Ministerial Response - Government Plan 2020-2023 - Education and Home Affairs Panel - 10 January 2020

Findings

Minister

Comments

1

The Minister for Education has requested further details as to how the £1.78 million worth of efficiencies within her remit will be undertaken.

MED

Not all of the £1.78 million will be apportioned to  the  Minister  for  Education,  but  the  exact split  with  the  Minister  for  Children  and Housing  is  not  known  at  this  time.  The Minister for Education is being provided with further information.

2

The Minister for Home Affairs has identified £700,000 of efficiencies in 2020 which will be achieved by a combination of additional income, vacancy management and reshaping of long-serving posts where the post-holder has retired or resigned.

MHA

£700,000 was stated by the Minister during the public hearing in September. At the time this was accurate.

Since  then,  JHA  have  agreed  to  make £1.59 million in efficiencies, including:

- £450,000 (TOM Phase 1, including removal of JCIS Director posts and removal of 4 posts at the Prison)

- £380,000 (removal of 2 unfilled but funded posts at the Prison, and further restructuring, supported by a rapid review, which is already underway)

- £193,000 (JCIS income)

- £367,000 (Cross-Government efficiency programme)

- £200,000 (SOJP).

Findings

Minister

Comments

3

The Minister for Education has commissioned a review of the funding of the education system in the Island which will be conducted by an external agency. This is currently within its infancy. The Panel cannot comment on the implications of the review until such time as further information is available.

MED

The  Minister  for  Education  is  expecting  the final report in February 2020, and this will be shared with the Panel.

4

The post-16 education strategy will contain some actions which can be implemented immediately and other actions that will require further policy development. Upon confirmation of the strategy, resources will be allocated to meet the needs of the various areas of the strategy. Further information is required as to whether current budgets are sufficient to address all aspects of the strategy.

MED

The implementation of the strategy is phased over  the  next  10 years.  Immediate  agreed actions will achieve a level of re-alignment of the  budget  to  ensure  efficiency  and effectiveness.  This  includes  the  review  of Supply  and  Demand  for  skills  delivered through CYPES, CLS and other Arm's-Length organisations,  such  as  Jersey  Business  and Digital Jersey.

With the  review of  the  second phase of  the target operating model in full progress, with an implementation  timeline  of  Q1 2020,  it  is envisaged that the service reviews and target operating  model  for  positions  below  level 4 will  commence  immediately  post- implementation of TOM 2.

The  current  budget  includes  skills  projects highlighted for CSP3, the review of funding for Highlands  College  core  provision  (16–18, Apprentices,  14–16,  Adult  Education  and professional courses).

5

It is intended to bring forward a new student finance scheme to be in operation by September 2021. Until such time, the current scheme will be maintained. This is in order to provide certainty to students.

MED

The  review  of  the  current  student  finance system which commenced in January 2019 is continuing  following  the  publication  of  the Post-16 strategy in October 2019. The relevant departments of the Government are involved in ensuring all aspects of any policy change are fully  assessed.  A  multi-disciplinary  steering group has been formed and is tasked to support and lead the review of the current system. It is anticipated that their work will be concluded by September 2021 with a view for any changes to take effect for those studying from September 2022. There will be some minor changes to the current scheme for September 2021 entrants, which will be communicated well in advance of this period.

Findings

Minister

Comments

6

There is an acknowledgment that the current tuition fees level in the United Kingdom may be reduced from £9,250 per academic year. In the event of a budget surplus, the Minister for Education has expressed a view to utilise this in order to bring vocational courses on a par with higher education courses.

MED

Agreed.

7

The Jersey Music Service is due to identify a new delivery model which is intended to allow all children to embark on a musical learning pathway that is clearly signed. This will be developed throughout 2020. Given the ongoing development required, the Panel has rated this project as amber'.

MED

The  development  of  delivery  mechanisms  to allow  all  children  to  embark  on  a  musical learning pathway are now at an advanced stage and  will  be  ready  for implementation at  the beginning  of  the  2020–2021  academic  year. The plans will be shared with the Panel as soon as they are complete.

8

There is significant work being undertaken to review the education system as a whole in the Island (including the review of school funding and Big Education Conversation), of which the Jersey School Review Framework is one small part. Depending on the outcome of this work, there could be further implications for the Jersey School Review Framework.

MED

The  Jersey  School  Review  Framework ("JSRF") is an ongoing rolling programme of reviews and not a one-off. It is not anticipated that there will be any further implications for the  JSRF.  Most  modern  jurisdictions  have  a method of reviewing and assessing schools and the  outcomes  they  deliver  for  children  and young people.

