being reported to the Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Board. Children’s Services risks are detailed below: Strategic risks • Learning Estate Strategy – very high • Pandemic threat –high Corporate Risks • Financial Sustainability – very high • Cyber Security –very high Service Risks • Temporary funding streams ending – high • Violence and Aggression –high • Pupil Attendance and Exclusions –high • Additional Support for Learning –high • 21 hours non-class contact time -high
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Workforce Innovation and Wellbeing The Council launched its people strategy “Our People, Our Future” in 2021, which was updated in 2023 with the following 3 priorities: Improving our Workforce Planning Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Employee Experience The strategy covers the period 2021-2026 and work will begin this year to develop a new strategy. In early 2025, Audit Scotland published the results of their Scotland-wide thematic Best Value review on workforce innovation. The report on Renfrewshire Council had many examples of good practice and presented us with three areas for improvement, which our People and OD will progress in partnership with other Council services. Children’s Services will ensure these priorities are reflected in both our strategic and day-to-day operations. High-level actions are embedded in our Service Improvement Plan, with a particular emphasis on supporting our teams following service re-designs. These re- designs have been – and will continue to be – collaborative and people-centred, reflecting our values with regular workshops and catch ups. We will also actively take forward findings from the Employee Survey to address workload issues and the mental and physical wellbeing of our workforce. Our high-level actions will align with the Cultural Assurance Model and other scrutiny exercises.
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Data Strategy The Council’s Digital Strategy includes Smart Data Workstream tasked with improving the management and exploitation of data in a consistent way across our services, leading to the improvement of the Council’s capabilities around data. As part of the Smart Data Workstream an organisation-wide data governance group has been created which includes data specialist representatives from all services. Service data strategies have been developed since 2024 to address gaps and improve the management and exploitation of business-critical data. In 2025/26, the service will: Through evidence-based data driven decision making we will improve outcomes for children, families and communities. • Increase cross-sector working to create consistent data approaches and share best practice. • Expand data literacy training offer across Children’s Services. • Increase awareness of data analysis across all teams within Children’s Services. Barriers • Service re-designs have impacted resources available for analysis & reporting. • Limitations within management information systems. • Actions identified from analysis may not be achievable in financial climate. Data Network Group to identify key areas for improvement relating to consistent approaches & roles/ responsibilities Improved data processes to reduce duplication and manual error Wider rollout of data literacy programme to all teams Increased sharing of analysis across teams
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Renfrewshire Council’s Service Improvement Context Reflecting our values Delivering financially sustainable services Promoting equality, diversity and inclusion Delivering Best Value Aligning to our Council Plan and the Community Plan
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Cost-of- Living-Crisis Humanitarian Support and Resettlement UN Convention on the Rights of the Child The Promise GIRFEC Refresh and additional support for learning review Tackling the poverty-related attainment gap National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland Vision for Justice in Scotland National Care Service Raising Attainment for All Climate Change Education Reform National Social Work Agency National Policy Context
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Local Policy Context Our Values Our Values describe our promise to our communities, staff, and partners. They guide how we deliver services and make decisions. Council and Community Plans Our Council Plan and Community Plan set the strategic framework for our organisation and describe what we want to achieve for Renfrewshire Fairer Renfrewshire Programme Brings together existing programmes of work focused on achieving fairness and equity, and tackling the inequalities that exist across Renfrewshire’s communities. Best Value Aims to ensure good governance; manage resources effectively; focus on improvement; and, most important of all, deliver the best possible outcomes for local people. Learning Estate Strategy Our most ambitious and high-value investment programme to achieve our long- term strategy to “create the best possible learning estate to allow children and young people to thrive”. Gaelic Language Plan Renfrewshire Council is committed to providing Gaelic education opportunities for our residents and those who wish to undertake this in future through our Gaelic Language Plan 2024 – 2029. Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion Every area of work within the Council has a role to play in promoting equality and diversity. The Equality Act 2010 protects people from unfair treatment and asks public bodies to show how they make a positive difference to equality groups. Community Mental Health & Wellbeing Every area of work within the Council has a role to play in promoting equality and diversity. The Equality Act 2010 protects people from unfair treatment and asks public bodies to show how they make a positive difference to equality groups.
