ESIS was established in 1996 as a unique joint working arrangement between the county borough councils of Bridgend, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf to enable each of the authorities to benefit from a connected cooperative enterprise and assist education and children’s services to be economical, efficient and effective. As a joint initiative ESIS is a local government organisation answerable to elected members of the four councils that make up the partnership. These operate and provide direction through the ESIS Joint Committee, which includes senior members and chief officers drawn from each partner authority.