The Children's Select Committee of Wiltshire Council met on Friday 5 June 2026 to discuss a range of important issues concerning children and young people in the county. Key topics included updates on school Ofsted judgements, the Best Start in Life strategy, and the implementation of the Families First Partnership Programme. The committee also reviewed education performance outcomes for secondary education and considered school attendance data.

School Ofsted Judgements

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on Ofsted inspections in Wiltshire schools. The report detailed the introduction of a renewed School Inspection Toolkit by Ofsted, which evaluates schools across a broader set of operational areas including safeguarding, inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, behaviour, personal development, well-being, early years, post-16 provision, leadership, and governance. A new five-point evaluation scale was introduced, grading areas as Exceptional, Strong standard, Expected standard, Needs attention, or Urgent improvement. The report indicated that between 10 November 2025 and 28 February 2026, nine Wiltshire schools had been inspected, with 17 judged as good, one outstanding, and six requiring improvement. The data presented showed 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.

Department for Education Updates

An update was scheduled to be provided 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 extension of free NHS services for care leavers, expanded support for adopted children, new gender guidance for schools, and updated guidance for the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme. Wiltshire Council welcomed the government's ambition to extend free prescriptions, dental, and eyecare services to care-experienced young people, noting that the council already provided significant support through its Care Leaver Promise. Regarding adopted children, Wiltshire expressed keenness to understand how proposed improvements would translate into practical support for families and how increased funding for the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund would address local pressures. The council also welcomed the guidance for schools on supporting gender-questioning children, emphasising the importance of a child's safety and well-being. The HAF programme, branded FUEL in Wiltshire, was confirmed to have secured a three-year funding settlement until March 2029, with plans to integrate it further with school-age childcare. Updates were also provided on specialist SEND support in every school and community, and the government's investment in support for kinship carers, with Wiltshire selected as one of seven local authorities to pilot a new scheme.

School Attendance Update

The committee was scheduled to receive a report summarising progress towards the implementation of statutory guidance (Working Together to Improve School Attendance 2024) and regulations relating to school attendance. The Wiltshire Attendance Strategy 2026–2028, with an ambition for 97% attendance, had been published following extensive consultation. The strategy's priorities include clear attendance pathways, robust data use, strong leadership, inclusion, targeted support, and communication. The Wiltshire Attendance Strategy Steering Group (WASSG) had commenced its work, and the Education Welfare Service (EWS) was continuing its targeted support meetings with schools. Data for the 2024-2025 academic year showed Wiltshire performing well compared to national and regional averages, with primary and special school attendance remaining strengths, while secondary school attendance and severe absence required continued focus.

Education Performance Outcomes for Secondary Education

A report was scheduled to provide an analysis and commentary on the Key Stage 4 Education Performance Outcome Report for the academic year 2024-25. The 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. Areas for improvement included overall EBacc entry remaining below national, particularly for disadvantaged learners, and persistent attainment gaps for disadvantaged learners across all Key Stage 4 measures. The report noted that while Wiltshire's disadvantaged outcomes compared more favourably with the Southwest average, attainment remained low.

Best Start in Life Strategy

The committee was scheduled to receive an overview of the Best Start in Life Plan 2026–2030, which outlines Wiltshire's partnership approach to improving outcomes for children from pregnancy to age five. The plan focuses on strengthening early intervention, improving access to support, and reducing inequalities. Its strategic priorities include better support for families, accessible early education and childcare, and high-quality early years provision. The plan aims to increase the percentage of all children achieving a Good Level of Development (GLD) to 78.1% by 2028 and to narrow the gap for disadvantaged children. Key risks identified include variable engagement from early years settings and schools, workforce recruitment and retention challenges, and limited childcare capacity for children with SEND.

Families First Partnership Programme Update

An update was scheduled on the Families First Partnership Programme, a DfE initiative aimed at transforming family support and child protection. The programme's core objectives include establishing a seamless Family Help system, multi-agency child protection teams, and family-led decision-making. Wiltshire's approach focuses on enhancing existing arrangements, building on strengths in Early Help and Child in Need services, and integrating reforms through the Families and Children's Transformation (FACT) Programme. The proposed Family Help model aims to integrate targeted early help and statutory Child in Need services, with families having a lead practitioner. The One Plan initiative will deliver a single, proportionate, multi-agency framework for assessment and planning. The update also covered plans for Multi-Agency Child Protection Arrangements (MACPA) and the embedding of Family-Led Decision Making (FLDM) across the continuum of need.

Forward Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to note and receive updates on the progress of items on the Forward Work Programme. This included noting that any new items suggested by members would be referred to the Overview and Scrutiny (OS) Management Committee for approval. Forthcoming items for consideration included updates from the Adoption West Joint Scrutiny Panel. The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 28 July 2026.