Minutes of meeting
Renfrewshire Council · 21 August 2025
Back to Education and Children's Services Policy Board — 21 August 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
Minute of Meeting Education and Children's Services Policy Board Date Time Venue Thursday, 21 August 2025 13:00 Council Chambers (Renfrewshire), Council Headquarters, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley, PA1 1AN Present: Councillor Jennifer Adam, Councillor Fiona Airlie-Nicolson, Ms Mary Jane Bird, Provost Lorraine Cameron, Councillor Carolann Davidson, Councillor Audrey Doig, Councillor Gillian Graham, Councillor Anne Hannigan, Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, Councillor David McGonigle, Councillor Marie McGurk, Councillor Iain McMillan, Mr Jack Nellaney, Councillor Iain Nicolson, Councillor Jim Paterson, Councillor Emma Rodden, Mr Ravinder Singh, Councillor Ben Smith Chair Councillor Rodden, Convener, presided. In Attendance J O'Neill, Director of Children's Services; B Walker, Programme Director (City Deal & Infrastructure) (Chief Executive's); E Henry, Head of Education, G McLaughlin, Head of Education (Strategy & Improvement), J Trainer, Head of Children & Justice Social Work and M McCargo, Children’s Services Manager (all Children's Services); C Dalrymple, Head of Facilities & Property Services (Environment, Housing & Infrastructure); and D Low, Democratic Services Officer, R Conway, Finance Business Partner, E Currie, Senior Committee Services Officer and J Barron, Committee Services Officer (all Finance & Resources). Webcasting of Meeting Prior to the commencement of the meeting, the Convener intimated that this meeting of the Policy Board would be filmed for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site. Apology Councillor Grady.
Page 2
Declarations of Interest There were no declarations of interest intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting. Transparency Statement Councillor Davidson indicated that she had a connection to item 13 by reason of her daughter being an employee at Barrochan residential children’s house. However, she indicated that she had applied the objective test and did not consider she had an interest to declare. 1 Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring There was submitted a joint revenue and capital budget monitoring report by the Directors of Finance & Resources and Children’s Services for the period to 27 June 2025. The report intimated that the projected revenue outturn at 31 March 2025 for Children’s Services was an overspend of £0.970 million (0.4%) against the revised budget for the year. The projected capital outturn at 31 March 2025 for Children’s Services was a breakeven position. A number of revenue and capital budget adjustments were detailed at sections 6 and 7 of the report respectively. DECIDED: (a) That the projected revenue outturn position for Children’s Services, as detailed in Table 1 of the report, be noted; (b) That the projected capital outturn position for Children’s Services, as detailed in Table 2 of the report, be noted; and (c) That the budget adjustments detailed in sections 6 and 7 of the report be noted. 2 Care Inspectorate Review of Social Work Governance and Assurance Across Scotland There was submitted a report by the Director of Children’s Services relative to the findings and implications of the Care Inspectorate’s national review of social work governance and assurance conducted between June and November 2024 and published in May 2025. The report intimated that the review provided reassurance that Renfrewshire’s arrangements were largely aligned with national best practice. The Chief Social Work Officer and planning partners would reflect upon the general findings and integrate these into existing service improvement plans. DECIDED: (a) That it be noted that the Care Inspectorate Review of Social Work Governance and Assurance across Scotland had been published recently and made a number of findings about local service arrangements as well as recommendations for local and
Page 3
national leaders; (b) That it be noted that overall, the review provided reassurance about our arrangements in Renfrewshire and that Renfrewshire Council’s annual world social work day event had been highlighted in the report as a good practice example; and (c) That it be noted that the Chief Social Work Officer and service planning partners would reflect on the findings and adapt learning and any necessary actions into existing service improvement plans. 3 Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019 - 1st Annual Report There was submitted a report by the Director of Children’s Services relative to the first annual report in relation to the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019 which placed certain duties on local authorities in relation to the planning or securing a range of care services to be delivered on its behalf by third-party providers. The report intimated that the first annual report required to report on any new care services planned, secured or commissioned by the local authority in the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 and required to be submitted to the Scottish Government by 30 June 2025, even when the local authority did not plan, secure or commission any new service in the reporting period, which was the case in Renfrewshire. DECIDED: (a) That the contents of the first annual report be noted; and (b) That it be noted that the first annual report had been submitted to the Scottish Government in compliance with Section 3(6) of the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019. 4 Whole Family Wellbeing Progress Report There was submitted a report by the Director of Children’s Services outlining the progress made across the local authority to date by the family wellbeing service which has been operating since January 2024, including the impact of the family wellbeing service, the roll-out of a digital request for assistance system and increased collaboration and capacity building with third sector partners. DECIDED: That the very positive progress the family wellbeing service had made to improving outcomes for families in Renfrewshire be noted. 5 Education Advisor (CAMHS) Evaluation Report There was submitted a report by the Director of Children’s Services outlining the progress of the Education Advisor (CAMHS) role to date and the support provided to children, young people, families and establishments. The report advised that this role had been created and funded by Renfrewshire’s Community and Mental Health Board as a temporary post in August 2023 with a planned end date of August 2024. Due to its ongoing success and the impact being made, this role had become permanent and was now fully funded by Children’s Services.
