The Children and Education Overview and Scrutiny Subcommittee met on Monday 22 June 2026 to discuss a range of important issues affecting young people in Barnet. Key discussions included the financial performance of Children and Families services, updates on the SEND reform plan, and the critical issue of rising antisemitism and Islamophobia impacting local schools. The meeting also featured presentations from youth representatives on their campaigns for financial literacy, safer streets, and improved student representation.

Youth and Democracy Initiatives

The meeting began with presentations from young people involved in Barnet's 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 Agdin, also a Youth Ambassador, proposed the establishment of a borough-wide student council to ensure consistent and structured student representation, facilitating collaboration on issues affecting schools. Samia Bharmal, a Member of Youth Parliament, presented her Safer Streets for All campaign, focusing on practical measures and education to make public spaces safer, particularly for young women and girls.

Councillors engaged with the youth representatives, asking about the practicalities of their campaigns, including the age at which financial education should be introduced and potential awarding bodies. Sophia's proposal for a student council was discussed in terms of its potential cost and organisational requirements, with suggestions for online voting and virtual meetings to mitigate expenses. The committee also heard from Malika Bennett, a Youth MP, whose campaign focuses on improving mental health support in schools.

Financial Performance of Children and Families Services

Sharon Palmer, Head of Finance for Children and Families, presented the quarterly financial update. The council reported an overall underspend of £9.775 million for the previous financial year, which allowed for a reduction in an exceptional support funding application. 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 attributed to savings in Help and Protection services, partly due to recruitment delays, and the utilisation of grants.

However, underlying recurrent financial pressures were identified, particularly within children with disabilities services, driven by rising demand for SEND support, including complex needs and respite services. Councillor Menon raised concerns about these underlying pressures and how they would be managed without one-off grants. The service outlined mitigation strategies, including promoting independence and exploring collaboration with health colleagues for continuing care.

SEND Reform and Pupil Place Planning

The committee received an update on the Barnet SEND Reform Plan, which aims to strengthen mainstream inclusion, develop a defined route into specialist support, and expand local provision. Barnet's current strengths in mainstream inclusion were acknowledged, but the plan also highlighted rising demand for EHCPs and specialist placements, leading to financial pressures on the High Needs Block. The proposed Specialist Support model, organised through locality-based clusters, was discussed as a way to provide wrap-around support to schools and settings.

A significant concern raised was the projected closure of one or two primary schools by September 2028 due to consistently falling pupil numbers. This decision is being driven by the need to ensure a sustainable school estate across the borough. The council is committed to a thorough and robust process, including co-production with schools, to determine which schools may be considered for closure. The potential repurposing of closed school sites for SEND provision was also discussed.

Addressing Antisemitism and Islamophobia in Schools

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing the alarming increase in antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents faced by schools in Barnet, particularly since October 2023. Neil Marlow, Chief Executive of BELS, reported on a roundtable discussion with headteachers from both Jewish and non-Jewish schools, highlighting the profound impact these incidents are having on school leadership and the wellbeing of students. The council is implementing several measures to raise awareness, including headteachers sharing their experiences in partnership meetings and the creation of a video to circulate to all staff and pupils. The aim is to foster a society-wide change, starting in Barnet, to ensure all communities feel safe and respected in their learning environments.

Other Key Discussions

The committee also received updates on the Children and Family Services quarterly performance, including improvements in initial contact referrals and the timeliness of safeguarding assessments. Corporate Parenting performance was noted as strong, with improvements in health assessment reviews, although pressures remain regarding GP slots for initial health assessments. The report also detailed the ongoing work to manage placement sufficiency and the use of in-house residential provision.

The Task and Finish Group updates indicated progress on several fronts, including Allotment Management and Governance, Food Security, and Fostering. New Task and Finish Groups are being considered for Flats Above Shops (recycling/food waste) and Emotionally Based School Avoidance.

Finally, the Cabinet Forward Plan for 2026 was presented, allowing the committee to identify any items they wished to request for pre-decision scrutiny. The Children and Education Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee Work Programme for 2026-27 was also reviewed, with a commitment to adding the Pupil Places update.