9

The Languages Strategy has been piloted successfully in 8 primary schools, and will be rolled out across all primary schools. It is, however, too early to state whether the requested funding for the project will achieve the expected outcomes at this stage.

MED

Phase 1  of  the  French  Experience  (Autumn 2017) involved Bel Royal School and La Moye School. Three Year 5 classes, with a total of 75 children, were part of this pilot. Phase 2 of the  French  Experience  (Autumn 2018) involved  220 children  from  First  Tower, St. Saviour 's,   St. Martin 's,   Trinity ,   Grouville and St. Luke's Schools. In both pilots, across this wide range of schools, pupils made at least one year of progress with their French over the 6-week programme, and pupil enthusiasm and confidence for language study was significantly increased. It is therefore reasonable to propose that  the  Languages  Strategy  will  impact  on outcomes in a similar way when it is rolled out across all schools.

Findings

Minister

Comments

10

There is a multi-stage review of the Education system underway, the first stage of which is the Big Education Conversation'. Due to the expected stages of the review it will take significant time to finalise any outcomes and further details will be required by the Panel prior to giving any assurances over funding levels.

MED

Agreed, the Minister for Education will ensure that the Panel remain informed at all stages of the reviews that are progressing.

11

The business case for Early Years within R.91/2019 states 30 hours of nursery provision, however, this is only an indicative figure based on discussions of the Early Years Policy Development Board which has yet to make a firm policy decision at this stage. It is therefore not possible to state whether the funding identified is sufficient to meet any proposed scheme.

MED

Agreed,  although  the  business  case  involved some  modelling  to  define  the  investment required, the final policy proposals of the Early Years Policy Development Board will require more detailed analysis at the appropriate time.

12

The funding for this project covers the costs of the hardware devices in the new Les Quennevais School, however, there is no confirmation as to how much budget will be available centrally to manage upkeep of the equipment.

MED

Agreed.

13

If the Primary Schools Meals pilot scheme is a success, funding for the continuation of this project will come from the business case for reducing preventable diseases' (R.91/2019, p.33). Until such time as the pilot is evaluated there is no certainty over how much funding will be required.

MED

Agreed. If the pilot is successful a decision will be made on how to progress the roll-out of hot school meals in primary schools, and cost will depend on various factors, including provider selected and number of schools taking part.

14

Students accessing the Digital Leadership Programme will (once the qualification has been registered with Ofqual) be eligible to receive support through the student finance scheme. The Panel is concerned that this funding is in addition to the funding provided by the proposal and could create a double funding scenario.

MED

Currently, learners on the Digital Leadership Programme  are  not  eligible  for  support through student finance. This will remain the case  until  the  programme  is  registered  with Ofqual. The source of funding for learners will remain  a  single  source  in  the  event  of  this change. All effort is being made to ensure that the programme receives its registration in time for September 2020 and beyond. The project remains on track to achieve this.

Findings

Minister

Comments

15

The new roles created under the Skills Jersey additional funding request are designed to increase engagement across the range of services offered. It is, however, too early to state whether they will achieve the outcomes stated.

MED

Agreed, the achievement of outcomes can only be measured once the roles have been recruited to.

16

The Legal Aid guidelines which govern the scheme have yet to be agreed by the Legal Aid Guidelines Committee. Until such time as a proposed scheme is agreed the Panel cannot give assurances as to whether the level of funding is appropriate.

CM

The additional funding requested for 2020-23 is to meet the costs of the Legal Aid Office and the fixed-fee Duty Solicitor and Duty Advocate service. The funding has been requested based on a review of legal aid cases in recent years, and on an inference that the future Legal Aid scheme (made and published under Article 7 of the Access to Justice (Jersey) Law 2019) will be broadly similar in scope to that which exists at present. There are no reasons to believe that the scheme will reduce or expand in a manner that  will  significantly  reduce  or  increase  the level  of  funding  required  for  the  Legal  Aid Office  and  Duty  Solicitor/  Duty  Advocate service.  Nevertheless,  it  is  accepted  that absolute certainty cannot be provided until the new scheme has been brought into effect.

17

The final funding requirements of Le Rocquier School facilities and community sports facility capital project will not be known until such time as the feasibility study is completed.

MED

Agreed.

18

The final funding requirements for new school fields at Grainville and St. John 's Primary School will not be known until such time as the necessary agreements and planning permissions are granted for the proposals.

MED

Agreed.

19

The final funding requirements for the Les Landes nursery capital project will not be known until such time as the feasibility study is completed.

MED

Agreed.

20

The final funding requirements for the La Moye Primary School extension capital project will not be known until such time as the feasibility study is completed.

MED

Agreed.

