The Together for Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 4 March 2026 was scheduled to discuss significant reforms to children's social care, educational attainment data, and the council's collaboration with the Cornwall Youth Council. The committee was also set to receive an update from the Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Schools.

Families First Partnership Programme Reforms

The committee was scheduled to consider reforms to the Families First Partnership Programme, a national initiative aimed at transforming children's social care. The report outlined the government's statutory guidance for safeguarding partners on implementing family help, multi-agency child protection, and family group decision-making. Cornwall Council's existing approach was noted as aligning strongly with the government's vision, with plans to establish a Family Help system and strengthen early support. Key features of the reforms include bringing together targeted early help and support for Children in Need into a unified Family Help approach, with unified assessments and plans to reduce the need for families to repeatedly share their stories. For multi-agency child protection, the reforms focus on establishing Multi-Agency Child Protection Teams (MACPTs) to oversee child protection enquiries and decision-making. The report highlighted that Cornwall's children's services had received an overall rating of 'Good' with 'Outstanding' features in a recent Ofsted inspection, with inspectors describing early help arrangements as impressive. The council has already begun implementing changes, including the creation of 12 new multidisciplinary Family Help Teams and refreshing the Family Help Learning Offer. The report also detailed progress towards establishing Multi-Agency Child Protection Teams, including improved collaboration with Devon and Cornwall police for strategy discussions. The council welcomed the national reforms, viewing them as an opportunity to innovate and ensure teams and services provide the right help at the right time.

Key Stage 4 Education Attainment

The committee was scheduled to review provisional education performance outcomes for Cornwall's secondary school students at the end of the academic year 2024-2025. This data, generated from statutory national assessments (GCSEs), marks the fourth set of outcomes published since the pandemic paused assessments. The report noted a positive increase in Cornwall's Attainment 8 score, with pupils achieving an average of 45.1, narrowing the gap with the national average. Similarly, the percentage of pupils achieving a 'good pass' (9-5) in both English and Maths increased to 43.1%, significantly narrowing the gap with the national average. The report also highlighted improvements in the percentage of pupils achieving a 'standard pass' (9-4) in English and Maths, with Cornwall's outcomes improving while national outcomes declined. Ebacc entry saw a slight increase, though it remained below the national average, but Cornwall's Ebacc Average Point Score (APS) continued to improve, narrowing the gap with the national average. The report also presented data on outcomes for disadvantaged pupils and pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN), noting that while gaps persist, Cornish secondary schools are showing an ability to bounce back from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic at a swifter rate than the national average. The council's Education Service, in partnership with the Cornwall Education Partnership, aims to use this data to identify areas for improvement and share good practice.

Working Collaboratively with Cornwall Youth Council

The committee was scheduled to engage in a session with members of the Cornwall Youth Council. This initiative aimed to foster a stronger connection and mutual understanding between the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) and the Youth Council, ensuring that children and young people's voices are heard and considered in decisions affecting them, in line with Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Cornwall Council had formally adopted the UNCRC in December 2025, reinforcing the commitment to children's rights in decision-making. The session was intended to allow for discussions on productive and realistic ways of working together, enabling both groups to be informed of each other's priorities. The report noted that in previous administrations, OSC members regularly attended Youth Council meetings and events, and this session aimed to re-establish similar support and engagement. The Youth Council members attending were primarily those from the previous two years, who had developed knowledge and confidence in their roles. The session included an overview of the Youth Council's work and a discussion on proposed next steps for collaboration, followed by an informal workshop where OSC members and young people would discuss these proposals in focus groups. The outcomes of this workshop were intended to inform the OSC's planning.

Questions from Members to Cabinet Member on Updates

The committee was scheduled to receive an update from the Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Schools. This update was expected to cover feedback on committee recommendations to the Cabinet relating to the portfolio holder's area, and to raise awareness of potential items and performance issues that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee might consider for its work programme. The Cabinet Member was also expected to provide information on areas of focus between the current meeting and the next, including any upcoming decisions. The report mentioned that the government had published the Schools White Paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving, and a consultation on SEND reform. The Cabinet Member had also attended Parliament to support the f40 campaign for fairer school funding, highlighting that Cornwall's schools are at a significant disadvantage due to the current national funding system. The report also noted that Cornwall Council had formally adopted the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) at a Cornwall Youth Council meeting, aiming to create a better future for children and young people by ensuring their best interests are considered, their voices are heard, and their health, education, safety, and equality are promoted.