Suffolk Division of the
National Union of Teachers
May 2007
7
These are the replies that Suffolk NUT has received from Ipswich Borough Council, to questions posed about plans for a Unitary Council:
Ipswich Unitary Council Bid
Children and Young People – Overview
It should be recognised that there will be significant changes to the Children and Young People services if Ipswich becomes a unitary authority. Approximately 50 Primary & Secondary schools, special schools and Pupil Referral Units will transfer to the new unitary council, which will mean there will be a much clearer "focus" on the service and it will be a priority for the new council.
In addition, relevant services provided by Ipswich Council will be integrated within a total Children and Young Persons services area. It would be the intention of the new authority to work closely with all Primary and Secondary Schools, special schools and pupil referral units and the reduced number means that direct contact can be made with each of the schools.
We would wish all schools to have a much more direct say in how special needs and other key services are provided across Ipswich. Ipswich is a rapidly growing regional centre and the evidence from existing unitary councils is that they have improved performance.
This is an exciting time for Ipswich and Education in particular with the new University, New Suffolk College and the new 6th Form Centre under construction or being planned. We would want to integrate all three of these establishments with all schools in Ipswich.
Questions and Answers
1. Organisation and Administration:
1.1 Suffolk has reorganised so that Education is now just a part of "Children and Young People 's Services ". Is it the intention that Ipswich would do the same? If not, would there be a separate Education Department or would it be combined with another area, such as "Leisure and Culture "?
There is a statutory requirement to adopt a CYPS approach to the organisation of services, but in so doing it is our determination not to dilute the provision for education, which will be clearly and identifiably central to any eventual structure that might be adopted
1.2 Suffolk has a Director of CYPS (coordinating Care and Education for Children), a director in charge of Schools (Coordinating teaching and support work in schools, school budgets, etc) and an Area Director in the three Areas. Would lpswich replicate these three tiers of management? If not, how would Education be managed at the top level?
It is our intention that education will be a key priority for the organisation and to prioritise it commensurately in any structure established. At the same time, we want to ensure we do not have unnecessary layers of management at the expense of front-line services. We have some proposals for management structures; however, these are subject to further discussion with stakeholders, most importantly, schools.
1.3 As Ipswich would be a new Education Authority, it will not be inspected and categorised for a period of time. Under the Education and Inspections Act 2006, ah new schools will be subject to competition from the private and voluntary sectors. A Local Authority only has an entitlement to bid to run a new school as an LA maintained community school if it has already been deemed at least a "good" authority i.e. grade 3 in JAR or APA terms. Could you please therefore confirm that any new schools in Ipswich, including any new sixth-form centres, would actually have to be independent trust schools, which will not belong to, or be administered and staffed by, the Unitary Council ?
If Ipswich is successful in its unitary bid, the Government will establish specific transitional arrangements for us. This is an issue we will be discussing with the DFES.
1.4 Would a Unitary Ipswich Authority promote diversity by following the Government 's agenda of different types of school in each Authority, including trust schools as of choice?
Diversity is a statutory principle, which we would be obliged to acknowledge although at this stage we have no firm ideas about how this would translate in practice to the education sector, where we would want to listen to the views of schools and be guided by them.
1.5 Suffolk County Council currently provides Personnel and pay-roll services via CSD, a Private Public Partnership arrangement with BT. Would Ipswich intend to make a similar arrangement with CSD or similar, or employ its own staff for these purposes?
Ipswich Borough Council operates its own personnel and payroll services. Full evaluation will need to be undertaken of available options taking into account price and quality and this will be done in association with schools.
1.6 What would happen in those schools whose catchment boundaries are not commensurate with the Borough Boundary?
Admission regulations are changing and in common with many existing authorities our approach has yet to be decided and will have to be worked out in due course. Traditionally, there are no changes to boundaries but it seems to us that the new admission regulations may make the catchment area principle difficult to sustain so that parental choice within the context of any new local criteria will become an even more important determinant in school admissions.
2. Consultation with the workforce
2.1 Is it the intention of IBC to have an Education Committee of elected members, or any other committee, which would concentrate on issues, related to schools?
The new Council will have an Education Services Management Board, comprising politicians and schools, which will have responsibility for managing all aspects of the education service, including prioritisation of resources.
2.2 Suffolk has 4 Teacher Representatives, nominated and elected to the County Council, although their role is restricted to the Scrutiny Committee. What role would IBC envisage for elected Teacher Representatives?
2.3 Suffolk has a consultation/negotiating forum for the CYP Directorate, A Schools Workforce Remodelling Forum, a CYPD Health and Safety Forum, a Soulbury Forum and the Teachers' Joint Negotiating Committee. In addition there is a corporate "Partnership Forum" which meets with elected members, Chief Executive, etc. The NUT and all other recognised Unions as appropriate are represented on each of these bodies. What consultative and negotiating arrangements would IBC anticipate to be required to maintain statutory consultation with the recognised unions as well as provide for stakeholder / partnership arrangements on non-statutory matters?
Our principle would be one of maximum consultation irrespective of our statutory
duties. It needs to be recognised that this is an opportunity to start again and not to be constrained by existing arrangements. Our approach has to be governed by what is best for the children of Ipswich and at an appropriate time we would want to discuss with all stakeholders their role in helping to secure this objective.
2.4 Suffolk LA recognises the Community and Youth Workers Union, the Association of Educational Psychologists and ASPECT (Advisers, etc). Would lpswich also recognise these?
