The Education Children and Young People Scrutiny Commission is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 10 March 2026 to review several key areas concerning the borough's children and young people. The meeting's agenda includes discussions on the delivery of the SEND and Inclusion Strategy, the annual Child Protection report, national developments in children's social care, and the sufficiency of foster carer recruitment and placements.

SEND and Inclusion Strategy

The Commission is set to review the delivery of Newham's Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Inclusion Strategy for 2023-2028. This discussion will cover progress made following a local area SEND inspection, including improvements to the SEND Outcomes Framework and the strengthening of leadership and governance within the local area partnership. The report notes that the partnership is no longer subject to a Written Statement of Action, indicating sustained improvement. It also acknowledges the ongoing national pressures within SEND services, such as rising demand and increased complexity of needs, and highlights that Newham is well-positioned to adapt to proposed government reforms aimed at strengthening mainstream inclusion.

Child Protection Annual Report

An update on child protection activity in Newham for the period of 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 will be presented. The report outlines the number of children working with social care services, including those with child in need plans and child protection plans, noting a decrease in the latter. It also details the number of children in care and care leavers, alongside figures for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and those receiving SEN Support. The report highlights disproportionality within the children's social care and youth justice systems for certain ethnic groups, particularly Black and Global Majority children, and outlines plans for a detailed 'deep dive' investigation into this issue. The Commission will also be assured that children are safe from harm and will consider recommendations for improvement.

Children's Social Care: National Developments and Local Response

The Commission will examine national policy developments in children's social care and assess Newham's preparedness and response to these changes. This includes the implementation of the Newham 27 programme, which aims to reform social care through a focus on relational practice, co-production, equity, and evidence. Key workstreams include the unification of early help, child in need, and child protection support into a single Family Help Service, and the development of Multi-Agency Child Protection Teams. Pilot Family Help Teams and Multi-Agency Child Protection Teams are expected to be operational by May 2026. The report details the mission statement for these reforms, which prioritises keeping children within their families and networks, strengthening multi-agency safeguarding, and improving outcomes for children in care and care leavers.

Foster Carer Recruitment and Placement Sufficiency

A review of foster care provision in Newham will be presented, focusing on recruitment activity, support for foster carers, and the diversity and sufficiency of placements. The report indicates sustained pressure on placement sufficiency, driven by a high proportion of adolescents in care, an ethnicity mismatch between children and carers, and continued reliance on Independent Fostering Agency (IFA) placements. Newham has implemented a strengthened local recruitment model, expanded specialist offers such as the Mockingbird programme, and enhanced carer support to improve stability and reduce costs. The report highlights a significant challenge in matching the ethnicity of children in care with available foster carers, with particular focus on recruiting from Black African, Somali, Bangladeshi, and mixed-heritage communities.

Performance Dashboard

The Commission will review the Education, Children and Young People's Services Key Performance Indicator Dashboard. This standing item allows for the monitoring of performance across various services, providing an overview of key outcomes and pressures. The dashboard includes data on areas such as children in care, care leavers, and educational attainment.

Work Programme

The Commission will also review and confirm its work programme for the upcoming period. This includes noting that the meeting previously scheduled for 29 April 2026 has been cancelled due to the upcoming local elections and the pre-election period.