Findings

Minister

Comments

21

The Panel has noted the need for additional music facilities at Jersey College for Girls and Jersey College Prep, however, further details are required over the proposed use by outside agencies. It is a concern of the Panel that similar investment in music within non-fee-paying schools is not being made.

MED

There  is  investment  in  music  for  non-fee- paying schools. This is both in revenue, in the Government  Plan  2020–2023,  through enhanced funding of the Jersey Music Service ("JMS"), and in capital. This specific capital investment for JCG/ JCP is relatively small and specific to developing music facilities. Larger capital  programmes,  including  the  new Les Quennevais  School,  will  see  significant improvements in music facilities. We are still awaiting details of the use by outside agencies of these new planned facilities.

22

The completion of capital projects for new playing fields and JCG and JCP is dependent upon the acquisition of the fields and change of use under the Island Plan and the costs are estimated at this stage. Further information is therefore required prior to assurances over the level of funding in the proposal.

MED

Agreed.

23

A schedule of replacement equipment for CYPES is being completed between now and the end of the year. It is expected that the funding within the business case will not cover all items and some will be delayed to later years.

MED

Agreed.

24

Capital improvements to schools will be prioritised to meet set objectives in order to comply with the Discrimination Law, Safeguarding and Regulation of Care requirements. At present there is no clarity over how funding will be apportioned between these improvements.

MED

Agreed.

25

Capital improvements to Youth Service/ Community Hubs will be prioritised to meet set objectives in order to comply with the Discrimination Law, Safeguarding and Regulation of Care requirements. At present there is no clarity over how funding will be apportioned between these improvements.

MED

Agreed.

Findings

Minister

Comments

26

Due to the need for an options assessment to be completed, there is no certainty as to the proposed costs of the new passport project at this time.

MHA

Jersey  variant'  passports  issued  by  the Lieutenant  Governor  to  British  citizens  in Jersey are important and valued by Islanders.

The current contract for issuing Jersey variant passports ends in April 2022. The technology underpinning  the  process  and  procedure  for applying for and issuing passports is no longer fit for purpose and requires updating.

The  project  is  a  joint  initiative  between  the Crown Dependencies and Gibraltar. It is being undertaken  in  close  consultation  with H.M. Passport Office. The cost of the project is shared  between  these  jurisdictions.  This  will reduce the overall cost to Jersey as a result.

Uncertainty over the timeframe of the project and  the  overall  cost  is  caused  by  the  UK's decision to leave the EU. This has produced uncertainty  around  the  technology,  processes and procedures for issuing British passports in the future.

27

The Panel recognises the possible benefits of the combined control room, however, further clarity over the long-term implications of co- locating the services is required.

MHA

The Fire and Rescue Service, the Ambulance Service and the States of Jersey Police control room  staff  have  been  co-located  since  the beginning of January 2019. There have been several  instances  where  co-location  has improved these services' response to specific emergencies.

The second phase of the project will involve closer  integration  and  collaboration  between the services, including the use of IT and other systems.

The  aim  of  the  project  is  to  improve  call handling and response times for Islanders, and to provide a more co-ordinated and joined-up response  to  manage  demand  across  the emergency services.

The  project  is  regularly  reviewed  by  the services  involved,  which  informs  continued development of the project.

Findings

Minister

Comments

28

Whilst it understands the need for the new system, the Panel has not been able to establish how the proposed Electronic Patient Records system for the Ambulance Service would integrate with other whole Island health systems that are due to be developed. It is concerned that without assurances over the integration of this proposal with future health systems the proposed funding could be wasted.

MHA

The  benefits  of  a  new  Electronic  Patient Records system for the Ambulance Service will be enhanced data security, improving record- keeping and enabling clinical audit, allowing us to  improve  the  care  the  Ambulance  Service provides.

The  Ambulance  Service  currently  use  paper records. Moving to an electronic system will allow the Ambulance Service and staff in the Emergency Department to work together more efficiently.  For  example,  it  will  also  allow transmission  of  data  to  the  emergency department  ahead  of  the  crews'  arrival, allowing them to prepare to receive a patient. This will improve patient outcomes.

The Minister is committed to ensuring that the electronic patient records system is compatible with the future Island-wide health system.

Recommendations

To

Accept/ Reject

Comments

Target date of action/ completion

1

The Minister for Education should publish further details of the efficiencies relating to her remit as a matter of urgency prior to the Government Plan debate.

MED

Reject

There  are  a  range  of  efficiencies apportioned  to  the  Minister  for Education  as  documented  in  the Efficiencies Plan (R.130/2019). Further information  was  also  provided  to  the E&HA  Scrutiny  Panel,  detailing  the apportionment where possible.

