Important work as a Councillor for Education and Children's Services ahead.

This week is an important week as a Lead Councillor for Education and Children's Services.

Monday 23 January

4.00pm Chairing the Finance and Site Meeting at Blessed Hugh Faringdon.

As Chair of the Finacne and Site Cttee we recently conducted a site visit of Blessed Hugh Faringdon School BHF) and observed classroom teaching. I was extremely impressed at the politeness of the pupils whilst in lessons and the professionalism of teachers who ensured every pupil learnt the subject matter they were teaching. Tomorrow we will recap on our recent visit and how we can continue to use the funding available to ensure further pupil progress.

6,00pm Chairing a meeting of parents using the East Reading After School Club

Tomorrow we are reconvening the meeting of parents of children using the Newtown ASC. Whilst this minority Labour Administration has no intention of closing this valuable club we need to make it viable and cost neutral to the council and we can do this by working with East Reading Primary schools and the parents. I am confident that this will take place and the future of Newtown ASC will be secured.

7.30pm Meeting with other Labour Councillors with an interest in transforming youth services.

The previous Tory led Coalition took over £1.3m out of Youth Services which threatened the future of universal services. Now we are hopeful that we can rebuild Youth Services, encouraging all local youth to enjoy the variety of clubs and activities whilst ensuring that one to one work with vulnerable young people is enhanced and continues. We are committed to working with the voluntary to deliver Youth Services that young people want and value.

Tuesday 24th January

4,30pm School Improvement Panel

This cross party panel will have council officers reporting to councillors about the progress and plans to improve standards and promote pupil progress. We are working hard with schools to achieve this objective and this includes putting schools on notice to improve because results and pupil progress have not been to an acceptable standard for the parents and children.

6.30pm Full Council

I am moving the Parenting Panel Report to Full Council on how we can assist children who are in Foster Care and who are being looked after. The Council has a Pledge to Young People in Care and we will be reviewing how successful and effective the various pledges, such as continuity with Social Workers has been.

There must be an election in the air as Cllr Janjua has two motions to move. One on Shinfield Road and another which should be a Councillor's Enquiry. It is weird that he now suddenly takes an interest in his ward after saying nothing about the lights at Shinfield Road for three years when he failed to respond to feedback on the lights and he, along with the other Tory Councillors in Church did not raise any objections to the plan when consulted on. I suspect the good people of Church Ward will see through this and elect Eileen McGilliort, who will represent residents all year round. Remember voters are for life and not just for elections.

When Labour came back to into Administration last May we found that there was a major imbalance in the number of senior managers to other staff grades as the Tory led coalition had cut high numbers of front line staff and kept the senior managers in place. After a period of consultation which involved senior managers themselves we have recommended a new senior management structure which is streamlined, efficient and prioritising managing front line services, merging directorates together. This proposal will not only provide efficiency but will also save almost £1m for the council tax payers. The Tories and their Lib Dem friends have voted against this proposal and rumour has it may vote against the efficiency plans of senior management on Tuesday. If they do the questions will have to be asked as to why they are keen to cut low paid jobs in the atmosphere of "we are all in this together" whilst protecting all highly paid jobs and if they don't want to save £1m on this plan where are they going to save the money? Not more front line services for children and families? Surely not?

Wednesday 25th January
4.30pm Children's Trust

The Trust will discuss safeguarding for children and families as well as services for Women who are victims of Domestic Abuse.

Holocaust Day, Civic Centre

RCRE, an excellent organisation are organising an excellent event to reflect on the holocaust against Jewish peoples in Europe during the Second World War and the mass killing of other peoples throughout the world in modern history. I look forward to this event to reflect and remember.

Friday 27th January

1.00pm Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board

I will be attending this meeting to promote working with the Health Service to improve the health and wellbeing of children in Reading. The figures released last week show that over 20% of children in Reading are living in poverty and it is going to get worse due to the ongoing recession and policies carried out by the Coalition that will affect families, such as cuts to benefits.

This week is a busy and important week for the work of the council in promoting children and families. I will be attending and standing up for families in Reading to get the best deal possible from the Government and Council.