The Council agreed to suspend Procedure Rule 13.1 to enable the following urgent motions to be debated without notice:

13.1    Motion regarding nursery closures

Councillor Danny Hassell moved, and Councillor Asma Begum seconded, the motion as tabled.

Following debate the motion was put to the vote and was agreed.

DECISION

This Council notes:

1.    The proposal submitted by the Mayor and Cabinet for public consultation on the closure of the four council run nurseries in the borough - Mary Sambrook, Queen Mary, Overland and John Smith.

2.    The excellent campaign run by local parents of children attending the nurseries to prevent the closure and the significant local support their campaign has attracted.

3.    The concern of many parents about provision for disabled children in particular as a result of these proposals.

4.    The statement of the Mayor at the November cabinet meeting that the savings proposals would be reviewed, which appeared to contrast to other proposals which were clearly withdraw at the meeting.

5.    The letter sent by Cllr Danny Hassell to the Mayor on 7th November asking for further clarity on the remarks by the Mayor and calling for clearer information on the future of all four nurseries.

6.    That Tower Hamlets has the highest levels of child poverty in the country.

7.    Publicly run early years provision is generally of a much higher quality than that in the private, voluntary and independent sector.

This Council believes:

1.    The early years are crucial to improving life chances and that the quality of provision has a significant impact on effectiveness.

2.    The services provided by these nurseries to disabled children and their families are especially valuable and unlikely to be provided in the same way by alternative provision.

3.    Council-run nurseries in Tower Hamlets provide important opportunities for young people and their families, and their continued operation should be a priority for this council.

This Council resolves:

To call on the Mayor to withdraw entirely the proposal to close all four council-run nurseries: Mary Sambrook; Queen Mary; Overland; and John Smith.

13.2    Motion regarding OFSTED Inspections

Councillor Rachael Saunders moved, and Councillor Shiria Khatun seconded, the motion as tabled.

Councillor Alibor Choudhury moved an amendment to include in the motion the names of the 6 independent schools. Councillors Rachael Saunders and Shiria Khatun indicated that they accepted the amendment and altered their motion accordingly.

Councillor Rabina Khan moved an amendment to add a bullet point under This Council notes ‘To note that there is no evidence or suggestion whatsoever of an attempted takeover, as allegedly occurred in Birmingham under the so-called Trojan Horse scandal, at Sir John Cass School or any other school in Tower Hamlets.’ Councillors Rachael Saunders and Shiria Khatun indicated that they accepted the amendment and altered their motion accordingly.

Following debate the motion as amended was put to the vote and was agreed.

RESOLVED

This Council notes:

1.    The outcome of the Ofsted inspections of six independent schools (namely; Al Mizan Primary, East London Islamic School, Ebrahim Academy, Jamaitul Ummah School, London East Academy and Mazahirul School), and Sir John Cass School published last week.

2.    Concerns raised over safeguarding responsibilities within all of these schools; and concerns about the breadth and balance of the curriculum and experiences offered to children in some of the six independent schools.

3.    That the council has no powers or responsibilities over the teaching and learning within the independent sector within the borough.

4.    That there is no evidence or suggestion whatsoever of an attempted takeover, as allegedly occurred in Birmingham under the so-called Trojan Horse scandal, at Sir John Cass School or any other school in Tower Hamlets.

This Council believes:

1.    That the Government has diluted the powers of local authority over schools through the promotion and proliferation of academies and free schools who are not accountable to the local communities that they serve.

2.    Council's responsibilities for safeguarding children in independent schools within their authority require the appropriate powers to carry this out.

3.    That improvement in schools in the borough previously has taken place by a range of partners working in collaboration; the council, government, parents, teachers, school leaders and governors and wider community groups.

This Council resolves:

1.    That Council officers should work proactively with parents, governors, teachers and pupils at Sir John Cass to address the issues raised by Ofsted.

2.    To call on the Government to ensure that council are equipped with the appropriate powers to fulfil their safeguarding responsibilities within in schools, including those in the private and independent sector.

3.    For a full report on work in addressing the safeguarding concerns in independent schools in the borough to be presented to the Local Safeguarding Children's Board (LSCB).