Share your views on support for vulnerable children during the Coronavirus pandemic

Residents are invited to help scrutinise the education and support available to vulnerable children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cheshire West and Chester Council is encouraging people to share their thoughts on how the Council has provided education and early years services and met support needs during this time, as well as suggesting what might be done in the future.

The second online meeting of a temporary scrutiny committee of councillors takes place on 27 July and the committee is keen to hear any views or experiences.

The committee will hear from the Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Families and senior officers on how they have responded to the impact that Coronavirus has had on education, early years and vulnerable children locally and their plans for recovery.

The scrutiny councillors will also be looking for examples of the challenges the Council has faced, what has been learned from the pandemic and how best practice can be applied to improve future models of service delivery.

The scrutiny committee’s role is to ask questions and seek information from the Council, the Council Leader, Cabinet Members and the Council’s key partners and other stakeholders.

Councillor Martin Barker, Chairman of the Pandemic Response and Recovery Scrutiny Committee, said: “The scrutiny committee can scrutinise anything which affects the quality of lives of west Cheshire residents and we welcome the input from members of the public. 

“There is an allocation of 15 minutes public speaking on the agenda for members of the public to address the meeting.

“We want to hear about your experiences, concerns or examples of where things have worked well.   We know home schooling has been a challenge for many, so the priority is now to return to full time schooling safely as it will enhance the life chances of our children and young people and start to reverse any impacts of recent months.  As the borough emerges from lockdown we also need to protect our most vulnerable children.

“The scrutiny members are also keen to recognise the outstanding work that the Council, partners, schools, social care staff and teachers have done in responding to Coronavirus.”

The meeting starts online at 6pm on 27 July and can be viewed live. A recording will also be available following the meeting.

To get involved, please email your question to: scrutiny@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.

For more information about the Pandemic Response and Recovery Scrutiny Committee visit the Council’s website: www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/scrutiny.