Yvette Stanley, Director Children, Schools and Families, highlighted the development of the new pan London adoption agency.  This will provide a different delivery model comprising a hub and four spokes with Merton part of the South London spoke.  Whilst this has been to the Panel previously, it will need to return to the Panel in the near future for pre-decision scrutiny.  The Department will liaise with the scrutiny officer about timing.

In response to member questions the Director in addition to Paul Angeli, Assistant Director for Children's Social Care and Youth Inclusion and Jane McSherry, Assistant Director for Education, provided the following clarification:

·         Quality of early years provision: the Council is working with early years providers including those that are privately owned.  This is because the Council funds these settings.  All are subject to quality assurance visits and safeguarding checks;

·         Collaborative school improvement: the formation of the new partnership has resulted from the Council working with schools to develop a preferred model and then consulting with heads;

·         Whatley Avenue: there is confidence that the interim site for the new Harris Wimbledon school will be ready in time for opening of provision in September 2018;

·         30 hours free of early education: this is being implemented through existing providers and currently there is no concern about its implementation although the process appears complex.  The Department will continue to monitor this going forward;

·         Contextualised safeguarding: this is a new approach which recognises the risks to young people caused by what they are exposed to in their everyday lives.  This necessitates joint working across the Council to try and remove some of these risks.  For example, environmental services would be responsible for tackling the sale of drugs in a particular location in the borough.  Central Bedfordshire Council is about to conduct a pilot around the approach and Merton will participate;

·         Increase in those with SEN: schools mainly provided assistance for children and young people through the SEN Support programme; and

·         Neglect: the Merton Children Safeguarding Board is looking at neglect and how this can be addressed through Think Family.  Whilst it might not be possible to eradicate this entirely, the focus is on early intervention.