The Scrutiny Children & Young People Sub-Committee met on Tuesday 30 June 2026 to discuss the transformation of children's services, review performance data, and plan its future work programme. Key discussions included updates on strategic transformation, early help, social care, education, and SEND reforms, as well as the adoption of a new conservation area management plan.

Strategic Transformation Delivery Partner, Social Work Reforms, SEND Reforms and Youth Justice Reforms Update

The Sub-Committee received an update on the significant transformation efforts within Croydon's Children, Young People and Education (CYPE) Directorate. This transformation is driven by high demand for services, national reforms, and the need for long-term financial sustainability. The Directorate is working with Newton, a Strategic Transformation Partner, to redesign services end-to-end. Phase One of this partnership, focusing on understanding current performance and designing future service models, has reached draft completion. Emerging themes include the need for a more integrated system across education, social care, and partner agencies, with a focus on relational and trauma-informed practice. A simpler, more coherent pathway for families is also being developed, alongside improved data integration and organisational efficiency.

Croydon's Family Hubs are expanding, with a focus on increasing the number of children achieving a Good Level of Development in reception and increasing the network of locations where families can access services. The Families First Partnership (FFP) reforms are aiming to rebalance the system towards earlier intervention and prevention, with a pilot of a Family Help model planned for September 2026.

Significant challenges remain in SEND provision, with a notable increase in Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and a corresponding rise in independent special school placements. Croydon is responding by strengthening early intervention teams, investing in speech and language therapy, and developing an Experts at Hand approach to build capacity within mainstream education.

The Youth Justice reforms are seen as an opportunity to integrate the Youth Justice Service more closely with wider children's services, reinforcing the focus on prevention, early intervention, and multi-agency working.

Early Help, Children's Social Care and Education Dashboard (March 2026)

The Sub-Committee reviewed the performance dashboard for Early Help, Children's Social Care, and Education services. While some areas showed improvement, concerns were raised about the percentage of Education, Health & Care Plans (EHCPs) issued within the 20-week target, which stood at 50% for the calendar year to March 2026. This was attributed to staff sickness, vacancies, recruitment difficulties, and delays in professional reports. Mitigation measures are in place, including prioritisation of cases and the use of temporary staff.

Performance for the percentage of contacts to children's services actioned within one working day was at 85% in March 2026, showing improvement but still below the 90% target. The Sub-Committee noted the high number of referrals and caseloads within Children's Social Care, despite a recent positive Ofsted visit. The rate of local Children Looked After (CLA) per 10,000 under 18s remained slightly above the target at 48.

The percentage of children subject to a Child Protection Plan for a second or subsequent time was at 19%, meeting the target. However, the percentage of current Child Protection Plans lasting two years or more was at 4.3%, just outside the target of <4.2% and in the amber zone, largely due to postponed court hearings.

Juvenile first-time entrants to the criminal justice system per 100,000 of 10-17 year olds was 231 for the rolling year to March 2026, an increase from the previous month, attributed partly to police policy changes regarding weapon offences.

The Sub-Committee concluded that future reports should include narrative for additional red indicators and that Public Health Nursing Transformation should be a recurring item on the Work Programme.

Scrutiny Work Programme 2026-2027

The Sub-Committee discussed potential items for its 2026-27 Work Programme. Suggestions included tree mapping, the Climate Action Plan, a deeper dive into enforcement strategies (fly-tipping and abandoned vehicles), flood risk management, contract management (FM Conway, Veolia), the EV charging strategy, progress on the local plan, air pollution, sustainable and active transport, the Blitz Cleans programme, and climate adaptation and mitigation. The Sub-Committee also agreed to include Family Hubs and Youth Engagement Services, and SEND provision in the latter half of the 2026/27 Work Programme.

The meeting concluded with thanks to Councillor Maria Gatland, Cabinet Member for Children & Young People, for her service.