The Children's Select Committee of Wiltshire Council met on Friday 5 June 2026 to discuss a range of important topics concerning children's services and education. Key areas scheduled for review included updates on school Ofsted judgements, the Best Start in Life strategy, and the Families First Partnership Programme. The committee also received reports on education performance outcomes for secondary education and school attendance.

School Ofsted Judgements

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on Ofsted inspections in Wiltshire schools. The report detailed the new grading system introduced by Ofsted, which uses a five-point evaluation scale: Exceptional, Strong standard, Expected standard, Needs attention, and Urgent improvement. It noted that the new grades cannot be directly compared to older ones due to a different inspection approach. As of 28 February 2026, nine primary schools in Wiltshire had been inspected under the revised framework, with 17% judged as good, 4% as outstanding, and 6% requiring improvement. The report highlighted that Wiltshire's inclusion outcomes were mostly positive, with a higher percentage of schools meeting the expected standard for inclusion compared to the national average. However, the proportion achieving a strong standard was below the national average. For curriculum and teaching, 89% of inspected Wiltshire schools met the expected standard, with 12% needing attention. Nationally, a broader range of schools had been inspected, including primary, secondary, and special schools.

Department for Education Updates

An update was scheduled on developments relating to Children's Services arising from the Department for Education (DfE) for the period March to June 2026. This included information on the government's extension of free NHS services for care leavers, which Wiltshire Council welcomed, noting that their existing Care Leaver Promise already provided comprehensive health support. The committee was also to be updated on the government's expanded support for adopted children, with a consultation launched on providing better, earlier, and more targeted help. Wiltshire Council expressed keenness to understand how these proposals would translate into practical improvements for families and how increased funding for the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund would address local pressures. Further updates were expected on new gender guidance for schools, the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, specialist SEND support, government investment in kinship carers, stronger protections for children with allergies, the introduction of V Levels, a new tool to cut the stigma of child poverty, and guidance on improving the attendance of children with a social worker. The government's decision to remove high-sugar food from school menus was also to be discussed, alongside new legislation aimed at saving families money through measures like free breakfast clubs and limits on branded uniforms.

School Attendance Update

A report was scheduled to summarise progress towards the implementation of statutory guidance, Working Together to Improve School Attendance 2024, and related regulations. The Wiltshire Attendance Strategy 2026–2028, with a vision of achieving 97% attendance, had been published following extensive consultation. The strategy's overarching priorities include clear attendance pathways, robust data use, strong leadership, inclusion, targeted support, and communication. The Wiltshire Attendance Strategy Steering Group (WASSG) had commenced, bringing together various stakeholders to support the strategy's delivery. The report indicated that the Education Welfare Service (EWS) was on track to meet its targets for supporting Wiltshire schools with attendance, with a revised approach to engaging independent schools and alternative provision. For secondary schools, the EWS had been providing additional support to review attendance policies and identify themes related to barriers to attendance. The report also presented detailed attendance data for Wiltshire schools, comparing overall attendance, persistent absence, and severe absence rates against national and regional comparators. While Wiltshire generally performed well, secondary school severe absence was noted as an area requiring continued focus.

Education Performance Outcomes for Secondary Education

The committee was to receive a report providing an analysis and commentary on the Key Stage 4 Education Performance Outcome Report for the academic year 2024-25. This report aimed to evaluate performance against national averages, identify trends, highlight strengths and areas for improvement, and understand performance gaps for key pupil groups. Key strengths identified included an upward trend in EBacc entry for all learners and improving trends in English and maths attainment for learners with Children in Need (CIN) plans. However, areas for improvement included overall EBacc entry remaining below national averages, particularly for disadvantaged learners, and persistent attainment gaps for disadvantaged learners across all Key Stage 4 measures. The report also noted variability in outcomes for learners with English as an Additional Language (EAL) and those from minority ethnic backgrounds, as well as a notable gender gap, particularly in maths and higher-grade attainment. The report acknowledged that the local authority has limited direct influence over secondary phase outcomes due to the high proportion of academies in Wiltshire, emphasising the importance of partnership working.

Best Start in Life Strategy

The committee was scheduled to receive an overview of the Best Start in Life Plan 2026–2030. This plan outlines Wiltshire's long-term, partnership approach to improving outcomes for children from pregnancy to age five, focusing on strengthening early intervention, improving access to support, and reducing inequalities. The plan's strategic priorities include better support for families through strengthened Family Hubs and expanded parenting support, accessible early education and childcare with a focus on increasing uptake of funded two-year-old places, and high-quality early years provision with an emphasis on improving teaching quality and early identification of Special Educational Needs (SEND). The expected outcomes include an increase in the proportion of children achieving a Good Level of Development (GLD) and narrowing the attainment gap for disadvantaged children. The plan also details key milestones for 2026-2027, expected outcomes, and key risks and their mitigation strategies.

Families First Partnership Programme Update

An update was scheduled on the Families First Partnership Programme delivery plans for Wiltshire. This programme, a DfE initiative, aims to transform family support and child protection. Its core objectives include establishing a seamless Family Help system, creating Multi-Agency Child Protection Teams (MACPTs), and mandating Family Led Decision-Making (FLDM). Wiltshire's approach is to enhance existing arrangements, building on strengths in Early Help, Child in Need (CIN), Kinship, and Child Protection (CP). The proposed Family Help model integrates targeted early help and statutory Child in Need services, with families having a lead practitioner. The One Plan initiative aims to deliver a single, proportionate, multi-agency framework for assessment and planning. The programme also focuses on strengthening integrated front door arrangements and direct delivery in key areas of demand, such as parenting support and neurodiversity. Key performance indicators are being developed to measure the reduction in the need for statutory services, improved support for children at the lowest level of need, and evidence of improved inclusion. The update also covered the planned Multi-Agency Child Protection Arrangements (MACPA) model, which aims to strengthen collaborative decision-making and response to significant harm, and the integration of Family Led Decision Making (FLDM) across the continuum of need.

Forward Work Programme

The committee was to note and receive updates on the progress of items on the Forward Work Programme. This included updates on task groups and rapid scrutiny exercises, such as the Adoption West Joint Scrutiny Panel and a rapid scrutiny of the Local SEND Reform Plan. The agenda also listed forthcoming committee agenda items, including reports on Young Carers, the Post 16 Skills White Paper, the Child Poverty Strategy, and the SVPP Annual Report. Standing items such as SEND, Ofsted Reports, and School Attendance were also noted.