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Key Priorities Raise attainment and enhance learning and teaching in an inclusive environment Protect the most vulnerable members of our communities, including children and young people who are at risk Place children and young people’s human rights at the heart of the planning and delivery of services that affect them Create the best possible learning estate to allow children and young people to thrive Reduce child poverty in Renfrewshire and improving outcomes for children and families currently living in poverty Support and nurture our children, families and communities Contribute to the Reshaping Renfrewshire - Transformation and Change Programme Responding to the findings from the employee surveys and self-assessment in partnership with our people
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Our Focus 2025/26 • Continue to progress Renfrewshire’s response to KeepingThe Promise • Continue to enhance our approach to thewhole family wellbeing model, promoting early and preventative intervention • In accordance with UNCRC, ensure thatvoices of children and young peopleare heard and included, and their human rights arerespected • Ensure that robust child protection responses are in placeand implement the recommendations from the children at risk of harm inspection • Focus on securing permanency arrangements for children where this is the best outcome • Support children, young people and their families to prepare for the transition to adult services and greaterindependence • Ensure compulsory supervision is only utilised in the children’s hearing system where it is in the children’s interests and reflects national policy • Implement the Equally Safe Strategy • Review and develop the unpaid work scheme to improve outcomes for individuals and communities • Review and evaluate the redesign of children and justice social work and develop a new operating model for Children’s Services
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Our Focus 2025/26 • Work collaboratively with our key partners to ensure our children and young people enjoy good physical and mental health • Play a critical part in ourlocal response to poverty, sharing data and insight to direct resources to areas of greatestimpact • Closing the poverty related attainment gap and improving attainment of our lowest 20% learners through effective use of data, targeted approaches, the implementation of a learning and teaching strategy and through strengthened assessment, tracking and monitoring • Ensure robust action plans are in place to develop and align with the work of the Curricular Improvement Cycle • Through robust self evaluation with key stakeholders, we will refresh our resource and supports offered to maximise impact further • Continue to strengthen our approach to planning and future proofing our learning estate • Continue to work with establishment leaders to support our children and young people with ASN • Continue to develop strategies to improve attendance and reduce exclusions - three targeted secondary schools are currently working on a National pilot with Education Scotland on the, Improving Attendance Quality Improvement Programme. A pilot project targeting two secondaries will be implemented in collaboration with Police Scotland and the recruitment of a Youth Engagement Development Officer. • Continue to support vulnerable young people toachieve and sustain positive pathwaysafter leaving school • Effective delivery of our key workforce priorities to support the health, safety and wellbeing of our staff and address the priorities identified within the staff survey
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Delivering the Council Plan Children’s Services Action Plan and Performance Indicators
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Delivering the Council Plan – Place What will we do? What difference will we make? Who is leading this? When will we do this by? Progress development work in relation to the priority schools identified in the Learning Estate Management Plan – a) Paisley Grammar School Community Campus b) Thorn Primary School c) Extension and Adaptations to Park Mains High School d) A New Dargavel Primary School Pupils and staff enjoy a modern, fit for purpose, learning estate which supports learning and achievement. Head of Education (Strategy & Improvement) Learning Estate Strategy and Delivery Manager a) 31 August 2026 b) Ongoing c) 31 August 2027 d) 31 August 2027 Undertake an evaluation of the roll out of full Wi-Fi across the school estate Ensure that we have good connections which supports flexible learning and allows that is aligned to current technology trends. Digital Learning and Link Manager 31 March 2026 A digital strategy will be developed, implemented and evaluated for children, young people and families which will focus on Transformation, Capacity Building and Innovation In line with the corporate digital strategy, our children, young people and families will have a successful digital experience that supports learning and is seamless, integrated, consistent and personalised. Digital Learning and Link Manager 31 March 2027 Ensure that evidence-based data driven decision making improves outcomes for children, families and communities. Increase in cross-sector working to create consistent data approaches and share best practice. Enhanced data literacy across Children’s Services. Increased awareness of data analysis across all teams within Children’s Services. Head of Education (Strategy & Improvement) 31 March 2026
