Wrthi'n llwytho
Y penderfyniadau fel y mae cofnodion y cyngor yn eu cofnodi. Bydd crynodeb mewn iaith glir yn dilyn pan fydd wedi'i ysgrifennu.
AGREED to recommend that Cabinet approve the revised Model Complaints Policy for schools and the introduction of a Policy on Unacceptable Actions (for schools).
AGREED to note the report and appendices for information following the decision by Cabinet on 3 December to amend the statutory consultations to be informal, this would now draw to a close the status of the informal consultations in relation to Ysgol Craig yr Wylfa, Ysgol Llanfihangel y Creuddyn, Ysgol Llangwyryfon and Ysgol Syr John Rhys. Members thanked all that had responded to the consultation
Councillor Euros Davies and Gareth Lewis apologised for their inability to attend the meeting.
None.
Condolences were expressed to Mrs Elen James on the passing of her mother.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
AGREED to recommend that Cabinet approve the revised Model Complaints Policy for schools and the introduction of a Policy on Unacceptable Actions (for schools).
Councillors Wyn Thomas (Cabinet Member for Schools, Lifelong Learning and Skills) presented the report upon the Revised Model Complaints Policy for schools and the introduction of a Policy on Unacceptable Actions (for schools). He reported that the policy had been presented in order to provide the Learning Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee with the revised Model Complaints Policy that would need to be implemented by all Governing Bodies in Ceredigion. The Learning Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee was therefore requested to consider the contents of a new policy, which aimed to assist schools with dealing with the increasing incidence of managing unacceptable actions. The Policy on Unacceptable Actions intends to equip schools, and their Governing Bodies, with the necessary tools to effectively manage a range of unacceptable behaviours displayed by stakeholders on school sites. The complaints policy had been updated in accordance with the amendments introduced by Welsh Government in December 2022, and March 2023; however, due to limited capacity available within the Complaints Service, it had not been possible to revise the policy sooner. It is hoped that the updated complaints policy would ensure a more consistent approach across all schools, which in turn, would enable more effective and efficient support to be offered by the Local Authority, when needed. The Policy on Unacceptable Actions was a newly-written policy which had been drafted in response to the increasing occurrence of incidents being reported by schools. Such incidents range from direct instances of aggressive or abusive behaviour shown towards school staff, to a clear increase in the number of unreasonable demands being made on school staff. This policy offers schools and their Governing Bodies a more structured and measured approach when attempting to resolve unreasonable behaviour. Model Complaints Policy (revised document) Welsh Government published their updated guidance on School Complaints Procedures in December 2022. Under Section 29(1) of the Education Act 2002, governing bodies of all maintained schools were required to establish procedures for dealing with complaints relating to the school, or to the provision of facilities or services. Further, Section 27 of the aforementioned legislation requires schools and their governing bodies to publish the details of their complaints procedures. The Welsh Government subsequently updated its guidance in March 2023 and the draft policy presented to the Scrutiny Committee as part of this report was compliant with both versions of the guidance. Whilst it was acknowledged that there had been a delay in bringing these amendments before the democratic committees required to approve them, the fundamental aspects of the policy remain unchanged. In addition, there had been frequent dialogue between schools, their governing bodies and officers within the Local Authority when dealing with complex complaints. This had therefore ensured that the statutory requirements placed on maintained schools, with regard to complaints management, had continued to be met despite not having been formally updated until now. Close collaboration with the Local Authority’s Complaints Service had been vital to ensure there is consistency in the approach taken by schools – both in respect of any complaints they manage directly and in cases whereby Local Authority assistance was sought (under the Partnership Agreement). Policy on Unacceptable Actions (new document) School staff are increasingly seeking advice and guidance regarding the frequency of challenging situations they are faced with on a daily basis. In the vast number of cases, schools are able to manage these effectively through engagement with “visitors” – as defined within the policy (e.g. any person who contacts the School or acts on behalf of another individual, any complainant, and any person who requests School information); however, there are instances that require a more formal and robust response. This document outlines the types of behaviour that could be interpreted as ‘unacceptable’ and the kinds of measures that can, or should, be taken if such behaviours persist. The aim of the policy was to ensure that the actions and behaviours of certain individuals do not have a detrimental effect on the safety and/or wellbeing of others, or the learning opportunities that were available to all students within the school. An appeals mechanism was also included within the Policy that would provide visitors an opportunity to alter their behaviour and potentially have all restrictions lifted, if they were able to demonstrate that they would work more positively with the school in the future. Governing Bodies would have an opportunity to implement this policy if they wish, and advice and guidance would be available to them as part of the existing Partnership Agreement with the Local Authority Following a discussion and questions from the floor, it was AGREED to recommend that Cabinet approve the revised Model Complaints Policy for schools and the introduction of a Policy on Unacceptable Actions (for schools).
