The Children and Education Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee met on Monday 22 June 2026 to discuss a range of important issues concerning young people and education in Barnet. Key topics included the financial performance of Children and Families services, updates on SEND reforms, and the future of pupil place planning. The committee also heard from young people involved in the Youth Parliament and Youth Ambassador schemes, who shared their campaign priorities.

Youth and Democracy Initiatives

The meeting began with presentations from young people involved in Barnet's My Say Matters youth and democracy programmes. Avi Agarwal, a Youth Ambassador, advocated for the mandatory implementation of financial education in secondary schools, highlighting its importance for future financial literacy and decision-making. Sophia Adin, also a Youth Ambassador, proposed establishing a borough-wide student council to ensure consistent student representation and improve opportunities such as work experience and careers advice. Samia Bargwal, a Member of Youth Parliament, presented her Safer Streets for All campaign, focusing on making public spaces safer, particularly for young women and girls, through improved lighting, safe haven locations, and education on respect and consent.

The committee members engaged with the young presenters, asking questions about the practicalities of their proposals. Councillor Sue Baker inquired about the specific year groups for financial education and potential awarding bodies, while Councillor Nigel Wildish explored the logistical and financial implications of Sophia Adin's student council proposal. Councillor Nicole Ereira expressed strong support for financial literacy education, having personally missed out on such schooling. Councillor Adam Gheasuddin sought clarification on the specific timing and content of financial education within the curriculum. The young people responded thoughtfully, suggesting integration into existing PSHE lessons and utilising online platforms to minimise costs.

The committee also heard from Melika Bennett, a newly elected Youth MP whose campaign focuses on mental health support for young people. She emphasised the need for accessible mental health services within schools, suggesting peer mentoring as a practical and effective intervention. Discussions also touched upon the potential for peer-to-peer training on mental health support and the importance of rhetoric and public speaking lessons for building confidence. Councillor Anne Hutton raised concerns about potential difficulties in accessing existing services and long waiting lists, to which Melika Bennett responded that her school had immediate access to counsellors, mitigating significant waiting times.

Financial Performance of Children and Families Services

Sharon Palma, Head of Finance for Children and Families, presented the quarterly financial update for 2025-26. Overall, the council underspent its budget by £9.775 million, which allowed for a reduction in the application for exceptional support funding from the ESF (Education and Skills Funding Agency). Within Children's and Family Services specifically, there was an underspend of £1.224 million against an agreed budget of £88.316 million. This underspend was largely due to savings in Help and Protection services, partly offset by an overspend in Corporate Parenting and Disability services, driven by complex needs and increased costs for respite and home support.

Councillor Ajith Menon questioned the underlying recurrent financial pressures if one-off grants were removed. Sharon Palma acknowledged significant underlying pressures, particularly in children with disabilities, which are linked to rising demand. The service is exploring strategies such as promoting independence and seeking greater contribution from health colleagues for services with a health component.

The discussion then delved into the challenges surrounding Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs). Councillor Anne Hutton noted an increase in applications for EHCPs and inquired about updates. It was explained that a surge in applications is likely due to rising complexity of needs and parental concerns about upcoming SEND reforms. Barnet has invested an additional £1 million in SEN teams to manage this increased demand. The issue of claiming all possible funding from national health services was also raised, with an acknowledgement that Barnet has historically been underfunded by health services.

The committee discussed the significant number of EHCPs in mainstream settings (51%) and the pressure this places on schools. The potential for inviting NHS colleagues to future scrutiny meetings to discuss these systemic issues was proposed and supported.

Regarding the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), there was an in-year deficit of £4.557 million, primarily driven by an overspend in the high-needs block. Barnet is not eligible for the government's 90% deficit write-off for historic deficits, as the overall DSG is not in deficit, although the high-needs block has experienced an overspend.

Children and Family Services Quarterly Update

Brigitte Jordaan, Director of Children's Social Care, provided an update on key activities and performance data. The report highlighted the implementation of the Families First programme, aligned with the new Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026. This reform aims to strengthen early help and family-centred approaches, with a new Multi-Agency Child Safety Team (MAST) to be established. The proposed model aims to reduce avoidable transitions and ensure families receive timely support.

The Barnet SEND Reform Plan was also discussed, outlining the borough's approach to national reforms. Barnet has a strong foundation in mainstream inclusion but faces rising demand and financial pressures. The plan focuses on strengthening mainstream inclusion, developing a locality-based Specialist Support model, and expanding local provision.

A significant portion of the discussion focused on pupil place planning. Barnet is experiencing a sustained decline in pupil numbers across primary and secondary phases, leading to increasing surplus capacity. Measures to manage falling rolls have been implemented, but the council is now considering more substantive options, including potential school closures, to ensure sustainable provision. The criteria for potential school closures will be co-produced with school leaders and brought to a future meeting. There is also an opportunity to repurpose school sites for SEND provision.

Performance data for initial contacts and referrals showed improvement, with a decrease in contacts escalating to Children's Social Care referrals. However, repeat referrals within 12 months have increased, though still below the London average. Timeliness of Child Protection visits and Child in Need visits remained strong. Corporate Parenting performance was also noted as strong, with high timeliness for looked-after visits and improving Education, Employment, and Training (EET) outcomes for young people.

The committee also discussed the challenges in initial health assessments for looked-after children, with pressures on timeliness due to a reduction in GP slots. This has been escalated to the NCL ICB (Integrated Care Board), and additional funding has been secured to increase GP slots.

Task and Finish Groups and Cabinet Forward Plan

Updates were provided on ongoing Task and Finish Groups, including those focusing on Allotment Management and Governance, Food Security, Fostering, and Young Carers. New groups are being scoped for Flats above Shops (recycling/food waste) and Emotionally Based School Avoidance.

The Cabinet Forward Plan for 2026 was presented, outlining upcoming key decisions. The committee was asked to identify any items they wished to request for pre-decision scrutiny. The Youth Strategy was highlighted as a key decision relevant to the committee's remit.

Work Programme

The draft Work Programme for the Children and Education Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee for 2026-27 was presented. This programme includes regular updates on My Say Matters, Family Services, financial performance, and SEND reforms, as well as specific reviews on Regional Care Cooperatives and the Youth Justice Plan. The committee was asked to comment on the proposed programme.

Addressing Antisemitism and Islamophobia in Schools

A significant discussion took place regarding the increase in antisemitism and Islamophobia faced by schools in Barnet. Neil Marlowe, Chief Executive of BELS (Barnet Education and Learning Service), reported a dramatic increase in cases, particularly since October 2023. A roundtable discussion with Jewish and non-Jewish school headteachers, council officers, MPs, the Metropolitan Police, and Pages highlighted the extent of the problem and its impact on schools.

Several actions are being taken to address this issue, including raising awareness among non-Jewish schools about the impact of antisemitism, circulating videos of experiences, ensuring governing bodies are aware of the damage caused by such behaviour, and encouraging staff to take incidents seriously. The aim is to foster a society-wide change, starting in Barnet, to ensure all communities feel safe and secure in their learning environments, free from hatred and vitriol. The committee was assured that they would receive ongoing updates on the progress of these initiatives.