Area for discussion: 1. Progress on Partnership Plan (Follow up discussion based on Partnership Plan evaluation) Main outcomes: This was a very well written and thorough plan, which reflected the needs of this partnership. The partnership has additional challenges because they are spread across the County and many of the young people attend schools that are not in the towns where they live! The plan had both strategic activities, to provide a framework for development and practical activities to meet the needs of the young people. The partnership are well on their way to achieving full progress on the plan and where there are gaps this is because of issues outside of the control of the coordinator (e.g. web design was a red because of technical problems – but now complete! www.ncesp.org.uk) One of the key strengths has been the level of consultation – both with schools and young people, and a really strong partnership ethos with everyone having a shared vision Evidence: - Completion of the electronic audit helped structure the plan
- Coordinator has regularly updated the central team re changes in schools
- Review of partnership plan provided in advance
- Photographic evidence of consultation events
- Newsletters to partnership schools plus steering group, issued at all presentations to voluntary bodies
Agreed future actions: - Engagement with Secondary SEAL consultant to advance activities linked to swift and easy access
- Investigate costs of external web designer to facilitate web page design. Now completed.
- Core Offer
- individual school progress
- Criteria/changes/issues
- Quality of provision
Main outcomes: Individual schools are making good progress to achieving full core offer and have engaged fully with the coordinator. The coordinator has developed a strong relationship with HTs and this is a definite strength. The partnership are working well together and it is acknowledged that there must be discussions around quality of provision – not just about achieving core offer as a minimum Evidence: - Electronic audit tool completed
- Analysis of audit clearly outlines strengths and gaps in provision
Agreed future actions: - Coordinator to follow up re gaps in SEA and clarify with schools re the new core offer description
- Continue to develop volunteers through accreditation to help develop sustainability
- Further develop Arts project – meeting needs of schools around VMA and study support.
- Awareness of QA developments within county to ensure provision meets high standard.
- Community Inquiry to cascade further – started on the middle schools
- Concentrate on transition programme with parents and students (between 1st and middle schools as they are often travelling out of their local area).
- Partnership Structure
- ESPC
- PGC
- School engagement
- Partnership agreement
Main outcomes: The developments of structure to support delivery is a real strength in this partnership and this is a credit to the coordinator and strategic lead who have worked hard to ensure that schools are fully aware of developments within extended services. Communication has become very important, especially with schools being spread across the county. There is a well-developed steering group, with representation from schools, EWO, early years, health, and parenting. The coordinator and strategic lead have already engaged with governor representatives from all schools and initial briefings have been held – this is excellent practice and the development of a partnership agreement will probably be the next step. There are also sub groups to represent each area of the core offer Evidence: - CL attended governor briefing facilitated by ESC
- List of link governors provided
Agreed future actions: - Ensure all schools have governor representation (2/12 had not fully committed)
- Follow up development of governance structure after LA briefing in December
- Expansion of membership of steering group
- Resource Management
- Funding
- Staffing
Main outcomes: The LA funding currently supports the appointment of a strategic lead (Assistant head from lead school) and a full time coordinator. A parent support partner is funded from the national pilot. LA funding has also been used to support activities provided at a partnership level. The partnership is positive about maintaining roles and are eagerly awaiting confirmation of the next phase of funding. Like most partnerships, concerns were expressed about the short-term nature of the funding, especially when partnership schools are fully committed to this agenda. The partnership have been successful in accessing external funding (e.g. £20,000 ‘Y’ fund for film unit, £7,500 for a ‘arts’ road show’ and £3000 from ‘Big Boost for a kit car club and a garden club Evidence: - Evidence in plan report of delivery of activities
- Reports from PSP
- Coordinator feedback
Agreed future actions: - Staffing structure for 2008-11 to be agreed for the partnership when DCSF funding and guidance is announced.
- Good Practice
Main outcomes: The coordinator has developed a detailed evidence file to illustrate practical activities that have taken place across the partnership. A small number of examples have been included to illustrate this. Consultation with young people (VMA and Study support and strategic communication outcome) Coordinator worked in partnership with NCC Student Voice lead and Study Support lead to train young people to hold a community of enquiry around 5 ECM outcomes and extended services. Some of these young people acted as facilitators on a partnership-training day. There are now 12 fully trained 14 year olds, with a plan in place to facilitate enquiries in partnership middle schools Funding Across the partnership a range of additional funds have been accessed to support delivery of actual activities, with clear links identified to the extended services agenda. Parenting A parent forum has been established at the HS to engage parents whose children are not achieving academic targets. This group (36 Parents) are not only working on study support skills but also at a range of out of school activities to strengthen family relationships, build confidence and self esteem. This is an ongoing piece of work and it will be interesting to see the impact on standards SEA With a focus on First and Middle Schools, facilitators have been trained in the Rainbow programme, providing early intervention and support for vulnerable young people. There has also been work across the partnership to develop shared referral protocols and shared training. Evidence: - Evidence file
- Photographic evidence
- Information about Rainbow programme provided
Agreed future actions: - Encourage PSP to complete good practice templates to be submitted to central coordinator and TDA.
- ESC to consider submitting good practice e.g. to TDA and teachernet
- Other issues raised by ESC/LA:
- Study Support/UFA usage
- Community Cohesion
- Others
Points for discussion and further action - The coordinator is currently working with other partnerships and links to submit a shared bid for Cultural Volunteer funding. This will give professional development to a group of parents and others and will help develop capacity building within the partnership and extended services generally across Northumberland
- There are very strong links with the Study Support lead and the coordinator has engaged fully with the UFA training.
- The LA consultant would like to acknowledge the innovative ideas and approaches used to deliver this plan! There is a real commitment to this agenda and it is refreshing to see the ways in which different areas of the core offer are linked and not seen in isolation. It is also refreshing to see the partnerships approach to capacity building through the development of both young people as peer educators and adults as volunteers. This approach does not only reflect the inclusive ethos of the partnership but the desire to empower people and to address any challenges around sustainability. The coordinators enthusiasm seems to show no boundaries and the strategic lead is also very strong!
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