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Delivering the Council Plan – Place What will we do? What difference will we make? Who is leading this? When will we do this by? Implement the priority actions from the National Strategy for Community Justice with our Community Justice partners Enhance intervention at the earliest opportunity by ensuring greater consistency, confidence in and awareness of services which support the use of direct measures and diversion from prosecution. Enhance community integration and support by increasing and promoting greater use of voluntary throughcare and third sector services. Community Justice Lead Officer 31 March 2027 Continue to implement ‘Equally Safe at School’ policy A whole school approach to preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls, with staff and students working together with a shared understanding and commitment to equality and safety for all. Education Manager (Quality Improvement and Health & Wellbeing) 31 March 2027 Implement Renfrewshire’s Equally Safe Strategy Preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls. Children’s Services Manager (Front-Door Services) 31 March 2028
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Delivering the Council Plan – Economy What will we do? What difference will we make? Who is leading this? When will we do this by? Contribute to the Council’s Workforce Plan and Strategic Recruitment and Talent Management Plan to enable us to meet workforce demands particularly in relation to Teaching and Social Work Creating a high performing and sustainable workforce capable of meeting the Council’s future challenges. Education Manager (Leadership & Professional Development) Strategic Manager (Children and Justice Social Work) 31 March 2027 Working in partnership with Skills Development Scotland, West College Scotland, Invest in Renfrewshire and Developing the Young Workforce West, we will ensure planned robust approaches to supporting our most vulnerable learners into positive, sustained destinations This will provide a coordinated approach to ensuring that all young people, particularly the most vulnerable, are given the best opportunities and supports to move into positive future pathways. Education Manager (Developing the Young Workforce) 31 March 2028
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Delivering the Council Plan – Fair What will we do? What difference will we make? Who is leading this? When will we do this by? Implementation of the Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy that clearly articulates the vision for planning and delivering high quality learning, teaching and assessment All staff will be aware of the Renfrewshire Vision for learning, teaching and assessment and features of highly effective practice and will begin to use them in their practice. All practitioners are provided with the opportunity to learn from and share highly effective practice. All staff will be empowered and supported to strengthen their practice through collaboration and professional learning. Learners’ experiences will improve as the vision for highly effective practice is realised in each establishment. Education Manager (Assessment & Moderation) 31 March 2027 Raise attainment and skills for learning, life, and work to enhance opportunities and choices for all our children and young people Close the educational attainment gap for our care experienced children and young people. Ensuring equality through targeted improvement activity in literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing Improve attendance and monitor exclusions and provide help to parents and carers to support their children and young people to meet their educational needs. Heads of Education 31 March 2027
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Delivering the Council Plan – Fair What will we do? What difference will we make? Who is leading this? When will we do this by? The Promise Strategic Oversight Board and workstreams will progress and ensure Renfrewshire ‘Keeps the Promise’ and delivers improved outcomes for individuals who are care experienced, wherever possible keeping children within their families (CF) Continue to progress Renfrewshire’s response to KeepingThe Promise The Promise Manager 31 March 2027 (CP) 31 March 2028 (SIP) (overall programme until 2030) We will embed the whole family wellbeing service and request for assistance process to ensure that families get the right support at the right time, based on need The request for assistance process will enable families to reach in for support themselves and is a one door approach for professionals to seek stage 1 support for families which will include access to our funded third sector partners. This will result in improved family wellbeing outcomes, reduced number of crisis and social work interventions and improved access to early intervention and prevention services. Education Manager (Whole Family Wellbeing) 31 March 2028 Work collaboratively with our key partners to ensure our children and young people enjoy good physical and mental health We will have improved physical and mental health for our children, young people, families and communities Service Improvement Manager Education Manager (Quality Improvement and Health & Wellbeing) 31 March 2028
