Issue - meetings
Integrated Early Years' Service Commissioning
Meeting: 27/09/2016 - Commissioners' Decision Making Meeting (Item 6.2)
6.2 Integrated Early Years' Service Commissioning PDF 213 KB
Decision:
Pauline Hoare, Early Years Lead Officer presented the report which outlined arrangements for clarifying arrangements for early year services provision in the circumstances of reducing Direct Schools Grant and move to a commissioning approach. To assist the transition, Schools Forum agreed arrangements for funding supplements for the Two-year Old Funding programme and for parachute payments for Early Years Grants over 19 months in the period August 2015 – April 2017. It was noted that Commissioners and the Executive had had input into the discussion regarding the arrangements for regularising early years provision.
The Chair invited Councillor Mukit to comment on behalf of GSSC and he indicated that
- GSSC requested an explanation as to why there were no bids from the complex needs block.
- GSSC wanted an assurance that there would be a process of review and learning as to why there had been no bids by involving the sector earlier through co-production.
- many groups did not understand the logic around placing bids.
The Lead Officer noted the comments and advised that
- Tower Hamlets Group had applied but were overwhelmed by the complexity of the process. Therefore officers have been asked to contact all interested groups to hear their views on how the process can be made better and from these a re-commissioning will be explored.
Responding to above, Commissioners and Co-opted Members noted that:
- their support for the approach in the transitional period and the proposal to provide funding supplement
- 1100 children had been supported by the early years programme.
- a future report should be made outlining and monitoring growth of the service
- the proposals will ensure that future arrangements will be operated in a transparent manner
- the projects would be aligned to Government priorities
- it was desirable that delivery of imaginative solutions should be achieved. The Lead Officer confirmed that this would be thought through highly skilled and creative staffing from the voluntary sector
Action by, Pauline Hoare, Early Years Lead Officer, Children’s Services
RESOLVED
That the report be noted
Meeting: 20/09/2016 - Grants Scrutiny Sub-Committee (Item 5)
5 Integrated Early Years' Service Commissioning PDF 213 KB
Minutes:
The Sub-Committee received a report that outlined arrangements for clarifying arrangements for early year services provision in the circumstances of reducing Direct Schools Grant and move to a commissioning approach. To assist the transition, Schools Forum agreed arrangements for funding supplements for the Two-year Old Funding programme and for parachute payments for Early Years Grants over 19 months in the period August 2015 – April 2017. It was noted that Commissioners and the Executive had had input into the discussion regarding the arrangements for regularising early years provision.
As a result of consideration of this report the Sub-Committee
1. Requested an explanation as to why there were no bids from the complex needs block;
2. wanted an assurance that there would be a process of review and learning as to why there had been no bids by involving the sector earlier through co-production; and
3. Felt that many groups did not understand the logic around placing bids.
RESOLVED
That the report should be noted and that the Chair would draw their concerns to the attention of Commissioners.