The Children, Education and Families Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee of Bromley Council scheduled a meeting to discuss a range of issues, including budget monitoring, capital programme monitoring, the Education Commissioning Plan, and the annual reports from the Independent Reviewing Officer and the Local Authority Designated Officer. The meeting was also scheduled to include a portfolio holder update, a review of matters outstanding, and a forward work programme.

Education Commissioning Plan 2025-31

The committee was scheduled to consider the Education Commissioning Plan 2025-31, which sets out how the council plans to meet the forecast need for early years provision and primary, secondary and specialist school places.

The plan noted that live births in Bromley had fallen from a peak of 4,326 in 2016 to 3,408 in 2023, and that GLA School Roll Projections predict a small increase in the need for Reception places after 2032, but not to the levels seen in the period 2014-21.

The report also noted that the council had a statutory duty to ensure that there were enough high-quality accessible school places in the local area, and that the council worked collaboratively with Bromley schools and Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) to deliver sufficient school places for projected pupil numbers and in-year admissions.

The report recommended that officers take action, working with local schools, academy trusts and the Department for Education, to address the need for school places in each of the primary planning areas. These included:

• Primary Planning Area 1: Review the situation with potential need to reduce places later in the decade.
• Primary Planning Area 2: Reduce capacity by 1 form of entry and then keep under review for possible further reduction from 2028 onwards.
• Primary Planning Area 3: Reduce capacity by 1 form of entry and then keep under review for possible further reduction from 2028 onwards.
• Primary Planning Area 4: Reduce capacity by 1 form of entry and then keep under review for further reduction from 2027 onwards.
• Primary Planning Area 5: Take out 1 form of entry and then keep under review for possible further reduction from 2029 onwards.
• Primary Planning Area 6: Keep under review for reduction from 2027/28.
• Primary Planning Area 7: Look to reduce capacity by a further form of entry by 2027/28 keeping the area under review for further future reductions.
• Primary Planning Area 8: Keep capacity at current level and keep under review.
• Primary Planning Area 9: Seek to reduce capacity by 1 form of entry.
• Secondary Planning Area 1 (PA 10): Keep capacity at current level and keep under review.
• Secondary Planning Area 2 (PA 11): Keep capacity at current level and keep under review.

The report also noted that there remained pressure on secondary school rolls in the west of the borough, and that secondary school rolls were not projected to experience any significant reduction until the end of the decade.

The report stated that the Working Group expressed significant concern about the impact of secondary schools and Multi-Academy Trusts capping secondary school admissions numbers and the impact on the Local Authority's ability to meet its sufficiency duty for school places.

Budget Monitoring 2025/26

The committee was scheduled to consider the budget monitoring position for the 2025/26 financial year. The report noted a projected overspend of £2,158,000 forecast on the controllable budget based on activity up to the end of September 2025.

The report also noted that the full year effect cost pressures of £3,226,000 in 2026/27.

The report stated that the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Review was ongoing and would have implications for the way SEND services were funded into the future.

The report stated that the current number of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP's) as at the end of September 2025 was 4,630, up 380 from 4,250 at the end of September 2024, an increase of around 9%.

Capital Programme Monitoring - Quarter 2 2025/26

The committee was scheduled to consider the capital monitoring position for Quarter 2 of the 2025/26 financial year and the revised capital programme for the period 2025/26 to 2029/30.

The report noted that a total of £285k had been re-phased from 2025/26 into future financial years to reflect revised estimates of when expenditure was likely to be incurred.

The report also noted that a review had been undertaken of schemes that identified £100k could be reduced based on revised estimates for the Transforming Children's & Family Centre scheme.

The report stated that under approved capital programme procedures, capital schemes should be subject to a post-completion review within one year of completion. The following schemes require brief written explanation statements:

• Performance Management/Children's Services information technology
• Children and Family Centres
• Transforming Children's & Family Centres

Award of Contract for Capital Works at Midfield Primary School

The committee was scheduled to consider a request to award a contract for capital works at Midfield Primary School, Grovelands Road, Orpington BR5 3EG, to provide additional SEN places within the mainstream school.

The report noted that following consultation and agreement by the Department for Education's Regional Director, Midfield Primary School had agreed to expand its SEN Additionally Resourced Provision (ARP) from 2 to 4 classes.

The report stated that the proposed works involved relocating the current year three classrooms that are situated within the ground floor to enable the construction of two additional SEN classrooms as well as enhancements to the schools ARP.

Procurement Strategy for Education Capital Works

The committee was scheduled to consider a report updating the procurement strategy for education capital projects.

The report noted that the Council required capital works to be undertaken at schools to discharge its statutory duties with regards the sufficiency of school places and in order to maintain local authority-maintained schools.

The report recommended that the Executive agree the continued use of the Open Procedure and introduction of Competitive Flexible Procedure for the procurement of education capital projects, and that on occasion and where economically advantageous the use of frameworks be agreed, in agreement with Corporate Procurement.

The report also recommended that the Regulated Below Threshold Closed Tender procedure be agreed as an alternative to the Open procedure, as appropriate, for Regulated Below Threshold Works contracts, and that the Council may on occasion pass funds to schools to deliver capital projects when it represents the most efficient means of delivery.

Continuation of Joint Funding Children's Community Health Services with the South East London Integrated Care Board

The committee was scheduled to consider a report about the continuation of joint funding for children's community health services with the South East London Integrated Care Board.

The report noted that a significant proportion of the community health services in Bromley are provided under contract by Bromley Health Care. The current contract term is reaching expiry (30th November 2026), and the South-East London Integrated Care Board (SELICB) has decided on a future course of action and intentions for Bromley community health services.

