Council to consider combining children’s and schools services

A proposal to strengthen Leeds City Council’s services for children in Leeds by bringing them all together into one dedicated directorate is to be considered by councillors.

Leeds City Council’s executive board is to be asked to look at a plan to more closely combine the expertise of the council’s existing children’s services department with that of Education Leeds.

If the proposals are agreed at a meeting of the executive board on March 10, it would mean that steps would be taken to put the new arrangements into place by the end of March 2011.

Consultation on the revised arrangements and future plans for the integrated service would take place with all staff and other interested parties. Education Leeds’ staff and its responsibilities would transfer to the council during a transition period which would be fully complete by April 1 2011.

Leeds City Council’s chief executive Paul Rogerson said:
“In the current climate it is clear that we need to harness all of the resources that are available to us and ensure that they are used consistently to the best possible effect. I would like, however, to assure colleagues in Education Leeds and across children’s services that if executive board approves this proposal we will be working very closely with them, and their trade union representatives, to ensure a smooth transition to the new arrangements.

“Education Leeds has done a tremendous job in supporting improvement in our schools and raising standards, and we want to ensure that such work continues.”

Education Leeds chief executive Chris Edwards said:
“Our priority will continue to be children and young people, and their families and communities here in Leeds, and building on the excellent achievements of everyone in education in the city over the last decade.

“I know that colleagues in Education Leeds and in all our schools will continue to focus on this, and respond positively to the new arrangements, if agreed by executive board. Together we have achieved so much, transforming the learning landscape and improving outcomes for children. And now, together with colleagues from children’s services, we will deliver better, more responsive, more integrated and more efficient services for children and young people.”

The proposed move is designed to more closely integrate all the work done for children and young people in the city and accelerate the pace of change to deliver the council’s ambitious improvement agenda.

Cllr Stewart Golton, executive member with responsibility for Children’s Services, said:
“We want to ensure we have the best possible arrangements for safeguarding our children’s welfare, development and future. It makes absolute sense for all of the council’s children’s services staff to work in a more integrated and effective way and these proposals will help achieve this.”

Notes to editors
Children’s services includes early years, youth services, children and young people’s social care and Education Leeds.

Government guidance very much advocates a move to integrated approaches to the planning and delivery of children’s services. The changes now being proposed would provide an opportunity to build on success with the aim of improving outcomes for children and young people,

For media enquiries please contact:
Donna Cox, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 224 3335
e-mail: donna.cox@leeds.gov.uk

ENDS