Agenda item

To examine the identification, intervention and evaluation process of the Year 6 to Year 7 Transition and the work being undertaken in the wider context of the new ‘on track’ project.

8.1       The Committee received an updated report on how the Westminster’s Early Help (locality) Service supported vulnerable Westminster pupils going through Year 6 -7 transition and the interventions that were delivered after identifying the children who were likely to struggle with transition and prioritising these children into two levels of support   depending on their needs.

8.2       The Committee heard from Jayne Vertkin, Head of Early Intervention and Localities and Eleanor Abrahall, Early Help Development Manager, who discussed with the Committee the interventions delivered, including the delivery of the summer activity programme, the one day visit that the new intakes have to their secondary school and activities through local youth clubs.  The Committee noted the different approaches that primary and secondary schools could introduce to help children during this difficult period, the benefits of engaging the whole family in supporting their child during transition and the necessity of improving the evaluation and tracking of a child’s progress through the whole of Year 7.

8.3       The Committee discussed the potential benefits of the ‘on Track’ pilot work and noted that the full report on outcomes would be completed in June 2016. 

8.4       Some of the key issues that emerged from the Committee’s discussion were:

·         the recognition that Westminster’s Early Help Teams saw the Year 6-7 transition as a key opportunity to offer targeted support to vulnerable children, who may be more at risk of becoming late entrants to care.

·         the important joint approach and work being carried out with partner organisations to identify vulnerable young people and create a more consistent and systematic framework through the year 6-7 transition work.

·         the importance of sharing good information about the pupils in Year 6 to their chosen secondary schools in and outside of the borough.

·         the transition programme undertaken by the Serpentine Gallery and the possibility of rolling it out as a ‘tool kit’ to schools.

·         the important role that parents play in supporting their children during transition and the possibility of encouraging more parent participation. 

·         the importance of reporting back the outcomes and successes of the intervention programme and that any successes be communicated to Westminster’s secondary schools to use for all Year 7 pupils.

·         the possibility of looking at the programme and activities delivered during the Year 6-7 transition to children not identified as having special needs and track how quickly they settle into secondary school life.

8.5       RESOLVED: The Committee made the following comments and recommendations which will be forwarded to the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People for consideration:

1.    The Committee welcomed the ‘On Track’ pilot work to support the most vulnerable children during the Year 6 to Year 7 transition to secondary school.

2.    The Committee highlighted the need for the findings of this programme to be fed into best practice and the universal support for all Year 7 pupils.

3.    The Committee noted the important role that parents played in supporting their children during Year 6 to Year 7 transition and that the council should hold and promote further parent engagement and participation through parent seminars, parenting programmes and using parent ambassadors.

4.    The Council’s work in partnership with schools and partner organisation to improve transition for the most vulnerable children be endorsed but also used to improve the universal provision for all Year 7 pupils.

5.    That the Council work with both Primary and Secondary schools, both inside and outside of the borough, to improve data sharing of pupils transitioning from Year 6 to Year 7.

6.    The Council should explore ways to continue the Transition Programme, if successful, by working with partner organisations to ensure the continued sustainability and funding of the programme.

7.    A follow up report outlining the outcomes and successes of the programme be included in the Committee’s Work Programme for later in the year.