2.5 Suffolk County Council only recognises UNISON for support (non-teaching) staff in schools and Units. Would lpswich recognise other unions for this group, such as the JMB and TGWU?
Ipswich will honour any recognition agreements that are formally in place with SCC, but would reserve the right to review the existing arrangements and consider any additional agreements in accordance with legislation and the views of the new unitary authority.
3. Services to Schools
3.1 Suffolk currently has a full “in-house” advisory service, which provides an all-through service to schools of all sectors covering all subjects and specialisms, on a buy-in basis. Is it Ipswich BC's intention to replicate this service? If so, how many full-time advisers, consultants and advisory teachers would IBC anticipate as being required? If not, is it the intention to out-source advisory services, and at what cost?
It is highly unlikely that we would replicate the existing service, as we will be a
different authority with different priorities. Decisions will have to be made within the context of financial constraints and how best to maximise budgets for schools. The likelihood is a specialist in-house service attuned to specific need with the flexibility to commission from outside. The views of schools about how best their needs can be met will be a critical factor in determining services and will shape our whole approach.
3.2 Suffolk currently operates a number of advisory teachers for hearing and sight impaired children who assist with access to the curriculum and other special needs, including actual teaching. Does Ipswich intend to employ such staff, or out-source this service?
It seems to us that there are unlikely to be sufficient children within the authority to warrant dedicated services of our own which cater for each individual impairment. This is an issue, however, where technical expertise is needed to make sound judgments on feasibility, and it could prove to be an area where joint arrangements with the County Council represent the best approach.
3.3 A large proportion of Suffolk County Council's Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant, subsidised by the County Council Tax payer, is spent on pupils in Ipswich. What size and status would the EMA team be for Ipswich alone, and does the BC have any estimate of the amount of EMA Grant it would receive?
There is no reason to believe that any grant would be less than at present and it would almost certainly be proportionate to need. This is an important feature of our services at present, where we have considerable expertise and it would be no less so in a new unitary authority,
3.4 The County Music School operates from Northgate Performing Arts Centre within the Borough Boundaries but provides a countywide service of instrumental tuition, area and county ensembles and orchestras, as well as providing some statutory music entitlement in schools. A smaller but equally important team supports drama and dance. Would Ipswich schools be able to "buy in" to the Suffolk CC Performing Arts Provision or would Ipswich set up its own (subsidised?) services
IBC sees the performing arts as an important aspect of community provision and the new authority will certainly be looking at ways of preserving what is currently on offer and examining prospects for enhancement. We will look for opportunities for working in partnership. The Borough is a major provider of cultural and leisure services and we will look for opportunities for close working.
3.5 Suffolk County Council has closed the Professional Development Centre in Pauls Road. Would Ipswich BC open a Teachers' Centre?
This is unlikely but it can be open to discussion if there is a clear need and it has been identified as a priority by schools within the resources available.
3.6 Would Ipswich provide its own CPD courses or outsource all CPD?
We consider CPD to be important and would consider the question of how best to provide it as an important early discussion item on the consultative agenda with schools.
Would Ipswich provide training for Teaching Assistants, Cover Supervisors, and HLTAs as required by the Workforce Remodelling Agreement?
Yes, we would adopt the existing processes as a minimum.
3.8 How would a Unitary Authority organise public and school libraries?
As mentioned in my letter, we are undertaking further in-depth work on options for service provision, particularly joint working.
3.9 How will Ipswich organise the "Education other than at school" services (e.g 1:1 tuition) for those who are excluded or who are unable to attend school for any reason, including medical reasons and hospital teaching?
It will be important for us to ensure that the new unitary council provides an
appropriate level of service. We would welcome discussion about how to address this need.
3.10 What extra provision will be made for head teachers to have access to expert legal advice and support in cases of exclusion, liability, violence against staff, admissions, SEN appeals, etc?
We recognise this as an increasingly important issue that will need to be prioritised by the new authority. We would want to improve on current standards and seek to provide the best provision possible to support our head teachers in a challenging urban context. A key feature of our application for unitary status is the importance of offering a dedicated focus on the needs of an urban population
3.11 Will a Unitary Ipswich run its own supply teacher list, as does Suffolk CC, or will it rely on teacher supply agencies? Will supply teachers be employed by the Authority and paid under teachers' pay and conditions?
We need the views of schools on this issue and would ensure it is an early agenda item during transition.
3.12 What insurance arrangements will be made for staff absence, maternity and parental leave, industrial injury and for pupils on visits and exchanges?
As above.
3.13 What resources will be devoted to Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable adults in line with "Every Child Matters': including liaison with Social Services mental health and police and the servicing of Strategy meetings for Child Protection cases?
We are very conscious of the responsibility we will have in this respect and ensuring good transitional planning in this respect will be vital (see my main letter).
4. Special Educational Needs:
4.1 Suffolk County Council closed its only residential school for the education of children with EBD (Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties) in 2004. In view of the high costs of out-county placements, would Ipswich make available again such places for children with EBD?
It is not possible to give any guarantees at this stage even though we acknowledge the importance of the issue. It will again have to be a subject for early discussion.
4.2 Suffolk has closed, or is closing, all of its Area Special Centres (attached to mainstream schools) including the Dyslexia Centre at Cliff Lane School, Ipswich. Would a Unitary Ipswich restore on-site units for specialist SEN education (i.e. keeping children on the school roll, but providing separate education provision for those who need it, including the most disruptive pupils)?
This is a difficult question to answer at this stage. It requires considerable technical expertise and we would need to weigh up all options in consultation with teachers whose views we would welcome.