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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED: To note the Q3 Progress Update, including the Corporate Parenting Quarterly Progress Report Quarter 3 2025-2026.
RESOLVED: To note the content of the update and Presentation.
RESOLVED: To note the content of the update and Presentation.
RESOLVED: To note the Priority 5 Progress report.
RESOLVED: To consider this matter at a future meeting, once more information was available.
There were no apologies.
There were none.
The minutes of the 22nd September meeting were approved and signed as a correct record.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: To note the Q3 Progress Update, including the Corporate Parenting Quarterly Progress Report Quarter 3 2025-2026.
The Committee was provided with an update in relation to the overall progress to date on the Corporate Parenting Annual Plan 2025-2026. The Chair welcomed Rebecca Brockway (Policy and Development Manager – Corporate Parenting) and an update on progress made in Corporate Parenting in Quarter 3 was provided, which included an update on the key areas of progress and delivery. Members asked how many care experienced expectant parents were joining the Mums and Dads groups and if there was a time limit between when they had left care, how old they are and when they could attend this group. This information was not to hand, but Officers will gather this information and feed back at a future meeting. Officers advised the Committee that there is a Parenting Café group, which is a peer-to-peer group which has no age or time limits. This is a pilot at the moment, where care experienced parents can support each other. Members congratulated Officers on the presentation and the work that has been done and asked if the Committee could support in advancing work on the training being developed by writing to the Academy Team asking for support with timescales and prioritising this work, which Officers appreciated. This is a target that is being carried forward to 2026/2027. Members suggested that the successes of our children and young people be shared on billboards in Cardiff so everyone could see the work being done and the good news stories coming out of it. Officers explained that they work with internal Comms to share these messages and hope the planned Partnership Event will increase interest and share successes outside the Council, but they will also consider this suggestion. Members shared that a visit to Ty Gorwel (supported accommodation for young people) had taken place in October, and urged other Committee members to visit, as meeting the staff and seeing the challenges and successes was insightful. They asked about funding for this and why this was coming from the Housing & Communities budget rather than Children’s Services. The focus is on supporting Children Looked After (CLA), but this will be looked into and considered. Members asked if the Annual Plan that had been developed was the best model or whether a longer-term plan would work better, and whether any of those areas with an amber rating, could be focussed on to have maximum impact. Officers explained that the priorities are set via the Corporate Parenting Strategy 2025 – 2028 on a 3-year review, and the Annual Plan helps to focus on specific areas for that year, with some carrying forward from one year to the next and some being new each year. The action areas are focussed and often allocated to other areas of the Council for action, and training and the data dashboard are the focus for the end of this year RESOLVED: To note the Q3 Progress Update, including the Corporate Parenting Quarterly Progress Report Quarter 3 2025-2026.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: To note the content of the update and Presentation.
The Chair welcomed Jade Williams (Senior Policy Officer – Corporate Parenting) and a presentation providing an update on CLA and Social Value was delivered to the Committee. Following the presentation, the Chair opened the floor to comments and questions from the Committee. Members thanked Officers for the presentation and asked for clarification on whether this is a current requirement in the tender process. Officers explained that this is a new area for them but that starting this conversation at the start of contracts is not something that is happening currently, but they are working towards this happening. It is a requirement to have an element of Social Value as part of all contracts with the Council, but it is not specific to CLA or Children and Young People. They will be speaking to Welsh Government and Procurement teams about this and to try and get this included where possible from the standpoint of the Corporate Parent role. RESOLVED: To note the content of the update and Presentation.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: To note the content of the update and Presentation.
The Chair welcomed Deborah Williams, Virtual School Headteacher (VHT) and a presentation providing an update on the Evaluation of the Virtual School Model was delivered to the Committee. Following the presentation, the Chair opened the floor to comments and questions from the Committee. Members thanked Officers for the presentation and for the hard work on this and asked if any timescales had been provided by Welsh Government on what will come next, given the pending Senedd Elections. Officers explained that a meeting is planned with Welsh Government, but there have been indications that nothing will happen immediately. They are working closely with colleagues to ensure conversations continue.. Evidence has been shared and feedback from Scotland and England on this has shown the success of the model. Members asked about children placed out of county (OOC), and whether there is a commitment to this model from other Local Authorities in addition to Cardiff, including building links with these authorities to ensure outcomes and data for these children is available and shared. Officers echoed these concerns but reassured the Committee that the fact that they had been invited to be part of the National Association of Virtual Head Teachers in England shows the importance of this model, as is a colleague in RCT, so there will be cross border links in England and Wales. Officers explained that the discrepancies between ALN support and legislation in England and Wales and between Local Authorities and their interpretations is a concern, especially around children with ALN not being admitted to mainstream schools with support in some areas, and this is also something they are focussing on and raising at this board. Members commented on their past experience of pupils from Special Schools attending mainstream schools to have the opportunity to complete other qualifications and how well this cross over had worked. Members asked about access to funding post adoption for families of adopted children and young people and Officers confirmed that they are working with the National Adoption Service (NAS) to discuss this and how this can be developed. Officers also discussed how sharing this information post adoption with schools could help enhance levels of support for adopted children and their families and they are working with NAS on how this could be done. RESOLVED: To note the content of the update and Presentation.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: To note the Priority 5 Progress report.
The Chair welcomed Matt Osborne (Operational Manager, Children’s Services – Safeguarding and Reviewing), Lucy Thomas (Participation and Corporate Parenting Officer – Children’s Services) and Rayya (Member of Bright Sparks). An update in relation to programmes that fell under Priority 5 of the Corporate Parenting Annual Plan 2025- 2026 - Ensuring Children's Voice was delivered to the Committee. Members thanked Officers and the young person for the presentation and shared with other Members how they joined a virtual meeting of Bright Sparks recently, and congratulated them on how the members of Bright Sparks supported each other and looks forward to continued links with the VHT. RESOLVED: To note the Priority 5 Progress report.
There was one late additional item, presented by Deborah Driffield (Director of Children’s Services) and concerning adopted learners and education policy in Wales.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: To consider this matter at a future meeting, once more information was available.
The Chair welcomed Deborah Driffield (Director of Children’s Services), who explained that she had recently attended a meeting with the Adoption Collaborative regarding educational needs and support for children who have been adopted, there is an action plan being developed with Welsh Government and NAS, and wanted to bring it to Committee to ask if this to be considered at a future meeting, once more was known about it, RESOLVED: To consider this matter at a future meeting, once more information was available.
13th April at 3pm.
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