A SIGNIFICANT increase in the number of pupils attending the area's two secondary schools was one of several positive factors highlighted on children's services issues in a report put before Wednesday's meeting of Cowdenbeath Area Committee.

Partners presented an annual update to the committee on Children’s Services in Fife with a focus on the local Cowdenbeath area.

Data from a range of areas including education, health and social work was discussed.

Highlights included-a major decrease in the number of children and young people on the Child Protection Register across Fife over the last year and a corresponding drop in the number in Cowdenbeath. The reduction of 17 represents a fall of around 40% from December 2014.

A significant improvement in secondary attendance figures over a number of years was also commented on.

The Area School Community Improvement Team (ASCIT), Getting It Right (GIR) groups, School Liaison Groups (SLG) and the Family and Community Support Team (FACST) continue to work in partnership to improve pupil attendance across Cowdenbeath areas secondary schools, Beath and Lochgelly Highs.

There was also healthy rise in both literacy and numeracy levels for primary 1 and primary 4 pupils. These levels help us measure how many children are meeting their development milestones.

Lochgelly and Cardenden councillor Mark Hood said: "These factors really are very encouraging.

"This report highlights the huge amount of good work going on in Children's Services and it is really important that this progress continues to be fully maintained."

Committee chairman Councillor Willie Clarke, said that he was particularly pleased to hear of the reduction of the numbers in protection:“I’m pleased to hear the focus on prevention is paying off and we see the number of young people on the Child Protection Register in Cowdenbeath area has reduced by 40%.

“We’re also seeing the family nurture approach paying off in local communities with early intervention helping to give families more confidence and feel less isolated.”