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Delivering the Council Plan – Fair What will we do? What difference will we make? Who is leading this? When will we do this by? Focus on securing permanency arrangements for children where this is the best outcome Ensure that children who cannot safely remain in the care of their birth parents have a permanence decision six months after becoming accommodated and have a permanence plan agreed within 12 months of becoming accommodated. Social Work Strategic Manager (Depute Chief Social Work Officer) 30 June 2026 Implement the recommendations from the children at risk of harm inspection Ensure that robust child protection responses are in placeand implement the recommendations from the children at risk of harm inspection. Head of Children and Justice Social Work (Chief Social Work Officer) 31 March 2026 Provide support and intervention at the right level and the right time to allow children and families to move out of the system quickly when challenges are addressed and resolved Ensure compulsory supervision is only utilised where it is in the child’s best interests, and it is not in place for longer than necessary. Children’s & Justice Services Manager (Assurance & Change) 30 June 2026 Review the impact of the social work re- design Clarity about the impact of the service re-design upon delivery of key objectives leading to improvement and adaptation where required. Social Work Strategic Manager (Depute Chief Social Work Officer) 30 November 2026
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Delivering the Council Plan – Fair What will we do? What difference will we make? Who is leading this? When will we do this by? Ensure robust action plans are in place to develop and align with the work of the Curricular Improvement Cycle This systematic review of the Scottish curriculumwill ensure it remains up to date and relevant for all children and young people. Head of Education (Attainment, Inclusion & Wellbeing) Education Manager (Assessment & Moderation) 31 March 2028 Continue to work with establishment leaders to support our children and young people with Additional Support Needs Ensure that resource is allocated effectively and equitably in line with the staged intervention framework, supporting Renfrewshire’s children and young people to access an appropriate education. Head of Education (Attainment, Inclusion & Wellbeing) Education Manager (ASN & Inclusion) 31 March 2028 Managing and Reporting Violence and Aggression Incidents in Establishments Policy will continue to be embedded, ensuring that local processes are followed to track and monitor incidents resulting in appropriate interventions and supports being actioned Continue to support establishments to embed new policy and signpost to the related training opportunities to support this both universally and targeted. Head of Education (Attainment, Inclusion & Wellbeing) Education Manager (ASN & Inclusion) 31 March 2028
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Delivering the Council Plan – Fair Performance Indicators Performance Indicators – Financial Year Last Updated Value Target Proportion of children being looked after in the community Q4 2024/25 91.6% 89.9% Percentage of accommodated Looked After Children placed with families Q4 2024/25 90.5% 83% Percentage of care leavers participating in employment, training or education Q4 2024/25 58% 55% Percentage of care leavers who have had a period of homelessness in the last 6 months Q4 2024/25 3% 0% The percentage of NEW clients subject to a new supervision order seen by a supervising officer within 1 week Q3 2024/25 75% 85% % of NEW unpaid work orders/requirement complete by the required date Q3 2024/25 83% 75% Percentage of NEW unpaid work clients seen within 1 working day of the order Q3 2024/25 66% 70% Percentage of NEW unpaid work clients receiving an induction within 5 working days of the order Q3 2024/25 69% 75% Percentage of NEW unpaid work clients beginning work placement within 7 working days of the order Q3 2024/25 69% 65%
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Delivering the Council Plan – Fair Performance Indicators Performance Indicator – Academic Year Last Updated Value Target % of Leavers attaining literacy SCQF Level 4 2023/24 94.0% 98% % of Leavers attaining numeracy SCQF Level 4 2023/24 93.0% 94% % of Leavers attaining literacy SCQF Level 5 2023/24 83.0% 88% % of Leavers attaining numeracy SCQF Level 5 2023/24 76.0% 77% Average total tariff score of all school leavers in Renfrewshire 2023/24 941 959 Average total tariff score of leavers living in SIMD 30% most deprived areas 2023/24 681 770 Percentage gap in average total tariff score of school leavers resident in SIMD 30% most deprived and those from the 70% least SIMD deprived Renfrewshire areas. 2023/24 38% 28% Average Total Tariff Score of Looked After Children (school leavers) 2023/24 283 330 Gap between the Average Total Tariff Score of Looked After Children (school leavers) and that of the total Renfrewshire leavers cohort 2023/24 62% 63% No of foundation apprenticeships accessed by Renfrewshire school pupils 2023/24 21 50 Percentage of pupils satisfied with establishments Education Scotland Survey 2024/25 90% 100%
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Delivering the Council Plan – Fair Performance Indicators Performance Indicator – Academic Year Last Updated Value Target Percentage Point Gap in % Pupils Achieving Expected Level for their stage in Literacy between pupils living in 30% Most Deprived areas and those living in 70% Least Deprived Areas (SIMD) 2023/24 14 10 Percentage Point Gap in % Pupils Achieving Expected Level for their stage in Numeracy between pupils living in 30% Most Deprived areas and those living in 70% Least Deprived Areas (SIMD) 2023/24 11 9 Percentage Point Gap in % Pupils Achieving Expected Level for their stage in Literacy between pupils entitled to Free School Meals and pupils not entitled 2023/24 18 15 Percentage Point Gap in % Pupils Achieving Expected Level for their stage in Numeracy between pupils entitled to Free School Meals and pupils not entitled 2023/24 14 14 % of School leavers in a positive destination 2023/24 97.1% 98% % of children attending school (Primary) 2023/24 93.1% 95.5% % of children attending school (Secondary) 2023/24 86.8% 91% % of young people choosing to stay onto S5 (as % of S4 roll at September previous year) 2024/25 91.4% 92% % of young people choosing to stay onto S6 (as % of S4 roll at September two years before) 2024/25 62.8% 71%
