The Children & Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Warwickshire Council met on Tuesday 23 June 2026 to discuss a range of issues concerning children and young people in the county. Key discussions included the re-establishment of a specialist bladder and bowel service for children, concerns regarding overnight respite provision for children with SEND, and the persistent challenge of completing Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) within statutory timescales. The committee also reviewed school attendance data and the 2025 examination and assessment outcomes for Warwickshire schools.

Specialist Bladder and Bowel Service for Children

Public speakers Alyssa and Elaine highlighted the critical need for a specialist bladder and bowel service for children, which had been decommissioned in 2015. This had led to significant negative impacts on children with these conditions, including missed school days and increased hospital admissions. The positive news shared was that a new specialist service has been established through partnership working between the NHS, Healthwatch, and the Warwickshire Health Care Boys. Early evidence shows 421 referrals in its first nine months and a 41% reduction in unplanned hospital admissions. However, the speakers also stressed the importance of strategic oversight to prevent future gaps in provision, referencing the long-term consequences of the previous service's decommissioning.

Overnight Respite Provision for Children with SEND

Councillor Jennifer McAllister raised concerns about the current lack of overnight respite provision for children with SEND, following the closure of the Act of Government provision. She questioned whether the council was meeting its statutory duties regarding overnight short breaks, what evidence showed that assessed needs were being met, and whether eligibility criteria for short breaks remained transparent and were not being applied more restrictively due to service pressures. Officers confirmed that there was no current overnight support being offered by the current provider and that a new provider's application for registration had been rejected. They are working to rectify the problem and have committed to providing a report and briefing on the issue.

Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)

Councillor Jennifer McAllister and Councillor Keith Kondakor raised concerns about the council's consistent failure to meet the statutory 20-week deadline for completing EHCPs. Councillor McAllister noted that performance had worsened, despite it being a priority. Councillor Finch, Leader of the Council, attributed the backlog to increased demand following national EHCP reforms and acknowledged the issue as a priority, stating that officers are working to address it. The committee discussed the use of temporary staff to support the process and the potential for AI to speed up the process, though it was stressed that AI would not replace human oversight. The ongoing delays in the capital programme were also highlighted as a contributing factor to service delivery issues.

School Attendance

The committee received an update on school attendance in Warwickshire for the Autumn and Spring terms of the 2025/26 academic year. Sarah Jo, from the Attendance Service, reported that overall absence had fallen to 6.9%, narrowing the gap with the national average, and persistent absence had improved to 17.5%, now below the national figure. However, severe absence remained a challenge, with rates higher than the national average. Targeted work is ongoing for pupils with SEND, those eligible for free school meals, and older secondary pupils. Fiona, from the Attendance Service, detailed strategies being implemented, including the ATTEND Framework and training for emotionally based school non-attendance (EBSNA). Councillor Jennifer McAllister and Councillor Judy Falp raised questions about how attendance is measured and the use of part-time timetables. Councillor Julie Falp also inquired about the council's work with social housing providers to address potential barriers to school attendance.

School Outcomes and Assessments

The committee reviewed the 2025 Examination and Assessments: School Outcomes Detailed Report, which provided a comprehensive breakdown of performance across Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFSP), Phonics, Key Stage 2, Key Stage 4, and Post 16. Overall, Warwickshire's performance was broadly in line with national averages, with some areas outperforming the national figures, particularly at Key Stage 4 and Post 16. However, a persistent attainment gap was noted for disadvantaged pupils across all key stages, with Warwickshire's disadvantaged pupils underperforming compared to their national counterparts. Councillor Jennifer McAllister and Councillor Keith Kondakor raised concerns about the significant attainment gap between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged pupils, and the need for more targeted strategies. The report also highlighted that children with SEND and those known to social care continue to experience significantly higher absence rates and lower educational outcomes.

Work Programme

The committee discussed items for future agendas, including updates on the SEND inspection outcome, the Great Alne site, children's homes strategy, and the use of AI in EHCP processes. There was also a discussion about improving the tracking of actions agreed in meetings, with a suggestion to include an action column in the minutes.

The next meeting of the committee is scheduled for 29 September 2026.