The Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to consider updates on the Families First Transformation Programme and the SEND Specialist Sufficiency Strategy. The committee was also due to review the Quarter 4 2025/26 performance report and discuss the committee's work plan.

Families First Transformation Programme

The committee was scheduled to consider an update on the Families First Transformation Programme, a national initiative aiming to reform children's social care. The programme, running from April 2025 to March 2027, seeks to rebalance the system towards earlier, integrated intervention and stronger multi-agency collaboration. Key reforms include the merging of Early Help and Child in Need services into a single Family Help system, the establishment of Multi-agency Child Protection Teams (MACPTs), and the embedding of Family Group Decision Making to empower families. The report highlighted progress in recruiting staff, implementing the North Gloucestershire MACPT, and launching a workforce training programme. The proposed new operating model aims to create integrated Family Help Teams, local Intensive Intervention Teams, and strengthen specialist support services. The committee was asked to note the significant upcoming change process, commit to overseeing implementation, and recommend that future scrutiny arrangements include assurance against the delivery of the programme's objectives.

SEND Specialist Sufficiency Strategy

The committee was scheduled to feed into the development of the SEND Specialist Sufficiency Strategy for 2026-2031. This strategy aims to ensure there are sufficient school places of the right type, in the right location, and at the right time for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The strategy has been developed in response to rising demand for specialist places and aligns with national reforms outlined in the Department for Education's White Paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving, and the Education Estates Strategy. A public consultation on the draft strategy received 117 representations, with respondents generally agreeing that the strategy's aims were understandable and that it supported fair and equal access to provision. However, views were mixed on the proposed actions, with concerns raised about resourcing for mainstream settings and the availability of specialist provision. The next steps involve analysing consultation feedback to update the strategy and its delivery plan, with a final version to be presented to Cabinet in September 2026.

Quarter 4 2025/26 Performance Report

The committee was scheduled to note the Quarter 4 2025/26 performance report. This report provides an overview of the council's performance across various measures, including rates of child protection plans, children entering care, and social care referrals. It also details performance in early years provision, safeguarding, and outcomes for children with SEND. The report indicated that while some areas showed improvement, others, such as the rate of children entering care and the percentage of repeat child protection plans, were worse than targets. Performance in SEND provision showed mixed results, with challenges in meeting statutory timelines for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) due to workforce pressures, particularly in recruiting Educational Psychologists. The report also highlighted concerns regarding persistent absence among pupils with EHCPs and a decline in post-16 education, employment, or training outcomes for young people with SEND. Corporate strategic risks were also presented, including the failure to develop sufficient placement capacity for children looked after and increasing demand for EHCPs.

Work Plan

The committee was scheduled to review its work plan and suggest items for future consideration. This included potential scrutiny items such as progress updates on inspection recommendations, regionalisation of care, and the development of plans for Children's Services in light of local government reorganisation. The committee was also to consider future items such as school attendance, support for young carers, and the Fostering Improvement Plan.