The Thriving Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel was scheduled to discuss a range of critical issues affecting young people in Enfield. Key topics included the North Central London Child Death Overview Panel Annual Report, an update on pupil places planning, and the sufficiency of care placements for children. The panel was also set to review the provision for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and the council's work programme.

North Central London Child Death Overview Panel Annual Report 2024/25

The panel was scheduled to receive the annual report from the North Central London Child Death Overview Panel for the period 2024/25. This report, presented by Dudu Sher-Arami, Director of Public Health, was intended to provide an overview of key trends in mortality among residents under 18 years old within the North Central London area. The report was also expected to detail key findings and recommendations arising from the panel's review. It was noted that this item contained exempt information, likely to reveal the identity of individuals.

Pupil Places Planning Update

A report from Neil Best, Head of Education Strategic Resourcing, was scheduled to provide an update on pupil places planning in Enfield. The report was to summarise current and projected demand for mainstream school places across primary and secondary phases. It was also intended to outline emerging challenges, particularly those caused by falling pupil numbers and their implications for school sustainability. The report was expected to detail actions agreed to support future planning, including the statutory responsibility to ensure sufficient school places are available.

The report highlighted that across London, demand for school places is declining, with Enfield experiencing a significant fall in live births. This demographic shift is impacting school rolls and future pupil place planning, leading to financial pressures on schools due to funding being tied to pupil numbers. The report also noted that despite fewer pupils overall, the levels of need are rising, with schools supporting more children with mental health and wellbeing needs, persistent absence, and increasing numbers with SEND. The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, awaiting Royal Assent, was mentioned as introducing new duties for schools and local authorities to collaborate on admissions and place planning.

Locally, Enfield's live births fell by 28% between 2016 and 2024. The primary phase has seen a decline in Reception numbers, leading to a significant surplus of places. The report detailed efforts to reduce the Published Admission Numbers (PANs) at various primary schools, with some schools agreeing to reductions while others declined for various reasons. The South East planning area was identified as a particular concern, with several schools opting to retain full capacity despite falling demand. In the secondary phase, a similar, though less pronounced, decline in demand was observed, with a surplus of places in Year 7. The report indicated that a new Pupil Place Strategy would be prepared, including recommendations for further reductions in capacity and assessments of individual school viability.

Care Placement Sufficiency and Update on Children's Home Development

Ram Ramasubramanian, Head of Children's Placements, was scheduled to present an update on the sufficiency of care placements in Enfield. The report was intended to inform the panel about the scale and complexity of the sufficiency challenge, progress made, and planned actions. It highlighted that a shortage of care placements, both in fostering and residential children's homes, is a national and local issue compounded by increased demand for placements due to the complexity of children's needs, and recruitment and retention issues within the sector.

The report detailed the impact of this shortage, including an increased use of out-of-area placements, which can lead to children being separated from their support networks and incur higher costs. It also addressed the rare occurrence of unsuitable placements in unregulated homes, outlining risk-mitigation measures. Placement instability and breakdowns were noted as further consequences, impacting children's wellbeing and leading to significant financial strain on children's services budgets.

The report provided national and London-specific context on children in care, expenditure, and the role of private providers. For Enfield, it detailed the current number of children in care and the breakdown of their placements, including in-house fostering, residential children's homes, and semi-independent living. The age demographics of children in care were also presented, showing a significant proportion of older children and young people. The report also outlined Enfield's Placement Sufficiency Strategy priorities, including increasing in-house foster carers, participating in regional care cooperatives, and exploring the viability of short break homes. It also provided an update on Enfield's children's homes, noting the opening of two new homes and plans for a further home for children with complex needs.

SEND Demand on Provision and Performance

A report from Barbara Thurogood, Head of SEND & Curriculum Inclusion, and Neil Best, Head of Education Strategic Resourcing, was scheduled to provide an update on SEND provision. The report was to detail the current number of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) issued and held by Enfield for the 2025/2026 calendar year, along with performance data on the timeliness of EHCPs, annual reviews, and tribunal cases. It was also to set out performance against strategic priorities in the SEND Partnership Strategy and SEND Local Offer Self-Evaluation 2025, focusing on increasing mainstream education for children and young people with SEND and the demand for mainstream and specialist education places.

The report highlighted challenges under the Children and Families Act 2014, including identifying sufficient specialist provision within the borough, curbing the number of pupils in Non-Maintained Special Schools (NMSS), reducing the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficit, and increasing the mainstream offer through Special Resource Provisions (SRPs) and Designated Units. It also noted consistently increasing caseloads and issues with the Speech and Language offer. Successes mentioned included awards for performance, increased SRPs and Units supporting over 300 children, the opportunity to build a new primary school, and funding for various initiatives.

Performance data indicated a rising demand for EHCPs, though the total number held in Enfield remained stable due to a high number of cessations. The report noted that while demand is stable, the number of placements available in Enfield does not meet the needs of pupils, with a significant number of children in out-of-borough placements. The report detailed plans to increase in-borough school placements through SRPs and Designated Units, and discussed the development of a new primary school for complex autism. It also addressed the Speech and Language provision, noting the reliance on EHCPs to access support and the resulting inequities. The report also outlined strategies to address the DSG deficit and improve support for schools and parents.

Work Programme 2025/26

The panel was scheduled to note the completion of the Thriving Children & Young People Scrutiny Panel Work Programme for 2025/26. A draft work programme for the upcoming year was also to be presented.

Dates of Future Meetings

The panel was to be informed of the dates for future meetings, which would be confirmed following the Annual Council meeting on Wednesday, 27 May 2026.

Exclusion of Press & Public

Consideration was to be given to passing a resolution to exclude the press and public from the meeting for specific agenda items listed in Part 2, on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information.