This meeting was scheduled to review the performance of the Vale, Valleys, and Cardiff Adoption Collaborative, and consider the expansion and take-up of the Flying Start Programme, as well as the status of the Adult Community Learning Partnership. There was also a scheduled discussion of the committee's forward work programme.

Annual Report on Adoption Services

This item was scheduled for discussion on the Vale, Valleys, and Cardiff Adoption Collaborative's Annual Report/September 2024 which reviews its performance during the year ending 31st March 2024. The report is required by Regulation 39 of the Local Authority Adoption Services (Wales) Regulations 2019, which requires all Local Authorities to review their adoption services on a 6-monthly basis.

The report pack contains a detailed breakdown of performance across all aspects of adoption services. In the year ending 31st March 2024 the region saw 179 referrals, 65 Placement Orders granted, and 57 children placed for adoption. The report also notes a number of key challenges, including the increasing number of disruptions:

Sadly, this year has seen an unusual increase in placement breakdowns prior to an Adoption Order. 4 placements for a total of 6 children have disrupted during 2023-24.

The report also highlights the ongoing challenges of securing adoption support packages, and achieving cost savings agreed for the 2024-25 budget.

Flying Start Expansion and Take up of Childcare

This item was scheduled to discuss the expansion of the Flying Start programme following the Welsh Government's commitment in 2022 to extend it. The report notes that before the expansion programme, Flying Start funded childcare was available to approximately 40% of all 2-year-olds, but that:

Following the expansion approx. 80% of all 2-year-olds can now access part time funded childcare. The remaining 6 LSOA’s that are outside of the programme are Town 1 and 4, Park 1 and 2, Treharris 1 and Cyfarthfa 4.

The report pack goes on to discuss the number of children accessing childcare, which it notes fluctuates termly due to school admissions, and the take-up of childcare places. It also contains a detailed discussion of the challenges of cross-border working with neighbouring local authorities, particularly Caerphilly Council, and of the Welsh Government's commitment to increasing the amount of Welsh-medium childcare available. It concludes by considering the potential for a further, third phase of expansion, and the challenges this would bring.

Adult Community Learning (ACL)

This item was scheduled to provide an update on the status of the Adult Community Learning (ACL) Partnership following the inspection of the partnership by Estyn in July 2020. The report pack notes that the outcome of the inspection was 'Good', but that there was one area to be improved:

The key focus of the improvements being to “Strengthen partnership arrangements to ensure that all partners contribute coherently to informing and driving quality improvement across the partnership”.

The report goes on to note the challenges faced by the partnership, particularly the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent difficulty in persuading learners to return to group settings. It notes that:

All partners are still experiencing the impacts of the pandemic and the reluctance of some learners to return to group settings; however, enrolments have steadily begun to increase in 2023/24 but is still well below pre pandemic levels.

The report pack details the number of unique learners enrolled with Adult Learning Wales, Merthyr Tydfil CBC, and The College Merthyr Tydfil. It also includes a detailed discussion of Multiply, a government-funded programme to help adults improve their numeracy skills, and how the Council has secured funding through the programme to bolster its approach to adult learning.

Forward Work Programme 2024/2025

This item was scheduled to discuss the Scrutiny Committee's proposed forward work programme for 2024/25. The report pack includes a document setting out the proposed items for consideration by the committee, as well as a number of additional items proposed for consideration, including the Cwm Taf Youth Offending Team (YOT) Annual Report and the Llais Board Report.

The document proposes that the committee hold workshops on the Annual Report on Social Services in July 2024, the budget in January 2025, and Safeguarding in February 2025. It also proposes scrutiny visits to the Discharge and Assessment Team and to Snakes & Ladders, a local charity that helps people in need.