10 March 2015 weekly update

Vision and Priorities for Improvement

I am pleased to attach a copy of our latest document setting out our Vision and Priorities for Improvement. We update this each year and it captures the progress we have made and the priorities going forward to improve education and early help services in Kent.

While we continue to make good progress in raising attainment, narrowing some achievement gaps and increasing the number of good and outstanding early years settings and schools, we also continue to face challenges.

In particular the outcomes for vulnerable groups and those supported by the pupil premium are not yet where we could begin to be satisfied. We continue to push for a more rapid rate of improvement in the number of good and outstanding schools, especially Primary schools. And we are still some way off our expectations for achieving the full participation of all young people in education and training to age 18, with many more students following quality vocational routes including apprenticeships.  In all of these areas Kent is still doing less well than the national picture, in spite of recent improvements.  

The document sets out a wide range of priorities and targets for improvement, built up over time in partnership with schools and other partners, to achieve what we hope is a shared vision for educational improvements in Kent.  It has been signed off and approved by the Education and Young People's Services Cabinet Committee and the lead Cabinet Members Roger Gough, Peter Oakford and Mike Hill.

Our Vision and Priorities document also includes the ways we have been changing the services provided by KCC to ensure more effective use of our resources and better local delivery, especially our PRU, SEND and Early Help services that support vulnerable children, young people and families.

We can only achieve our planned improvements through partnership and collaboration, and by spreading the influence of the best practice around the county.  We continue to be fully committed to school to school support, the work of the Kent Association of Headteachers and partnership with FE Colleges, employers, training providers, health services and the Police.

Our main focus continues to be on raising standards of attainment, closing achievement gaps, improving attendance and reducing exclusion, and having more good and outstanding early years settings and schools.

We are giving very high priority to ensuring all young people are engaged in learning or training until age 18, including increased numbers of apprenticeships, so that there are good outcomes that lead to employment. We will continue to develop the opportunities and pathways for all 14-19 year olds to participate and succeed so that they can access higher Levels of learning or employment with training to age 24.

The local authority will continue to be a good commissioner of school places and other specialist provision to support greater choice for parents and families in every area. Our Education Commissioning priorities set out how we will continue to deliver a sufficient and diverse supply of places in strong schools and quality early years settings.

And lastly one of our major developments is to deliver improved multi-agency support for children and families who have additional needs by implementing effective Early Help and Preventative Services and working in a more integrated way to achieve better outcomes. As a consequence we expect to see fewer children needing the protection of statutory social care.

We recognise that the context for public service delivery and funding has been changing fast and as we go forward we are exploring new ways of working, more integrated approaches and new vehicles for funding, joint working and partnership. I hope you find this document a helpful summary of what we are aiming to do to improve the life chances of children and young people in Kent.

The KELSI  website is changing

During the past six months we have listened to your feedback on the design and navigation of the KELSI website. To make it easier to locate the latest news and events and use KELSI resources, a new and improved version of the site will be launched in mid-March 2015.

The KELSI support team will be pleased to provide information. If you require any assistance please email Kelsi@kent.gov.uk and the team will be available to support you as we switch to the new site.

National Apprenticeship Week

National Apprenticeship Week began on Monday 9 March, and the Skills and Employability Service are promoting activities all week.  From Canterbury Academy, to Cornwallis Academy, from Gravesend Job Centre Plus to Maidstone Jobs Fair, staff and apprentices will be promoting the value of apprenticeships.  We hope this is an opportunity to promote apprenticeships and ensure more young people are aware of the opportunities they provide to gain skills, qualifications and employment. 

Patrick Leeson

Corporate Director, Education and Young People's Services.