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Delivering the Council Plan – Green What will we do? What difference will we make? Who is leading this? When will we do this by? Continue to work with other council services to deliver improvements to the school estate which offer a high degree of environmental sustainability and energy efficiency Following the Council’s declaration of a climate emergency in June 2019, the delivery of this action will make a critical contribution towards Renfrewshire being carbon neutral by 2030. Head of Education (Strategy & Improvement) Learning Estate Strategy and Delivery Manager 31 March 2026
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Delivering the Council Plan – Living Our Values What will we do? What difference will we make? Who is leading this? When will we do this by? Engage and participate in Trauma Informed and Responsive Renfrewshire programme We understand what trauma is, and how it affects people, so we will now work differently: Learning and working together to co-create fair and helpful collaborations to support healing and recovery with people affected by trauma. Progress towards, and achievement of, improvement outcomes for people, systems and services as detailed of five strategic themes and outcomes in Trauma Informed and Responsive Renfrewshire programme All Heads of Service 31 March 2026 Actively promote health and wellbeing support for staff Our staff feel supported and are aware of the health and wellbeing support available to them. All Heads of Service 31 March 2027
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Delivering the Council Plan – Living Our Values What will we do? What difference will we make? Who is leading this? When will we do this by? Place the human rights and needs of every child and young person at the heart of service planning and delivery (UNCRC) Promote awareness of children’s rights, not just amongst children and young people but also adults. Strategic Manager (Children and Justice Social Work) Head of Education (Inclusion and Quality Improvement) 31 March 2027 Through engagement and participation, we will ensure the collective views, needs and aspirations of children, young people and families are met We take steps to ensure seldom heard voices are heard e.g., care experienced children and young people and those children involved in child protection. The participation and influence of care experienced children, young people and their families is recorded and evidenced. Head of Education (Inclusion and Quality Improvement) Child Protection Adviser Children’s Services Manager (Children & Families Teams) 31 March 2027 In partnership with the HSCP, closely collaborate with young people and their families to ensure a smooth transition to adult services Empower young people with disabilities and their families to make informed choices. Children’s Services Manager (Renfrewshire-Wide Services) 31 March 2027
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Delivering the Council Plan – Living Our Values What will we do? What difference will we make? Who is leading this? When will we do this by? Take forward findings from Employee Survey and develop actions across the following three priority areas Addressing mental and physical well being Addressing workload issues Receiving praise and recognition Service Improvement Manager 31 March 2028 Play a key role in the Reshaping Renfrewshire – Transformation Programme and associated workstreams Transformative learning estate strategy and provide regular updates to CMT and Education and Children’s Services Policy Board All Heads of Service 31 March 2028 Undertake the duty under the Education (Scotland) Act 2016 to promote and support, as appropriate, the potential for Gaelic medium and Gaelic learner education to Renfrewshire Council residents Children and young people will have access to high quality GME provision at all levels, where required. Head of Education (Strategy & Improvement) Education Manager (Assessment & Moderation) Early years – 31 August 2026 Primary expansion – 31 August 2027 Secondary – 31 August 2029 Engage with the Data Advisory Group to ensure data activities align with the Data Strategy Framework, cross-service data sharing opportunities are identified, and data improvement activities are carried out in a consistent manner across the organisation. Ensure data is used collaboratively across services for Council strategic outcomes. Ensure consistency of approach to data improvement activities. Ensure good practice is shared. Head of Education (Strategy & Improvement) 31 March 2026
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Delivering the Council Plan – Living Our Values Performance Indicators Performance Indicators – Financial Year Last Updated Value Target % of Stage 1 complaints responded to within timescales agreed with customers Q4 2024/25 100% 95% % of Stage 2 complaints responded to within timescales agreed with customers Q4 2024/25 97% 95% % of FOI requests completed within timescale by Children's Services Q4 2024/25 80% 100% Completion rate of corporate induction within 30 days of starting employment with the Council NEW TBC Completion rates of mandatory training courses NEW TBC Completion rates of Personal Development Plans NEW TBC
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Management Information Performance Indicators Performance Indicators – Financial Year Last Updated Value Percentage of children registered in this period who have previously been on the Child Protection Register Q4 2024/25 3.2% Number of children on the Child Protection Register at quarter end date Q4 2024/25 63
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Title can go here • Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level Children’s Services Service Improvement Plan 2025 – 28