The Education and Local Economy Scrutiny Commission of Southwark Council met on Thursday 5 February 2026 to discuss the work programme, receive an update on pupils from recently closed schools, and interview a representative from HATS, a private provider of home-to-school transport for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The commission also reviewed minutes from a previous meeting and discussed the ongoing work programme for the municipal year.

Home-to-School Transport for SEND Pupils

The commission heard from Dan Hardy, Director of Operations for Southeast London at HATS, a private provider of home-to-school transport for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Southwark. Hardy highlighted the operational pressures of the service, particularly the time-compressed nature of school transport and a national driver shortage, which HATS has mitigated through upskilling existing drivers. He noted improvements in communication with Southwark Council following a change in lead officer, leading to better-defined processes. HATS has also introduced a three-day KPI for responding to parental complaints and deployed a parent app, though some users have found it challenging. The company is also implementing AI-enabled CCTV in vehicles to detect unsafe driving and aid in incident investigations. All HATS staff undergo DBS checks, and passenger assistants receive specific training, including safeguarding and first aid. Drivers are trained through the Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme (MiDAS). The commission raised concerns about the balance between cost and quality in privately delivered services and discussed the council's ongoing consultation on travel assistance for young people, which includes proposals for promoting public transport and independent travel. Recommendations to Cabinet are likely to include ensuring all staff on the contract are paid at least the London Living Wage, exploring joint procurement with other boroughs, and incorporating lessons learned from HATS' experience into the travel assistance policy.

Update on Pupils from Closed Schools

Neil Gordon-Orr, Assistant Director for Education Access, provided an update on the former pupils of Charlotte Sharman Foundation Primary School and St Mary Magdalene Church of England Primary School, which closed in August 2025 due to falling primary school rolls. He explained that a dedicated admissions officer was assigned to each school to help parents secure new places, with open days organised at neighbouring schools and a preference exercise conducted. The council provided £50 school uniform vouchers to families of pupils in Years R to 5 to help with transition costs. Special attention was given to pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) or other vulnerabilities, with EHCPs reviewed to ensure new placements met their needs. The commission inquired about the impact on school staff, with officers noting that while teachers might find alternative employment due to national shortages, detailed data on individual staff outcomes was not available. Discussions also covered the future use of the former school sites, noting that the ownership arrangements for Charlotte Sharman are still awaiting a decision from the Secretary of State for Education, while the St Mary Magdalene site is owned by a church-related trust with ongoing discussions about potential educational or SEND-related uses. Officers emphasised the importance of mapping site ownership and legal constraints early in any future school organisation processes.

Work Programme 2025-26

The commission reviewed its work programme for the remainder of the municipal year. Key priorities for the final meetings include a Cabinet Member interview with Councillor John Batteson, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, Jobs and Business, focusing on commercial unit repairs, compensation for businesses affected by issues like leaks, and updates on high streets and town centre programmes. The commission also aims to develop and agree draft recommendations to Cabinet from its year's scrutiny work before the pre-election period.

Minutes of Previous Meeting

The minutes of the meeting held on 3 December 2025 were approved as a correct record. These minutes detailed an interview with Councillor Jasmine Ali, Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Refugees, covering topics such as SEND provision, school closures, children's social care, and early help services. The minutes also included an update on the Connect to Work programme, aimed at supporting residents with health and disability barriers into employment, and a presentation on the Southwark Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP).