Item 10 - Strategy to Raise Attainment and Achievement in West Dunbartonshire
West Dunbartonshire Council · 27 September 2023
Back to Educational Services Committee — 27 September 2023 and its agenda
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WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL Report by Laura Mason, Chief Education Officer Educational Services Committee: 27 September 2023 ___________________________________________________________________ Subject: Strategy to Raise Attainment and Achievement in West Dunbartonshire 1. Purpose 1.1 The purpose of this report is to update the Educational Services Committee on progress with implementing Educational Services’ improvement priorities for excellence and equity. 2. Recommendations 2.1 The Educational Services Committee is asked to note: (a) the key activities planned for session 2023/24 to further improve equity and excellence outcomes for children and young people; (b) the alignment of the plans for 2023/24 with the National Improvement Framework and Strategic Equity Fund reporting and planning expectations; and (c) that a Strategy for Excellence and Equity will replace the current Strategy to Raise Attainment and Achievement. This has been developed to reflect current local and national policy for education. 3. Background 3.1 In line with the Strategy to Raise Attainment and Achievement the Committee receives regular reports outlining progress against this strategic priority. 3.2 West Dunbartonshire’s Strategy to Raise Attainment and Achievement has maintained a strong record of progress with excellence and equity outcomes as evidenced in the year on year improvement achieved in the Broad General Education and Senior Phase since 2019. 3.3 The approach to improve outcomes has been supported by Scottish Attainment Challenge Funding 2015-2022; and since 2022 a revised Scottish Attainment Challenge funding model - the Strategic Equity Fund. 3.4 An improvement plan for 2023-2026 to achieve excellence and equity outcomes is included at Appendix 1 to this report. This is in response to an evaluation of the local authority strategy 2015-22; and to deliver an exit strategy from Attainment Scotland Funding in 2026. Future reports to Committee will be provided under the title Excellence and Equity to reflect the future strategic direction. ITEM 10
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3.5 The plan incorporates local outcomes and the national requirements for planning and reporting to deliver excellence and equity. 3.5.1 The national expectation is that local authority plans focus on the National Improvement Framework (NIF) key priorities, as well as the vision and drivers of improvement. The National Improvement Framework first launched by the Scottish Government in 2016 sets out the vision and priorities for Scottish education to deliver the twin aims of excellence and equity. 3.5.2 Table 1 displays the local authority delivery plan outcomes for excellence and equity aligned with the NIF drivers of improvement: Table 1: Overarching Outcome : ‘Supporting Our Communities to Thrive’ The Delivery Plan : Outcomes for Excellence & Equity NIF Drivers Children and Young People: increased engagement, progress, attendance, achievement Practitioners: adaptive experts who teach based on a clear understanding of what works best for raising learner achievement Practitioners: delivering broad ranging, personalised curriculum ensuring all children and young people develop skills for learning, life and work Leaders: enhanced visibility into school performance and decision making based on evidence System: integrated working to develop the talent of our diverse young people School, & ELC Leadership Teacher and practitioner professionalism School and ELC improvement Curriculum and Assessment Performance Information Parental/ Carer Involvement and engagement 3.5.2 To avoid duplication of effort local authorities should include plans and stretch aims for the Strategic Equity Fund which are embedded within existing local authority annual education reports and improvement plans. The West Dunbartonshire plan for the Strategic Equity Fund is included at Table 2.
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Table 2: Strategic Equity Fund Principles Strategic Equity Fund West Dunbartonshire Plan Strategic Equity Funding must be used to deliver targeted activities, approaches or resources which are clearly additional to universal local improvement plans; and must provide targeted support for children and young people (and their families if appropriate) affected by poverty to achieve their full potential. Early Intervention Nurture Principles/ Trauma Informed Practice / Incredible Years Classrooom Management Family Hub / The Hive Local authorities must develop a clear rationale for use of the funding, based on a robust contextual analysis, and plans must be grounded in evidence of what is known to be effective at raising attainment for children and young people impacted by poverty. One to One Pupil Tuition Out of Hours Learning / Holiday Provision Broad Curriculum Offer – Learner Pathways Wide range of staff working to support children and families Visible Learning Local plans must include ambitious and achievable stretch aims for progress in improving outcomes for all while closing the poverty-related attainment gap; and should consider the totality of Scottish Attainment Challenge funding. WDC: Improvement Framework West Partnership Improving Our Classroom, Department, School Series School Improvement Partnerships Insight to Impact Data Coaches Leaders of Learning - Assessment, literacy, numeracy, well being Collaboration across services is crucial in tackling the poverty-related attainment gap. Planning should have clear links to the local authority tackling child poverty and children's service plans. WDC : Integrated Children’s Services Plan WDC: Child Poverty Plan WDC ASN Strategy 3.5.3 A recent update to the Scottish Attainment Challenge Framework (March 2023) required local authorities to set stretch aims up to 2025/25 and include an outline trajectory of progress from 2023 to 2026. West Dunbartonshire’s Stretch Aims whilst set by the local authority are scrutinised by the national agencies. At the time of writing this report officers were engaged in activity to set stretch aims for 2025/ 26 in collaboration with schools and the authority’s link Education Scotland Attainment Advisor. 3.6 Governance of the improvement plan and use of associated funding streams is monitored at the Education Improvement Board chaired by the Chief Education Officer. 4.0 Main Issues