Page 4
DECIDED: That the very positive progress the Education Advisor Service was making in supporting outcomes for children and young people in Renfrewshire be noted. 6 Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill (as introduced) There was submitted a report by the Director of Children’s Services relative to the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 17 June 2025 and which introduced legislative changes across the care system, children’s hearings and services planning. DECIDED: (a) That the key information and implications outlined in the report regarding the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill be noted; (b) That the breadth and ambition of the proposed legislation, which sought to strengthen outcomes for children, young people, and families across Scotland be noted; and (c) That the ongoing engagement with the legislative process to ensure that the Act was informed by local insight and delivered meaningful, positive change for our communities be noted. 7 National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse - Baroness Cassey report There was submitted a report by the Director of Children’s Services relative to the national audit on group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse in England and Wales led by Baroness Casey and published on 16 June 2025. The report advised that the findings and recommendations should be considered in relation to Scotland and Renfrewshire and summarised the key findings and recommendations from the report and acknowledged the work being undertaken in Renfrewshire to protect children from child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation. DECIDED: (a) That the publication of the National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in England and Wales be noted; and (b) That the work undertaken in Renfrewshire to protect children from child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation be noted. 8 Learning Estate Programme Update There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the current phase of the Learning Estate Delivery Programme and providing updates in respect of Paisley Grammar School Community Campus; Park Mains High School extension and internal interventions; and Thistle Primary School. The Head of
Page 5
Education (Strategy & Improvement) gave a presentation and displayed images detailing the progress made with the projects. DECIDED: That the progress of project delivery in the Learning Estate Programme be noted. 9 Learning Estate Strategy Update There was submitted a report by the Director of Children’s Services relative to progression of the delivery of Renfrewshire’s Learning Estate Strategy to the first phase of business case development for the agreed priority projects. The report presented the completed documents of the first stage of this process for the Johnstone Primary School Learning Estate; Johnstone High School; and Trinity High School. A completed Strategic Case for Change document for each project was appended to the report. The Director of Education and the Head of Education (Strategy & Improvement) gave a presentation on the Learning Estate Strategy. DECIDED: (a) That the content of the completed Strategic Case for Change documents appended to the report for Johnstone Primary School Learning Estate, Johnstone High School and Trinity High School be noted; and (b) That it be noted that officers would begin conducting the first phase of informal stakeholder engagement on options for Johnstone Primary and Secondary Learning Estate and Trinity High School. 10 Children's Services Health and Safety Strategy Update 2024/25 and Children's Services Health and Safety Strategy Action Plan 2025/26 There was submitted a report by the Director of Children’s Services relative to the Children’s Services Health and Safety Strategic Update 2024/25, which formed Appendix 1 to the report, and the Children’s Services Health and Safety Action Plan 2025/26, which formed Appendix 2 to the report. DECIDED: (a) That the Children’s Services Health and Safety action plan update for 2024/25, which formed Appendix 1 to the report, be approved; and (b) That the Children’s Services Health and Safety Action Plan for 2025/26, which formed Appendix 2 to the report, be approved. 11 School Holiday Arrangements School Session 2026/27 There was submitted a report by the Director of Children’s Services relative to school holiday arrangements for the school session beginning August 2026. The proposal agreed in principle with trade union representatives and approved at the Joint Negotiating Committee for Teachers on 10 June 2025 formed Appendix 1 to the report.
Page 6
DECIDED: That the Director of Children’s Services be authorised to set school holiday arrangements for academic year 2026/27 in line with Appendix 1 to the report. 12 Distribution of Funding to Support Services for Children and Families Under refence to item 2 of the Minute of the meeting of this Policy Board held on 13 March 2025, there was submitted a report by the Director of Children’s Services relative to a further allocation of funding to support an out of school care service and a pre-5 voluntary sector playgroup, as detailed in the appendices to the report. DECIDED: (a) That the resource allocation to support the delivery of services for children and young people, as outlined in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved; and (b) That the proposed allocation of grant funding for out of school care sector, as detailed in the appendices to the report, be approved, subject to the completion of satisfactory checks and assessments. 13 Inspection of Residential Children's Houses by the Care Inspectorate There was submitted a report by the Director of Children’s Services relative to the inspections of Barrochan residential children’s house and Beech Avenue residential children’s house carried out by the Care Inspectorate. Copies of the inspection reports were appended to the report. DECIDED: (a) That the outcome of the inspections of both Barrochan residential children’s house and Beech Avenue residential children’s house be noted; and (b) That the actions that had been taken to address the requirements and areas of improvement by the leadership team in Children’s Services and the individual houses be noted. 14 Education Scotland Inspection of Hillview Early Learning and Childcare Centre There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the results of an inspection of Hillview Early Learning and Childcare Centre carried out by Education Scotland. The letter sent by Education Scotland to the parents and carers of pupils detailing the outcome of the inspection was set out at Appendix 1 of the report. DECIDED: That the key strengths in the Education Scotland report for Hillview Early Learning and Childcare Centre be noted and celebrated and the areas for further improvement be recognised.
Page 7
15 Education Scotland Inspection of Kilbarchan Community Nursery There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the results of an inspection of Kilbarchan Community Nursery carried out by Education Scotland. The letter sent by Education Scotland to the parents and carers of pupils detailing the outcome of the inspection was set out at Appendix 1 of the report. DECIDED: That the key strengths in the Education Scotland report for Kilbarchan Community Nursery be noted and celebrated and the areas for further improvement be recognised. 16 Education Scotland Inspection of Gleniffer High School There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the results of an inspection of Gleniffer High School carried out by Education Scotland. The letter sent by Education Scotland to the parents and carers of pupils detailing the outcome of the inspection was set out at Appendix 1 of the report. DECIDED: That the key strengths in the Education Scotland report for Gleniffer High School be noted and celebrated and the areas for further improvement be recognised.