Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Education Committee will take place REMOTELY on Thursday 6 August 2020 at 10.35 am.

Webcast Notice: This meeting will be filmed and broadcast over the internet on the Highland Council website and will be archived and available for viewing for 12 months thereafter.

You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.

Yours faithfully

Stewart Fraser
Head of Corporate Governance

Business

1.    Apologies for Absence
Leisgeulan

2.    Declarations of Interest
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt

Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting. Any Member making a declaration of interest should indicate whether it is a financial or non-financial interest and include some information on the nature of the interest. Advice may be sought from officers prior to the meeting taking place.

3.    Return to Schools

A.    Education Improvement Strategy

There is circulated Report No EDU/10A/20 dated 22 July 2020 by the Head of Education.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    note the content of the report;
ii.    note the external validation from Education Scotland of the good practice that is emerging in the Highlands regarding curricular recovery, digital learning, health and wellbeing and Gaelic provision, and the positive feedback from Education Scotland regarding local delivery planning and the return of schools; and
iii.    recognise the progress that has been made in bringing key leaders together in taking a collaborative approach to the improvement of education within the Highlands, and note the importance of this continued focus.

B.    Schools Reopening 12 August 2020

There is circulated Report No EDU/10B/20 dated 3 August 2020 by the Executive Chief Officer – Education and Learning.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    note the context as set out within the report, and the latest Scottish Government Direction regarding education provision and return to school;
ii.    agree that the opportunity to return to school will be in place for all Highland children by 18 August 2020; and
iii.    note the ongoing additional support and infrastructure provided by partners and central Council services will require ongoing review as children and young people are educated in school settings from August onwards.

4.    Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Update

There is circulated Report No EDU/11/20 dated 3 August 2020 by the Head of Resources.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.    the update information provided in relation to ELC and plans for provision as part of the wider return of school and ELC settings from August 2020;
ii.    the update on a setting by setting basis as per Appendix 1 of the report; and
iii.    that further update reports on ELC will come back to the Education Committee, including further updates in relation to the 1140 expansion programme, considering further national discussions and directions.

5.    Teacher Recruitment - Update

There is circulated Report No EDU/12/20 dated 3 August 2020 by the Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.    the position regarding the appointment of main grade primary and secondary teachers to date;
ii.    the position regarding the planned recruitment activity to be undertaken during August; and
iii.    the initial plan for the use of proposed additional funding for the recruitment of teaching and support staff to assist with education recovery, subject to the confirmation of grant funding.

6.    Education Committee Seminars/Workshops

There is circulated Report No EDU/13/20 dated 31 July 2020 by the Head of Education.

The Committee is invited to agree the first phase of workshops, as set out in Appendix 1, from August to December 2020.