Of the efficiencies within the Minister for Education's portfolio, the agreement of  £1.78 million  is  still  subject  to  the provision  of  further  information  and analysis  by  officers.  If/as  these outstanding efficiencies are approved by the  Minister,  further  supporting information  will  be  provided  to  the appropriate Scrutiny Panels.

In the event that some/all of this amount remains  outstanding  at  the  time  2020 budgets are allocated, a commensurate reduction/re-profiling of CYPES growth will  be  proposed  to  ensure  balanced budgets in 2020.

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Recommendations

To

Accept/ Reject

Comments

Target date of action/ completion

2

The Minister for Education should ensure that in the event tuition fees are reduced in the United Kingdom, any budget surplus within the Higher Education Fund should be maintained within the Education budget and not returned to central contingencies.

MED

Accept

Treasury  has  confirmed  that,  in  the event  of  underspending  on  student tuition fees, the Minister would be able to  redirect  unspent  budget  to  fund different activities in Higher Education. It is not possible to apply it to the wider Education  budget,  and  it  would  be returned to contingency if not required for Higher Education.

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3

The Minister for Education should review the implementation and effect of the Jersey School Review Framework on a termly basis during its first full year of operation.

MED

Reject

The Jersey School Review Framework ("JSRF") has been created, developed, adapted  and  improved  over  a  3-year pilot  period.  This  pilot  period  was independently  reviewed  by  external experts; this report has been shared with Scrutiny. The Minister does not agree that  termly  reviews  of  the implementation and effect are required. She  would  like  to  see  a  tri-annual review,  to  allow  for  the  consistent application of the newly amended JSRF across the next 3-year cycle.

The Minister agrees with the comments of the NASUWT Jersey Secretary who wrote  to  the  Panel  that  "the  JSRF acknowledges  that  where  areas  for development  are  identified,  the Government of Jersey has to recognise its  responsibility  for  the  quality  of education provided to all children and young  people  and  to  play  its  part  in assisting  all  schools  in  their improvement journeys. This sharing of responsibility  for  securing  and sustaining  school  improvement  is  a distinctive  and  positive  feature  of  the JSRF."

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Recommendations

To

Accept/ Reject

Comments

Target date of action/ completion

4

The Minister for Education should prioritise the work of the Early Years Policy Development Board and bring forward the Early Years Policy by the end of Q2 2020.

MED

Accept

As part of the EYPDB's research, is it clear  that  Early  Years  policy  spans  a much  wider  landscape  than  just Education, and that service design and delivery is the shared responsibility of a variety  of  agencies  and  voluntary organisations. The Board is committed to  publishing  high-level  policy recommendations within the timescales set by the Panel.

30/06/20

5

The Minister for Education should provide further clarity as to exactly where the funding from the student finance scheme will be utilised within the Digital Jersey Academy and ensure that there is no duplication with the proposed funding under this business plan.

MED

Accept

There  is  no  funding  provided  from student  finance  to  the  Digital  Jersey Academy  provision  unless  they  are eligible  for  funding.  The  current provision  is  undergoing  an  approval process,  and  until  this  process  is concluded  there  will  be  no  financial support  from  student  finance  for  this programme.  In  the  event  of  the necessary  approval  is  granted  mid programme each case will be reviewed based on its merit.

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6

The Minister for Education should ensure that further information is provided by JCG and JCP as to how the proposed music facilities will be used by outside agencies.

MED

Accept

The Minister will provide further detail to the Panel.

30/01/20

7

The Minister for Education should ensure that the schedule for replacement equipment for CYPES is provided to the Panel with information detailing how projects will be prioritised. This should be completed by December 2020.

MED

Partly accept

The Minister will provide the schedule, but is unable to do so currently as the department  has  implemented  a  new procedure for minor capital requests and the school's deadline to respond is not until the end of January 2020. The new procedure  will  provide  improved governance  and  oversight  of  minor capital priorities, and once the schedule has been agreed it will be shared with the Panel.

30/03/20

Recommendations

To

Accept/ Reject

Comments

Target date of action/ completion

8

The Minister for Home Affairs should pause the delivery of the electronic patient records capital project for the Ambulance Service until such time as assurances have been provided that it will integrate with any future whole Island health systems.

MHA

Reject

The electronic patients record system for the  Ambulance  Service  will  enhance data  security,  improve  record-keeping and enable clinical audit, allowing us to improve the care the Ambulance Service provides.

This will improve patient outcomes.

The Minister is committed to ensuring that the electronic patient records system is  compatible  with  the  future  Island- wide health system.

The  Minister  does  not  think  it  is necessary to pause the delivery of this valuable new system.

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