The Corporate Parenting Committee was scheduled to discuss a range of important issues concerning children in care and care leavers. Key topics included updates on the Corporate Parenting Strategy, developments in the Kinship Local Offer, and a detailed report on school suspensions and exclusions affecting children in care.

Virtual School Suspension, Exclusion and Persistent Absence of Girls Report

A significant focus of the meeting was scheduled to be a report on the suspension, exclusion, and persistent absence of girls within Southwark's Virtual School. The report, authored by Usha Singh, the Virtual School Headteacher, aimed to provide data and analysis on these issues for the academic years 2024-2025 and 2025-2026.

The report indicated a downward trend in suspension rates for Southwark Children Looked After (CLA), with a drop from 16% in 2023-2024 to 9% in the current academic year to date. Crucially, there were no permanent exclusions recorded for CLA in 2024-2025, and the year-to-date figure remained at zero. The report highlighted that while boys are more likely to be suspended, the gender gap has narrowed, with a rise in suspensions among girls in previous years, though this trend appeared to be reversing in the current year.

The data also showed a persistent over-representation of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) among those suspended. The report detailed the Virtual School's response to potential permanent exclusions, outlining a three-step process involving communication and advocacy, advice and education planning, and the appeal process. It also addressed persistent absenteeism, noting a reduction in Southwark from 33% to 23% year-on-year. A particular concern was the rising trend in absenteeism among girls, which the report linked to factors such as trauma, mental health challenges, and inappropriate disciplinary responses. The Southwark Virtual School's response included trauma-informed attendance strategies, gender-sensitive identification of Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA), and multi-agency collaboration.

The report was scheduled to be presented as part of the Corporate Parenting Committee's agenda, with a recommendation for the Care Senior Leadership Team to note its contents and provide feedback.

Kinship Local Offer Developments and Implementation Plan

The committee was also scheduled to consider developments and the implementation plan for Southwark's Kinship Local Offer. Launched in September 2025, this offer is a statutory requirement designed to provide needs-led support for kinship carers, regardless of their legal status. The report, authored by Elaine Reid, Head of Care, Care Leavers and Fostering, and others, outlined a commitment to a transparent, accessible, and co-produced framework involving multi-disciplinary teams.

The plan detailed enhancements across several themes:

• Therapeutic Support: Aimed at developing one-to-one clinical interactions and expanding the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund service providers.
• Training and Support: Focused on embedding kinship champions within children's social care services and developing bespoke training with teams such as PAUSE and Family Early Help (FEH).
• Financial Support: Focused on clarifying financial entitlements and the process for applying for one-off payments, including an increased setting-up payment.
• Education: Emphasised partnership work between the Special Guardianship and Connected Carer Team and the Virtual School to raise awareness and provide direct support.
• Family Group Conferences (FGC) and Contact: Aimed at embedding FGC kinship champions and ensuring appropriate carers are offered FGCs at the pre-proceedings stage, alongside exploring more affordable contact arrangements.
• Legal Support: Focused on ensuring kinship carers are aware of free legal sessions and an increase in the number of sessions available.
• Children in Care Council: Ensuring kinship children benefit from participation in Southwark's Children in Care Council, known as Speakerbox.

The report included a detailed communication and engagement plan to raise awareness and understanding of the Kinship Local Offer, utilising various channels such as direct mail, flyers, social media, and a new Kinship Life e-newsletter.

Corporate Parenting Strategy 2026-2030 Update

An update on the development of the new Corporate Parenting Strategy for 2026-2030 was also scheduled for discussion. Building on the foundations of the 2021-2025 strategy, the new iteration aims to be bold and ambitious, developed in full collaboration with care-experienced children and young people.

The development process has involved the Bright Spots Survey, which gathered views from 246 children in care and care leavers. The findings from this survey, analysed in March 2026, were intended to directly inform the strategy. Additionally, Speakerbox has developed eight pillars outlining priorities for care-experienced children and young people, which will be integral to the new strategy. These pillars include Education and Employment, Non-discrimination, Safety and Support Services, Freedom of Expression, Standards and Treatment in Care, Voice of the Child, Knowledge of Rights, and Health Services.

A delivery timeline was outlined, with the aim of presenting a draft strategy to the Corporate Parenting Committee by July 2026. The report highlighted the importance of the health and wellbeing of care-experienced children and young people, with clinical service, commissioning, and health colleagues playing a key role in the strategy's development.

Corporate Parenting Committee Workplan 2026-27

The committee was also scheduled to review and agree its workplan for the 2026-27 municipal year. The workplan outlines the committee's role and functions, including securing improvements in the life chances of looked after children and care leavers, developing and monitoring the Corporate Parenting Strategy, and ensuring integrated services across departments and partners.

The indicative items for the 2026-27 meetings included updates from Speakerbox, annual reports on health, fostering, adoption, and the Virtual School Headteacher's report. There were also planned discussions on the commissioning of higher-cost placements, the Southwark Homes for Southwark Children programme, and a joint working protocol between Housing and Children's Services. A key priority for the year will be the development of the Corporate Parenting Strategy 2026-30. The workplan also noted the importance of Speakerbox, Southwark's Children in Care Council, in ensuring young people's voices are heard in council decision-making, in line with Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

Other items scheduled for discussion included a verbal update on the Kent meningitis outbreak.