The Children & Families Scrutiny Committee met on Wednesday 10 June 2026 to discuss the progress of Stockport's Children's Services Continuous Improvement and Impact Plan, review the Corporate Parenting Scorecard, and consider the Cabinet's response to a scrutiny review on post-16 education and outcomes. The committee also reviewed the scrutiny work programme for the upcoming year.

Children's Services Continuous Improvement and Impact Plan Progress Report

The committee received a verbal update on the progress of Stockport's Children's Services Continuous Improvement and Impact Plan. The Executive Director of People and Neighbourhoods reported that the Joint Targeted Area Inspection, which took place between 13 and 17 July 2026, had been positive overall, identifying evidence of improvement and step changes in children's experience of multi-agency safeguarding arrangements. Four areas for further development were identified, and action was already being taken in response. The inspection findings were due to be published on 4 September 2026. The committee noted the verbal update and resolved that the Executive Director of People and Neighbourhoods would submit a detailed comprehensive report incorporating the inspection findings.

Corporate Parenting Scorecard

An update on the Corporate Parenting Scorecard was presented, providing assurance on how the Council and its partners were monitoring progress against the priorities in the Corporate Parenting Strategy 2025-2027. The scorecard brings together performance indicators affecting children in care and care leavers. Members welcomed the report, noting that it provided reassurance that outcomes were being systematically monitored. Discussions included annual dental checks, return interviews for children missing from care, the average time between a child entering care and being matched with an adoptive family, and concerns about children experiencing multiple placement moves within a 12-month period. The committee resolved to note the report and the progress made in implementing the Corporate Parenting Scorecard, and requested the Executive Director of People and Neighbourhoods to review the wording and contextual explanation of indicators, provide further information on return interviews, and submit a report on children placed outside the borough.

Cabinet Response: Scrutiny Review Final Report – Post 16 Education and Outcomes

The committee received an update on the Cabinet's response to the Scrutiny Review into Post-16 Education and Outcomes. Progress had been made against the seven recommendations, including the development of a transition protocol and directory of named contacts. Earlier and more structured transition planning from Year 9 and Year 10 was being reinforced, and a two-year programme of sector experiences was being developed. Members noted the barriers created by national English and mathematics resit requirements and heard that local providers were exploring flexibility within the rules. Careers advice arrangements had been brought into the Virtual School to improve coordination and targeting. Grant funding had been used to create paid work placements for care-experienced young people. Further work was required on specialist and alternative provision capacity. Members also discussed extending transition and data-sharing arrangements across Greater Manchester and highlighted the importance of transport. The committee resolved to note the progress made against the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review and the comments of Cabinet, and requested the Interim Director of Education, Works & Skills to explore wider post-16 transition and data-sharing arrangements with Greater Manchester partners, and to include progress on specialist and alternative post-16 provision and longer-term outcome monitoring in future updates.

Scrutiny Work Programme

A report was presented outlining planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee and Forward Plan items falling within its remit. The Chair requested that three scrutiny review topics not selected for the 2026/27 review be scheduled. Members requested a report on the operation of the post-16 SEND travel policy and identified further reports normally expected through the annual work programme. Councillor Jon Byrne requested to join the Scrutiny Review Panel for 2026/27, which was supported by the committee. The committee resolved to note the report and requested the Chief Governance Officer and Monitoring Officer to update the work programme to include the proposed items, including the remaining scrutiny topic proposals, post-16 SEND travel policy, school place planning and falling rolls, schools plan, Youth Justice Plan, education capital programme, poverty and deprivation and free school meals, drug-related hospital admissions and SEND/Education, Health and Care Plan information. Councillor Jon Byrne was to be included as part of the Scrutiny Review Panel for 2026/27.