The Children's Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 16 June 2026. The agenda includes discussions on children's services in Wokingham Borough, with key topics such as an update on education and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), a review of the local area's SEND provision, and an examination of family help and safeguarding services. The committee is also expected to consider the Children and Young People's Participation and Engagement Strategy and the Children's Joint Strategic Needs Assessment.

Education and SEND Update

The meeting agenda includes an update on education and SEND services. This update is expected to cover information on school inspections, including reports for The Forest School, Earley St Peter's CE Primary School, Rivermead Primary School, and Saint Sebastians Church of England Primary School. The report pack is expected to outline the outcomes of these inspections. The committee will also receive an update on the timeliness and quality of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), focusing on annual reviews and the implementation of a new SEND portal. Information regarding EHCP timeliness, including an issuance rate of 68% within 20 weeks in Q4 2025-26, and ongoing work to improve the quality of these plans is anticipated.

Local Area SEND Update

An update on the Local Area SEND is scheduled, following an inspection in January 2026. The inspection report indicated Widespread and/or systemic failings leading to significant concerns about the experiences and outcomes of children and young people with SEND. ¹ The report is expected to detail three priority action areas for the local area partnership, including the development of a recovery plan for wheelchair services, the creation of a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA), and a recovery plan to improve the quality and accuracy of EHC plans. Six further areas for improvement are also expected to be outlined, focusing on joint commissioning, data sharing, communication, and recovery plans for specific health services.

Family Help and Safeguarding Update

An update on Family Help and Safeguarding services is to be presented. This update is expected to cover progress on the move to Family Help Pods, the development of an Integrated Front Door and Multi-Agency Child Protection Team, and the implementation of Family Group Conferencing. The Families First Programme, a national initiative aimed at rebalancing local systems for earlier help, is expected to be detailed. The update may highlight a 70% reduction in children waiting for an allocated worker within the targeted early help service. Information on children in care and care leavers is also anticipated, noting a gradual upward trend in local care demand, with Wokingham's overall rate remaining below regional averages. The success of the Mockingbird Model in Wokingham and plans for a new Care Leaver Hub are also expected to be mentioned.

Children and Young People's Participation and Engagement Strategy

The committee is expected to consider the Children and Young People's Participation and Engagement Strategy. The report may indicate that participation groups are running smoothly, with a move towards a youth-led model and the introduction of a junior Children in Care Council (CICC) group. The strategy's aims, including inclusion, influence, growth and empowerment, and trust and respect, are expected to be outlined. Potential tangible outcomes from engagement, such as the co-production of young person-friendly materials, improved access to services, and solutions to real issues, may be highlighted. The report may also outline upcoming next steps, including strengthening SEND participation, family participation through a Family Advisory Board, and improving feedback loops.

Children's Joint Strategic Needs Assessment

An update on the development of the Children and Young People's Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) will be provided. This assessment aims to offer a strategic, borough-wide understanding of the needs of children and young people aged 0–25, supporting partners in identifying inequalities and informing commissioning and service planning. The JSNA comprises 49 sections, organised into Marmot principle chapters, and draws on quantitative evidence and qualitative perspectives from the Institute of Health Equity. The report is expected to outline the partnership approach taken, the current position with first drafts completed for most sections, and a delivery plan for finalisation and publication in September.

Other Key Items

The meeting agenda also includes an Executive Councillor Update, Town and Parish Council Question Time, Councillor Question Time, and Public Question Time. A question has been submitted by Craig Dommett regarding the Ofsted SEND inspection outcome and the apparent discrepancy between dashboard figures and the reality of legal obligations not being met. The committee will also consider the Forward Programme for the remainder of the municipal year and receive the Action Tracker. An item on Schools Causing Concern is scheduled for discussion in Part 2, indicating that the public will be excluded from this part of the meeting due to the likely disclosure of exempt information.