Purpose

Following the public
consultation on the 0–25 Years Learning Improvement Strategy:
Excellence, Equity and Culture 2026–31, feedback was gathered
from Bracknell Forest residents and education sector
stakeholders.
The strategy outlines a
five-year vision and approach to improving outcomes for all
children and young people, with a strong emphasis on supporting
those who are vulnerable and those with Special Educational Needs
and Disabilities (SEND).
The consultation provided an
opportunity for participants to review the proposed priorities and
actions and share their views.
All feedback has been carefully
considered in shaping the final strategy and refining the
accompanying action plan, ensuring it reflects the needs and
aspirations of the community and education partners.
This report now seeks approval
for the final strategy following consultation and sets out the next
steps for implementation.
 

Decision

RESOLVED that
 

i.     
the 0-25 Years Learning Improvement Strategy 2026-2031 for
Bracknell Forest and the supporting action plan following a period
of public consultation is approved.

ii.    
authority be delegated to the Executive Director of People, in
consultation with the Executive Member for Children, Young People
and Learning, the authority to make revisions to the action plan in
the context of reforms.

Reasons for the decision

i.     
The new strategy aims to replace the previous document,
‘Learning Improvement Strategy - Unlocking Opportunities for
all Children 2019-22’, which was extended due to the impact
of Covid. This strategy is intended as a statement of intent for
the education sector within Bracknell Forest, emphasising the
importance of working in partnership. A key focus of the strategy
is to prioritise pupils who currently present as vulnerable, as
well as those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
(SEND). The strategy is also closely aligned with national
developments, including the proposed priorities within the
government’s forthcoming Education White Paper, expected to
be released later this year, and the publication of the new Ofsted
Inspection Framework, released in September 2025.
 

ii.    
The inital draft strategy was shaped
through an extensive first round of consultation, beginning with a
workshop for all officers in Education and Learning to reflect on
practice and help define the emerging priorities. Further
engagement took place through sessions with headteachers, the
People Directorate management team, SENDCos, and school governors,
along with multiple workshops held with the Parent Carer Forum,
which enabled in-depth discussion due to small group sizes.
Additional feedback was gathered through an online survey and
through contributions from other council departments, including
Public Health and Regeneration and Economic Development, all of
which helped refine the draft priorities and actions.
 

iii.   
Following the development of the draft strategy, a further
wide-ranging, multi-phase consultation process was used to gather
stakeholder feedback on the draft strategy between 10th November
and the 28th January 2026 (Appendix C). This included publishing
the full strategy and a one-page summary on the council website
with an online survey to gather views, alongside targeted workshops
with children and young people. Ongoing feedback has resulted in
minor amendments to the strategy.

Alternative options considered

i.     
As noted above, the main themes set out within the draft strategy
were initially formed as a result of a
co-production exercise with all staff from within Education and
Learning, and the draft strategy has subsequently undergone
extensive consultation with key partners. Feedback from the
consultation has been incorporated into the draft, and there has
been a high level of support for the priorities and associated
actions.
 

ii.    
As the current strategic document driving the vision for education
in Bracknell Forest expired in 2022, no other option has been
considered. Annex A of the strategy (Appendix B) sets out the local
authority’s approach to monitoring and intervention in
maintained schools, which explains how the DfE’s guidance,
‘Support and intervention in schools: Statutory guidance for
support and intervention action in schools’, DfE, November
2025, will be implemented.