The Children's Scrutiny Panel of Middlesbrough Council met on Monday 21 September 2026 to discuss the impact of child poverty on education, the implementation of SEND reforms, and an update on the recent Ofsted inspection of Children's Services. The panel noted the information provided and agreed to invite schools to the next meeting to provide further information on how they support children affected by poverty, and to receive further updates on SEND reforms at future meetings.

Working with Schools on the Frontline of Child Poverty

The panel received a presentation detailing the significant impact of poverty on children and young people's learning and educational outcomes in Middlesbrough. It was highlighted that children from low-income backgrounds generally achieve lower academic results, with factors such as food insecurity, lack of educational resources, and difficulties concentrating contributing to this. Poverty also affects school attendance and behaviour, with disadvantaged pupils more likely to experience persistent absence, suspension, or exclusion. The presentation also noted the impact on social and emotional wellbeing, with financial pressures leading to increased anxiety and mental health difficulties, and children from low-income households experiencing social exclusion due to an inability to participate in school activities.

While Middlesbrough's overall Good Level of Development (GLD) outcomes were below the national average, outcomes for children on Free School Meals (FSM) were above the national FSM comparator. Similarly, for Year 1 Phonics Screening Outcomes, FSM-eligible pupils in Middlesbrough achieved above the national FSM comparator. However, at the end of Key Stage 2, a significant attainment gap persisted between disadvantaged pupils and their peers. Attendance data showed primary school attendance for FSM pupils in Middlesbrough was above the national average, but secondary school attendance remained below national levels.

Schools are providing support through various initiatives, including poverty-proofing the school day, targeted use of Pupil Premium funding, literacy and numeracy interventions, early identification of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), breakfast and uniform support schemes, and parental engagement. Members of the panel expressed a desire to hear further information directly from schools on how they are supporting children affected by poverty.

AGREED: The information provided was noted, and schools will be invited to the next meeting of the Children's Scrutiny Panel.

Impact of SEND Reforms in Middlesbrough

The Head of SEN and Vulnerable Learners presented an overview of the Government's Schools White Paper and proposed SEND reforms, aiming to create a more inclusive education system, strengthen early intervention, and improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND. Significant investment has been announced to support these reforms, including funding for inclusive mainstream education, specialist support through the Experts at Hand service, local authority transformation programmes, teacher professional development, and additional SEND places.

The reforms will introduce a strengthened universal offer alongside three new layers of support: Targeted, Targeted Plus, and Specialist. Individual Support Plans (ISPs) will be developed collaboratively with families, and nationally designed Specialist Provision Packages will guide eligibility for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). Mainstream schools will play a central role, developing ISPs, implementing evidence-based interventions, and establishing Inclusion Bases in secondary schools.

Locally, a coproduced Local Area Reform Plan has been developed and submitted to the Department for Education (DFE). Funding for Experts at Hand and transformation programmes has been received, and recruitment is underway. Members noted that the reforms would be challenging for schools, and Children's Services is working to support them through these significant changes. Recruitment for Speech and Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists was identified as a challenge, though the SEND Team itself is currently stable. The Experts at Hand service is expected to provide prompt support through four hubs across the town.

AGREED: The information provided was noted, and further updates will be provided to the Panel at future meetings.

Ofsted Update

Members received a presentation on the updated improvement priorities for Middlesbrough Children's Services following the recent inspection of Local Authority Children's Services (ILACS) in June 2026. All four judgement areas were assessed as Requires Improvement to be Good. Inspectors recognised progress in the Front Door service and noted examples of strong practice and positive relationships between children and practitioners. However, practice consistency varied across teams in delivering positive outcomes. Inspectors were generally positive about the overall direction of travel and the scale of improvement activity.

Key areas highlighted for improvement included the extent to which leaders and the workforce are aspirational, the quality of written records, the identification and support for young carers, the quality and impact of management supervision, the exploration of family networks, and the impact of challenge and escalation from independent reviewing officers. Actions to address these areas have been added to existing improvement priorities. A full ILACS inspection is expected in three years, with a potential focused visit sooner to assess progress. The panel discussed concerns over leadership churn, agreeing that a stable leadership team is crucial. The NEET Strategy will be informed by the Milburn Review and brought to a future meeting.

AGREED:

1. The information provided be noted.
2. The NEET strategy, once completed, be presented to a future meeting of the Children's Scrutiny Panel.

Chair's OSB Update

Councillor Edward Clynch (Deputy Group Leader), Chair of the Children's Scrutiny Panel, provided a verbal update on business conducted at the Overview and Scrutiny Board (OSB) meetings held on 27 July and 16 September 2026. Topics discussed included the Executive Forward Work Programme, Scrutiny Chair's Updates, and Service Overviews for Legal and Corporate Services, and Marketing and Communications.

NOTED: The update was noted by the panel.