The Children's Services and Education Overview and Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, 03 February 2026, to discuss the development and evaluation of Bexley Family Hubs, progress on children's transformation commissioning, and the draft budget and financial plans for 2026/27. The committee will also review its work programme.

Bexley Family Hubs Development and Evaluation

A key focus of the meeting will be the Bexley Family Hubs Development and Evaluation report. This report provides an assessment of the Erith Family Hub's initial six months of operation, from April to October 2025. It aims to analyse the Hub's achievements, lessons learned, and areas for improvement to ensure its long-term sustainability and impact. The evaluation highlights the Hub's role as an operational vehicle for the Family First Partnership Programme in Bexley, facilitating integrated family support services. The report details the Hub's guiding principles, including prevention, early intervention, accessibility, integration, strengths-based practice, and co-production. It outlines the operating approach, which involves a multi-disciplinary team and a one front door system for families. Core programmes and services offered by the Hub are detailed, alongside the role of co-production and parent voice in shaping service delivery. The report summarises achievements to date, including the number of families supported and group sessions delivered, and highlights community engagement events such as a Family Fun Day and a visit by Lord Farmer. It also addresses challenges such as evidencing long-term outcomes, balancing growth with capacity, engaging hard-to-reach groups, data sharing, and ensuring financial sustainability. Recommendations for strategic decision-making are also presented.

Commissioning Developments in Children's Transformation

The committee will also receive an update on Commissioning Developments in Children's Transformation as part of the wider Future Bexley Transformation Programme. This report focuses on the Commissioning Services Workstream within Children's Social Care. It outlines the programme's aim to improve operational efficiency and deliver high-quality, resident-focused services, with a specific focus on reviewing the approach to commissioning placements for children in care. The report details the use of an external strategic partner and the Valuing Care approach, an evidence-based framework designed to align children's needs, outcomes, and placement costs. The work involved workshops with practitioners, review of children in high-cost placements, and assessment of current commissioning and placement search arrangements. The report identifies opportunities for needs-led changes to care and support, mechanisms for reviewing children in high-cost residential placements, and the need for a redesigned Placement Referral Form. It also proposes piloting Home finding forums and developing dedicated Commissioning roles to manage the placement market more effectively. The financial implications of these developments are expected to contribute to Children's Services transformation savings.

Draft Budget and Financial Plans 2026/27

The Draft Budget and Financial Plans 2026/27 report will be presented to the committee. This report highlights the Children's Services Directorate budget and financial plans as reported to Public Cabinet. It details the council's balanced budget for 2026/27, achieved through transformation, service reviews, and technical reviews. The report includes investment figures for contract inflation, growth, and pay inflation. It also outlines the current forecast for 2025/26, showing an overspend within the Children's Services Directorate, with specific figures for Children's Social Care and Education Services. The report details proposed savings for Children's Services as part of the Future Bexley Programme, including reviews of workforce structure, commissioning roles, and the care leaver pathway. It also addresses service reviews, contract inflation, and key policy and legislation changes impacting the budget, such as the Children's Well-Being and Schools Bill and government programmes like Families First Partnership and Best Start in Life. A significant portion of the report is dedicated to the Dedicated Schools Grant and the Safety Valve Programme, detailing the accumulated deficit and mitigation measures. The report also covers the Capital Programme and bids for Children's Services, as well as an overview of fees and charges.

Work Programme

Finally, the committee will review its Work Programme for the remainder of the year. This includes noting the annual work programme, considering any updates or amendments required, and reviewing information from the Bexley Status Report for Quarter 2 (July to September 2025). The committee will also receive an update from the Chairman of the Corporate Parenting Board. The report details ongoing Task and Finish activities, including the Standing Joint Sub-Group for the Delivery of the SEND Priority Action Plan, and notes recent Reality Checking visits to Shenstone School and Family Wellbeing Hubs. Members will be invited to identify any additional reality checking visits they wish to undertake.