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4.1 Whilst strong progress has been made with outcomes and targets for excellence and equity the challenges of a poverty related attainment gap persist. 4.2 Excellence and Equity Strategy 4.2.1 The outcomes and plans at Appendix 1 require a highly skilled and sufficiently resourced support and teaching staff. 4.2.2 The changes in the national funding model by 2026 will reduce the number of staff working to provide additionality to provide targeted and bespoke workstreams for equity. 4.2.3 The improvement plan for 2023 -2026 functions as both a strategic improvement plan and exit strategy from the Strategic Equity Fund. The plan aims to optimise our resources through investment in professional learning for teaching and support staff. 4.2.4 Workstreams are planned based on extensive research into what makes the biggest impact on the ability of children and young people to attain and achieve in learning: • Primary schools will invest in the Visible Learning programme. This 3 year programme is based on the world’s largest evidence base on what works best in schools to accelerate learning and achievement. • Secondary school middle and senior leaders will engage in a collective leadership programme on how to lead learning approaches and curriculum change to deliver excellence and equity. 4.2.5 Table 2 displays an overview of the key areas of learning and leadership planned to deliver excellence and equity in West Dunbartonshire between 2023-2026: Table 2: Children and Young People Healthy Choices and Relationships Habits of Mind for Learning The 4 Capacities of Curriculum for Excellence: Successful Learners, Confident Individuals, Responsible Citizens, Effective Contributors Global Competencies: Character, Citizenship, Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking Practitioners Inclusive Learning Metacognition & Self Regulation Mastery Play Based Learning, Froebelian Practice & The Onery Oracy and Phonics Thinking Routines Reading Comprehension Assessment/ Moderation and Quality Feedback Digital Learning/ Inclusion Leaders Inclusive Leadership
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Collective Efficacy Learning Principles Visible Learning Capacity Building Scrutiny and Data Informed Practice System Early Intervention Interventions for Equity Partnership across Services 21st Century Environments for Learning Improvement Framework Digital Learning/ Digital Inclusion 4.3 To monitor progress with implementation of delivery of outcomes and plans the Service Improvement Framework has been developed to monitor quality and performance in schools and early learning centres. Senior officers engage in scrutiny visits to all establishments delivering a core, enhanced and supported level of scrutiny and support to schools. Three headteachers have been seconded part time to implement aspects of the Framework in collaboration with the senior officers. Detail of the improvement programme is included at Appendix 2. 4.4 Pupil Equity Fund (PEF) Schools have submitted improvement plans for equity and excellence supported by Scottish Government investment of £3.3m funding devolved directly to schools. Plans are aimed at providing additionality to those children, young people and families disadvantaged by poverty. Schools are on track to achieve full budget spend in session 2023/24. This projection is based on costed plans submitted by schools in June 2023; and committed spend up to June 2023. Consultation is underway with headteachers and young people to support planning exit strategies from PEF by 2026. 4.4.1 Governance of PEF improvement plans is delivered by the Senior Officer with responsibility for PEF and Education Scotland Attainment Advisor. 5. People Implications 5.1 As reported to Council in June 2022 the Scottish Attainment Challenge funding enabled the provision of additional temporary (seconded) funded posts within the education service, partner council services and external providers. The annual ( tapered) decrease in funding by 2026 will reduce the number of staff available to deliver in these areas with the seconded staff returning to their substantive posts, and any backfill element will cease. 5.2 The tapered decrease in funding by 2026 will reduce the number of Scottish Attainment Challenge funded posts: • 2021/22 - 41.5 funded posts • 2022/23 – 39.0 funded posts • 2023/24 – 35.0 funded posts • 2024/25 – 28.0 funded posts • 2025/26 – 24.07 funded posts
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6. Financial and Procurement Implications 6.1 Since its inception in 2015/16 to March 2022 the Council received £12,642,432 in funding. Table 3 provides the detail of the annual reduction in funding up to 2026: Table 3: 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 £2,043,815 Reduction of £298,018 (-15%) £1,745,797 Reduction of £298,018 (-17%) £1,447,779 Reduction of £298,018 (-21%) £1,149,761 Reduction of £298,018 (-26%) £851,743 7. Risk Analysis 7.1 The reduced funding model could impact negatively on sustained improvement in future academic sessions. However, we will continue to monitor this closely to inform future planning. 8. Equalities Impact Assessment 8.1 A full Equality Impact Assessment has been completed and has identified the decrease in funding will limit the Education Services’ strategic ability to deliver and progress a range of functions within the raising attainment agenda. Scope exists to mitigate the adverse impact on pupils; however this requires adaptations across key service areas through the modification of plans to reflect the reduction in Scottish Government Funding. 9. Consultation a. Legal Services and the Section 95 Officer have been consulted in relation to the content of this report. b. In response to the revised funding model consultation is being conducted with stakeholders to produce West Dunbartonshire’s Strategic Equity Fund plan for 2022-2026. 10. Strategic Assessment 10.1 This reports reflects the Council’s 2017-2022 overarching priority to reduce inequalities for the people of West Dunbartonshire which supports improved outcomes for all learners in our community. Laura Mason Chief Education Officer August 2023 ___________________________________________________________________
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Person to Contact: Julie McGrogan, Senior Education Officer, Department of Education, Learning and Attainment, Council Offices, 16 Church Street, Dumbarton, G82 1QL Telephone No: 01389 737316 Email: julie.mcgrogan@west-dunbarton.gov.uk Appendix: 1. WDC Improvement Plan: Excellence and Equity 2022 - 2026 2. WDC Improvement Pathways 2023/24 Background Papers: Equality Impact Assessment Wards Affected: All wards
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