The report recommended that the Portfolio Holder for Children, Education and Families approve the joint funding and commissioning of services set out in the paper for the duration of the five-year direct award of the community health contract, and that subject to the funding agreement, these services continue to be held within the S.75 agreement between the Council and the South East London Integrated Care Board (SELICB.)

The report noted that the proposed annual investment from the Council into the jointly funded services of the community health contract is £248,000, and that the full investment for the five-year direct award is £1,240,000.

Independent Reviewing Officer Annual Report 2024/25

The committee was scheduled to consider the Independent Reviewing Officer Annual Report 2024/25.

The report stated that the purpose of the report was to provide an account of the activity of the Independent Reviewing Service between 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.

The report noted that Reviewing Officers have a unique position within the Children's Social Care Division in that they do not hold the case decision making responsibility or supervisory responsibilities with social workers and can therefore take an independent view of the service and care planning being provided for children.

The report also noted that the Reviewing Officers had a successful year and had strengthened their role providing support and challenge where plans for children are not progressing.

Local Authority Designated Officer Annual Report 2024/25

The committee was scheduled to consider the Local Authority Designated Officer Annual Report 2024/25.

The report stated that the purpose of the report was to provide an overview of the activity of the Designated Officer (LADO) for the period April 2024 – March 2025 in managing allegations against people who work or volunteer with children and are therefore in a position of trust.

The report noted that the LADO should be alerted to all cases in which it is alleged that a person who works with children has:

• Behaved in a way that has harmed, or may have harmed, a child.
• Possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child.
• Behaved towards a child in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children.
• Behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children (includes transfer of risk, risk by association)
• Behaves in a manner that discriminates against a child based on one or more of their protected characteristics.

Children, Education and Families Risk Register – 2025/26 Q2 Update

The committee was scheduled to consider the Children, Education and Families Risk Register – 2025/26 Q2 Update.

The report noted that Risk Management is the identification, analysis and overall control of those risks which can impact on the Council's ability to deliver its priorities and objectives.

The report listed the risks included in the Risk Register as:

• Failure to deliver Children's Services Financial Strategy
• Failure to deliver effective Children's services
• Recruitment and Retention
• Business Interruption / Emergency Planning
• School Place Planning
• SEND Transport
• SEND Reforms
• Youth Offending
• Out of Borough Placements (Children and Young People)
• Speech and Language Therapy
• School Attendance

Children, Education and Families Contracts Register

The committee was scheduled to consider the Children, Education and Families Contracts Register.

The report noted that the Contracts Database is fully utilised by all Contract Managers across the Council as part of their Contract Management responsibilities, which includes the updating the information recorded on the database.

The report also noted that the Contracts Register is produced four times a year (with a full report every other quarter) for members and is a 'snapshot' at the time of each report.

Performance Reporting – Children's Scrutiny Dataset Part 1 Public Report

The committee was scheduled to consider the Performance Reporting – Children's Scrutiny Dataset Part 1 Public Report.

The report noted that a Children's Performance Management Framework agreed in 2018 and updated in 2023, stipulates that the Children's PDS Committee should receive a regular update on a suite of performance measures in respect of children's services.

The report also noted that the 'Children's Scrutiny Dataset' is selected from a much wider set of data collected and reported both internally and externally in respect of children's services, and acts as a regular 'health check' on key areas of service delivery to enable scrutiny and enquiry from elected members.

The report listed the indicators within the Children's Scrutiny Dataset as:

• Total Footfall Children & Family Centres
• Children supported by the Bromley Children's Project (Children referred)
• % outcome of School Ofsted inspections good or outstanding (overall effectiveness)
• Number of Primary permanent exclusions (Bromley schools) (Number YTD Academic year)
• Number of Secondary permanent exclusions (Bromley schools) (Number YTD Academic year)
• Number of 'Referrals' to Children's Social Care
• % of statutory Assessments authorised within 45 days (Year to Date)
• Number of Childred in Need (Statutory threshold Section 17)
• Number of children subject of a Child Protection Plan
• % of Children subject of a Child Protection Plan with an allocated Social Worker
• % of reviews completed within timescale for Children with Child Protection Plans
• % of Children that became the subject of a Child Protection Plan for the second or subsequent time (year to date)
• % of Children that became the subject of a Child Protection Plan for the second or subsequent time within 2 years of their previous plan (year to date)
• Average number of weeks taken to complete Care proceedings against a national target of 26 weeks (CAFCASS definition)
• Children Looked After rate per 10,000
• Number of Children Looked After
• % of Children Looked After with an allocated Social Worker
• % of Children Looked After cases which were reviewed within required timescales
• Number of in-house foster households recruited (YtD)
• Number of in house fostering households in the assessment process (Stage 1 & Stage 2)
• Number of in house fostering households currently approved and in the assessment process
• Stability of placements of Children Looked After - number of placements (3 placements or more in the year)
• Stability of placements of Children Looked After - length of placement
• Number of Children Looked After who achieved permenancy after an Adoption Order or Special Guardianship Order was granted
• % of Care leavers who are EET (aged 19, 20, 21) (DFE definition)
• % of Care Leavers in suitable accommodation (aged 19, 20, 21)
• Average Caseloads RAS
• Average Caseloads Safeguarding and Care Planning
• % of CYP (16 - 17 year olds) not in education, employment or training (NEET)
• % of CYP (16 - 17 year olds) education, employment or training status 'not known'
• Number of First Time Entrants (FTEs) to the Youth Justice System aged 10-17
• Proportion of offenders that are proven to re-offending in the youth justice system
• Number of children/Young People open to MEGA
• % of Education, Health and Care plans issued within statutory 20 week timescale (excluding exception cases)
• % of Education, Health and Care plans issued within statutory 20 week timescale (including exception cases)