Agenda item

Report of the Education Director

John Dexter, Education Director, introduced the report which presents the most recent set of data available outlining the key measures of attainment by children and young people attending early years settings and schools in Nottingham from the Early Years Foundation stage (EYFS) to Key Stage 5. John highlighted the following:

(a)  At the EYFS 66.2% of pupils in Nottingham were assessed as having reached a good level of development, up from 63.5% in 2015/16. The gap has been closed on both national and statistical neighbour averages, but concern remains over the level of boys’ literacy at the end of the EYFS;

(b)  at Key Stage 1, there a lower proportion of higher attainers in 2016/17 than there were in 2015/16, which is a concern. However, in phonics, since 2015/15 Nottingham has improved from the lowest performing local authority in England to 118^th out of 150;

(c)  the proportion of pupils attaining the reading, writing and mathematics benchmark was 57% which is an increase of 7% on 2015/16. Only 2 city primary schools are below the government floor standard for reading, and none are for writing or mathematics;

(d)  national benchmarks for primary progress are not yet available, but estimates suggest that Nottingham progress in all three core elements at primary school will be in the top third of authorities nationally;

(e)  at Key Stage 4 the average Attainment 8 score per pupil has decreased 5.1 points to 39.5 in 2016/17, though this was reflected nationally. Nottingham is ranked 149^th out of 151 local authorities. The average Progress 8 score in 2017 puts Nottingham 145^th of 151 local authorities;

(f)  the percentage of pupils achieving 5 higher grades at English and Maths is no longer a national benchmark but is still significant. In 2017, 46.7% of pupils in Nottingham achieved this.

The following points were raised during the discussion that followed:

(g)  a lower proportion of higher attainers in 2016/17 achieved the higher standard than in 2015/16. This is an important area to focus on and Head Teachers across the city are working to improve work with higher attainers;

(h)  the secondary figures may not be a true representation of all pupils who live in the city as a fifth go to out of authority schools;

Janine Walker, Head of Inclusion and Disability, then gave a presentation to the Board on children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Nottingham City, highlighting the following:

(i)  14.4% of pupils in Nottingham City are identified as SEND, with 1.6% having Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). The percentage of pupils with EHCPs is lower than average in Nottingham City but rising;

(j)  a 5 Year SEND Strategy is being developed for Nottingham City. There has been consultation with Head Teachers, SEND school staff, Early Years settings, parents and carers. The Strategy has been written and is due to be confirmed in April;

(k)  mainstream schools are keen to further develop their own SEND provision such as nurture provision, and more specialist resource units will be developed at secondary schools;

(l)  all Special Schools in Nottingham City are rated by Ofsted as good or outstanding;

(m)a major focus of the Strategy is improved outcomes for young people with SEND, including employment and training;

The following points were raised during the discussion which followed:

(n)  Nottingham City has topped the league table for transitioning of Statements of Special Educational Needs to EHCPs;

(o)  the high level of permanent exclusions in the city has led to an overspend on alternative provision;

(p)  around 10% of children in Special Schools come from outside the city and this number is reducing as the schools prioritise city children;

(q)  Futures Advice, Skills and Employment have recently applied to the Big Lottery Life Choices Fund, for a focus on the SEND cohort and improve connections with employers. NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) figures are high for children with SEND.

RESOLVED to note the attainment of children and young people and consider how partnership activities can support early years settings and schools to support the improved attainment of children and young people in Nottingham.