Minutes of meeting
Renfrewshire Council · 15 January 2026
Back to Education and Children's Services Policy Board — 15 January 2026 and its agenda
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Minute of Meeting Education and Children's Services Policy Board Date Time Venue Thursday, 15 January 2026 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 Edward Grady, Councillor Gillian Graham, Councillor Neill 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; E Henry, Head of Education, G McLaughlin, Head of Education (Strategy and Improvement), J Trainer, Head of Children & Justice Social Work and J Lochans, Strategic Manager (Learning Estate Strategy & Delivery) (all Children's Services); and R Conway, Finance Business Partner, C MacDonald, Senior Committee Services Officer and K O'Neill, Democratic 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. Declarations of Interest There were no declarations of interest intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting. Transparency Statements Councillor N Graham declared a connection to item 5 by reason of his volunteer work with Barnardo's. However, he indicated that he had applied the objective test and did not consider he had an interest to declare.
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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 14 November 2025. The report intimated that the projected revenue outturn at 31 March 2026 for Children’s Services was an overspend of £1.061 million (0.4%) against the revised budget for the year. The projected capital outturn at 31 March 2026 for Children’s Services was a breakeven position. Section 6 of the report detailed the revenue budget adjustments. 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 premises related budget virements totalling £0.110 million, set out at section 6.3 of the report be approved. 2 Early Learning and Childcare Consultation - 2025 There was submitted a report by the Director of Children’s Services relative to the findings of the early learning and childcare consultation carried out by Renfrewshire Council during September and October 2025. The findings of the consultation were summarised in section 4 of the report and set out in full at Appendix 1 of the report. DECIDED: That the findings of the early learning and childcare consultation 2025, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report, be noted. 3 Achievement of a Curriculum for Excellence Level (CfE) Level Return 2024 There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to attainment of pupils in respect of the Achievement of a Curriculum for Excellence Level Return (ACEL) 2024/25. The report provided on overview of the ACEL return which included data on all Primary 1, Primary 4, Primary 7 and Secondary 3 pupils, measuring their performance in literary curricular areas and numeracy. Detail was provided on the attainment achieved by stage, together with comparisons against previous years and national averages. Data on the poverty related attainment gap was set out at section 5 of the report. DECIDED: (a) That the content of the report be noted; and (b) That the efforts of the children and young people and the significant commitment of teachers and support staff be noted.
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4 Learning Estate Programme Update There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to progress towards the delivery of the Learning Estate Programme. The report provided updates in respect of works on the Paisley Grammar School Community Campus, Park Mains High School extension and Thistle Primary School and advised that each of the projects were progressing well and were due to be completed on schedule. DECIDED: (a) That the progress of project delivery in the Learning Estate Programme be noted; and (b) That the progress of business case development for priority projects and next steps be noted. 5 Annual report of the Fostering and Adoption Service There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the annual report of the Fostering and Adoption Service for 2024/25 which was set out in full in Appendix 1 of the report. The report covered the period 1 August 2024 to 31July 2025. During this period 12 children and young people had a permanence plan considered and approved by the Fostering and Adoption Panel and on 31 July 2025 there were 68 fostering households approved by Renfrewshire. The report noted the ongoing need to recruit Renfrewshire foster carers and adopters because of children being accommodated and in need of permanent care, and the Council's commitment to reducing the number of children being placed externally. DECIDED: That the contents of the Fostering and Adoption Annual Report 2024/25, attached as Appendix 1 to the report, be noted. 6 Keeping Brothers and Sisters Together Annual Report There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the progress made towards implementing Renfrewshire's Keeping Brothers and Sisters Together Policy. The report provided a background to the policy, which was approved at the meeting of this Policy Board held on 20 May 2021, and summarised the activity undertaken to keep brothers and sisters together between June 2024 and May 2025. It was noted that of the 44 children and young people who were newly accommodated during this period and who had a sibling under the age of 16, 24 were placed with at least one sibling. A breakdown of the reasons for children not being placed with their brothers and sisters were set out at paragraph 3.8 of the report. DECIDED: That the content of the report detailing the progress implementing the Keeping Brothers and Sisters Together Policy be noted.
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7 Education Scotland Inspection of St James Primary School Paisley There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the results of an inspection of St James' Primary 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 St James' Primary School be noted and celebrated and the areas for further improvement be recognised.