1.         Approve the Children and Families Plan in Appendix 1 for the next three years, 2012-15 subject to the following additions:

·  That on pages 10, 18 and 26 under the heading ‘Monitoring whether children are healthy’ the following point be added: ‘Rates of registration, access to and use of dental services’.

·  That the point on Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) be strengthened to ensure parents are fully engaged with this aspect of their child’s education.

·  That on page 12, under the heading ‘Supporting positive family and wider social relationships’ the following point be added: ‘Engage with schools and parents/guardians to ensure that the teaching of SRE is balanced and adequate.’

Action by:

ACTING CORPORATE DIRECTOR CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES (I. CATTERMOLE)       

Please note that the order of business was varied to allow this Agenda item to be considered after Item 6.3 (Buildings for Faith Based Activities Initiative).  However, for ease of reference the minutes are set out in the order in the agenda.

Councillor Oliur Rahman, Cabinet Member for Children Services, introduced the report. He highlighted that the Partnership Board considered it was important to have a Children and Families Plan. He recommended the report to the Mayor but highlighted concerns about the number of children who were not registered with dentists, parental engagement in the sex and relationship education of their children.

The Mayor welcomed the report and agreed with the suggested amendments to the recommendations.

Decision

1.         Approve the Children and Families Plan in Appendix 1 for the next three years, 2012-15 subject to the following additions:

·                          That on pages 10, 18 and 26 under the heading ‘Monitoring whether children are healthy’ the following point be added: ‘Rates of registration, access to and use of dental services’.

·                          That the point on Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) be strengthened to ensure parents are fully engaged with this aspect of their child’s education.

·                          That on page 12, under the heading ‘Supporting positive family and wider social relationships’ the following point be added: ‘Engage with schools and parents/guardians to ensure that the teaching of SRE is balanced and adequate.’