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
AGREED to note the report and appendices for information following the decision by Cabinet on 3 December to amend the statutory consultations to be informal, this would now draw to a close the status of the informal consultations in relation to Ysgol Craig yr Wylfa, Ysgol Llanfihangel y Creuddyn, Ysgol Llangwyryfon and Ysgol Syr John Rhys. Members thanked all that had responded to the consultation
Councillors Wyn Thomas (Cabinet Member for Schools, Lifelong Learning and Skills) presented the report upon the Informal Consultation Response reports in relation to Ysgol Craig yr Wylfa, Ysgol Llanfihangel y Creuddyn, Ysgol Llangwyryfon and Ysgol Syr John Rhys. He reported that following the Cabinet decision on the 3 December 2024, to amend the status of the statutory consultations in relation to Ysgol Craig yr Wylfa, Ysgol Llanfihangel y Creuddyn, Ysgol Llangwyryfon and Ysgol Syr John Rhys to informal consultations, the Local Authority response to the issues raised had been collated into an informal consultation response document. In addition, copies of all correspondence received were included but all names and addresses have been redacted; and Estyn’s response to the consultation also included. Currently, purpose of this report was to present the committee with all correspondence received during the informal consultations and the Local Authority’s response to the issues raised. Councillor Wyn Thomas provided the Committee with the responses to the main issues raised by Consultees on each school. Following questions from the floor, it was AGREED to note the report and appendices for information following the decision by Cabinet on 3 December to amend the statutory consultations to be informal, this would now draw to a close the status of the informal consultations in relation to Ysgol Craig yr Wylfa, Ysgol Llanfihangel y Creuddyn, Ysgol Llangwyryfon and Ysgol Syr John Rhys. Members thanked all that had responded to the consultation
It was AGREED to confirm as a true record the Minutes of the Meeting of the previous meeting held on the 27 March 2025. Matters arising Councillor Marc Davies requested copy of the letter sent on behalf of the Committee to Welsh Government and the response if received. These would be sent accordingly. Councillor Gwyn Wigley Evans referred to the response by Mr Barry Rees, Corporate Director in relation to his statement “as far as he was aware, that there had not been any recent meetings with the Chairs of Governors” He stated that the reason Llangwyryfon Primary School had not accepted officers offer of meeting with Chair of Governos on several occasions as they had been informed that they were prohibited of doing so.
Rhaid i gynghorwyr ddweud pan fydd ganddyn nhw gysylltiad personol â rhywbeth sy'n cael ei drafod, fel swydd, eiddo neu aelod o'r teulu. Mae buddiant sy'n rhagfarnu yn ddigon cryf i'r cynghorydd adael yr ystafell fel arfer a pheidio â chymryd rhan.
Caiff datganiadau eu darllen o'r cofnodion unwaith y byddan nhw wedi'u cyhoeddi.
Yn rhestru cynghorwyr presennol y cyngor yn unig. Nid yw aelodau cyfetholedig, swyddogion a chyn-gynghorwyr yn cael eu dangos.