The Children's, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee are scheduled to meet on 18 November 2025 to discuss a range of issues, including expansions to special schools, the commissioning of school places, funding arrangements, and safeguarding. The committee will also review performance monitoring data and consider complaints and representations.

School expansions

The committee will consider reports about proposed expansions to two special schools: Parkwood Hall School and Broomhill Bank North School.

Parkwood Hall Expansion

The Parkwood Hall Expansion report details a proposal to increase the capacity of Parkwood Hall School, a special school for students with moderate learning difficulties¹ and additional complex needs. The proposal includes building a new classroom block to provide an additional 24 places, increasing the school's overall capacity to 144 places. According to the Cabinet Committee Report, the expansion aims to address the increasing demand for special school places in Kent, and to reduce the need for students to travel long distances to attend schools outside of the county.

The report also notes that the expansion would provide additional facilities for students with autism spectrum disorder² (ASD), including a sensory room and quiet spaces.

Broomhill Bank North Expansion

The Broomhill Bank North Expansion report outlines a plan to expand Broomhill Bank North School, a special school for girls with communication and interaction difficulties. The proposal involves building a new teaching block to create an additional 16 places, raising the school's total capacity to 88 places. The Cabinet Committee Report states that the expansion seeks to meet the rising demand for specialist school places in Kent, and to enable more girls with communication and interaction difficulties to attend a school closer to their homes. The report indicates that the expansion would include specialist facilities for pupils with ASD, such as sensory rooms and quiet areas.

School Place Commissioning

The committee is scheduled to discuss the Kent Commissioning Plan, which outlines the council's strategy for ensuring sufficient school places for all children in Kent. The plan includes proposals for creating new school places, expanding existing schools, and working with independent and non-maintained special schools³ (INMSS) to provide specialist provision.

Independent and Non-Maintained Special School (INMSS) Procurement

The Independent and Non-Maintained Special School (INMSS) Procurement report focuses on the process of commissioning places at INMSS for children with special educational needs and disabilities⁴ (SEND). The Cabinet Committee Report states that the council is seeking to ensure that there are sufficient high-quality places available at INMSS to meet the needs of Kent children with SEND. The report also notes that the council is working to improve the value for money achieved through INMSS procurement.

Specialist Resourced Provisions

The Specialist Resourced Provisions report concerns the provision of specialist support for children with SEND within mainstream schools. According to the Cabinet Committee Report, these provisions offer targeted interventions and resources to help children with SEND to access mainstream education. The report is expected to address the current provision of specialist resourced provisions in Kent, and to consider options for expanding and improving this provision.

KCC Sufficiency Strategy

The KCC Sufficiency Strategy report outlines the council's overall approach to ensuring that there are sufficient school places available in Kent to meet the needs of the growing population. The Cabinet Committee Report states that the strategy takes into account factors such as population growth, birth rates, and migration patterns. The report is expected to address the challenges of providing sufficient school places in certain areas of Kent, and to consider options for addressing these challenges.

Funding Arrangements

The committee will discuss various funding arrangements related to education and children's services in Kent.

School and Early Years Funding Arrangements for 2026-27

The School and Early Years Funding Arrangements for 2026-27 report details the proposed funding arrangements for schools and early years providers in Kent for the 2026-27 financial year. The Cabinet Committee Report is expected to cover topics such as the level of funding for different types of schools and early years providers, the allocation of funding based on pupil numbers and needs, and the arrangements for funding special educational needs.

KCC Community Learning and Skills (CLS) Adult Education Funding Reform - Apprenticeship Programme

The KCC Community Learning and Skills (CLS) Adult Education Funding Reform - Apprenticeship Programme report concerns the reform of funding arrangements for adult education and apprenticeships in Kent. The Executive Decision Report states that the council is seeking to ensure that funding for adult education and apprenticeships is used effectively to support the skills needs of the Kent economy. The report is expected to address the changes to the funding system for adult education and apprenticeships, and to consider the impact of these changes on learners and providers.

External Tuition

The External Tuition report focuses on the use of external tuition providers to support children's learning in Kent. The Cabinet Committee Report notes that external tuition can be used to provide targeted support to children who are struggling in school, or to provide specialist tuition in subjects such as music or languages. The report is expected to address the current use of external tuition in Kent, and to consider options for improving the quality and effectiveness of external tuition provision.

In-House Provision of Children's Residential Homes Match Funding

The In-House Provision of Children's Residential Homes Match Funding report concerns the funding of children's residential homes run directly by the council. The Cabinet Committee Report states that the council is committed to providing high-quality residential care for children who are unable to live with their families. The report is expected to address the financial challenges of providing residential care, and to consider options for ensuring that the council's children's residential homes are adequately funded.

Safeguarding

The committee will discuss the Kent Safeguarding Children Multi-Agency Partnership (KSCMP) Annual Report. The KSCMP is responsible for coordinating safeguarding efforts across different agencies in Kent, including the council, the police, and health services. The KSCMP Annual Report 2024-25 Covering Report provides an overview of the KSCMP's work over the past year, and highlights key achievements and challenges.

Performance Monitoring

The committee will review the latest performance monitoring data for children's services in Kent. The CYPE Directorate Scorecard - September 2025 - County Only Version provides an overview of performance across a range of key indicators, such as school attendance, educational attainment, and child protection.

Complaints and Representations

The committee will consider the Complaints and Representations Annual Report 2024 - 25, which provides an overview of the complaints and representations received by the council in relation to children's services. The report is expected to address the types of complaints received, the outcomes of investigations, and the lessons learned.

Work Programme

The committee will review its Work Programme 2025-26, which sets out the key areas of focus for the committee over the coming year. The work programme is expected to be a flexible document that can be adapted to respond to emerging issues and priorities.