Action taken by Education and Culture to improve behaviour and attendance since Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

This is a list of all the authority instigated action taken to improve behaviour and attendance since its inception on 1/4/98. This has of course been complemented by a wide range of developments at school level and some of these can be found in the section on good practice.

Revised procedures link to page for exclusions with clearer guidance and rigorous monitoring, including representation at all Pupil Discipline Committee involving statemented pupils, pupils in care or where parents make representation to the committee

Pastoral Support Guidance for schools This guidance was produced by a multi-agency group including Teachers, Education Officers, Behaviour Support Team, Youth Service, Social Services, and an Educational Psychologist

Work with NACRO to create the MOVES project for excluded pupils and those at risk of exclusion in Key Stage 4. · Work with Youth Service to create Education Advocacy Support Service (EAST) Project to support the reintegration of permanently excluded pupils

0 .5 of an Educational Psychologist to develop support for children and young people in public care

A dedicated Education Welfare Officer (EWO) to oversee the attendance of all children in public care and to ensure that this group of children do not miss out on education.

Teenage Pregnancy Support Officer - a joint funded Health and Education Post to encourage and support school age pupils to remain within education and training and to ensure their health needs are met.

SEN and social inclusion development plan

Increase in educational psychology time for pupils on tuition

Improved response time in meeting with parents of permanently excluded pupils to inform them of their rights, responsibilities, and education options. (All parents are seen within 5 days of the permanent exclusion)

Improved timescales for Statutory Assessment (95% of statements completed in 18 weeks compared with 45% under previous LEA)

Two education officers undertake Regulation 22 (Monitoring) visits to Authority residential care homes. This has helped raise the profile of education within the care sector and allowed for a sharing of information and concerns leading to action to improve educational support for this group.

Action Plan to reduce fixed term exclusion (procedures)

Setting up of the secondary Behaviour Support Team

Expansion of Primary Behaviour Support Team (see link above) through Standards Fund and links with EAZ

Expansion of Education Welfare Service through Standards Fund and Education Action Zone EAZ

Bilingual Education Welfare Support Assistant employed to work with minority ethnic families where English is not the first language to help overcome behavioural/attendance concerns.

Regular truancy patrols with the police to reduce the number of children missing school. · An education welfare assistant employed to work with families needing extra support and guidance on parenting matters.

Parenting skills courses piloted by EWS to assist parents, pupils and school staff in addressing behavioural and attendance concerns.

All schools receive annual data on their performance with regard to exclusions and attendance

Governor training on exclusions procedures to better inform Pupil Discipline Committee (PDC) members and clerks.

Developing provision for pupils without a school place at New College

Shared placement scheme for excluded pupils, (all schools including Thomas Telford to take up to four excluded pupils which has helped all schools better understand the problem even if it has been only partially successful)