The Children, Families and Education Select Committee was scheduled to discuss several key areas concerning the well-being and development of young people in Hillingdon. Topics included updates on the Youth Justice Services Strategy, a review of fostering services with draft recommendations, and the annual self-assessment report for Learn Hillingdon. The committee was also set to consider proposals related to school admissions and the expansion of early years provision.

Learn Hillingdon Annual Self-Assessment

The committee was scheduled to review the Learn Hillingdon Annual Self-Assessment Report for 2024-25. This report evaluates the effectiveness of the education delivered to learners and its impact on them. The service, which was graded 'Good' by Ofsted in February 2025, aims to reach disadvantaged adults in Hillingdon, with 90% of its learners residing in the borough. The report details performance data, including learner numbers, retention rates, and achievement rates, which have shown an upward trend over the past three years. It also highlights service strengths such as reaching its target group and strong learning support, while identifying areas for improvement, including consistently using learner information to tailor the curriculum and providing specific feedback for improvement. The report also details the impact of learning on participants, with many achieving their aims and progressing into further learning or employment.

Youth Justice Services Strategy 2024-2029 Update

An update on the Hillingdon Youth Justice Service (HYJS) Five Year Strategy (2024-2029) was scheduled for discussion. The strategy is built on a child-first ethos, emphasising early intervention, equity, and holistic support, aligning with the Council's vision of putting residents first. The HYJS aims to prevent offending through early intervention, prevention, and rehabilitation, working collaboratively with partners to safeguard vulnerable young people and promote safer communities. The report highlights strong performance in reducing First Time Entrants (FTEs) into the youth justice system, with numbers significantly below pre-pandemic levels. It also details a reduction in custodial sentences and reoffending rates, although disproportionality persists for certain ethnic groups. The strategy outlines five key priorities: Prevention and early intervention, addressing over-representation and disproportionality, child-centred practice, reducing reoffending, and supporting victims and restorative justice.

Fostering Review - Recommendations

The committee was scheduled to consider findings, conclusions, and draft recommendations from a review of the council's fostering services. The review aimed to assess the effectiveness of the new fostering offer, focusing on recruitment and retention, support for foster carers, and outcomes for children in care. Witness sessions had been held with officers, foster carers, and young people with lived experience to gather insights. Emerging themes from these sessions included communication and information-sharing, matching processes, the need for a mentoring/buddy system for foster carers, recruiting specialist foster carers, and improving family contact. Recommendations were expected to address areas such as starter packs for young people entering care, sibling separation, behaviour management, workforce stability, recruitment improvements, diversity of foster carers, placement data, and informal networking opportunities.

Proposed Changes to Published Admission Number (PAN) of Field End Infant School

A proposal to reduce the Published Admission Number (PAN) of Field End Infant School from a three-form entry to a two-form entry, effective from September 2027, was scheduled for review. This change is intended to support the school's financial viability due to falling pupil numbers. The report noted that falling pupil numbers are a national trend, with London experiencing a decline. The committee was to consider the consultation responses, including those from parents, and the potential impacts on the linked Junior School. Similar proposals for PAN reductions at other Hillingdon schools, including Field End Junior School, St Martin's Church of England Primary School, and Park Academy West London, were also to be noted.

Lowering the Age Range of Whiteheath Infant and Nursery School

The committee was scheduled to consider a proposal to lower the age range of Whiteheath Infant and Nursery School to include two-year-olds. This initiative is part of the expansion of early years provision, aiming to benefit children from disadvantaged backgrounds and working families. The report highlighted that Minet Infant School had previously lowered its age range with positive feedback. The committee was to consider the weighting of opinions from parents and providers, with officers clarifying that all respondents were weighted equally.

Cabinet Forward Plan

The committee was scheduled to review the Cabinet's latest Forward Plan, which outlines key decisions and other decisions to be taken by the Cabinet and individual Cabinet Members over the coming year. The Forward Plan is a rolling document providing public notice of future key decisions. The committee's role is to consider items within its remit and provide comments as appropriate to the decision-maker. The report detailed how the committee could engage with the Forward Plan, including requesting information on future reports and potentially providing input on draft reports before they are formally considered by the Cabinet.

Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to consider and agree its Work Programme for the current municipal year. This programme outlines future meeting dates and planned topics to ensure the committee can effectively plan its work. The report listed forthcoming meeting dates for March and April 2026. The Work Programme itself detailed various service areas and specific items scheduled for review, including ongoing monitoring of services, updates on strategies, and specific reviews such as fostering and adult learning.