The Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Panel of Worcestershire Council is scheduled to meet on Thursday 2 July 2026 to discuss a range of important issues concerning the wellbeing and development of children and young people in the county. Key topics scheduled for discussion include the national SEND reform programme and Worcestershire's local plan, public health initiatives for children and young people, and a review of performance and draft budget monitoring for the 2025/2026 financial year. The panel is also expected to consider its work programme for the upcoming year.

SEND Reform Plan

The meeting agenda includes a discussion on the SEND Reform Plan. The report pack is expected to outline the national SEND reform programme and Worcestershire's local response, detailing a three-year transformation approach. The plan aims to strengthen inclusion in mainstream education, improve access to specialist support, embed co-production with families, and enhance financial sustainability. The report is anticipated to highlight the case for change, driven by increasing demand and pressure on the system, and detail how Worcestershire's plan aligns with the Department for Education's (DfE) four building blocks of an inclusive system: strengthening inclusion across educational settings; system leadership, partnership and co-production; access to specialist support and local placements; and inclusive culture, behaviour and financial responsibility. The panel will be asked to consider and comment on the plan, and determine if further scrutiny is required.

Children and Young People in Public Health

The panel is scheduled to receive an update on developments relating to children and young people within Public Health services. This is expected to include information on Worcestershire's Best Start in Life Strategy and Family Hubs programme, which aims to improve outcomes from pregnancy through to early years. The report is anticipated to detail activity supporting pregnancy and perinatal health, highlighting improvements in smoking cessation rates and breastfeeding initiation. It is also expected to cover initiatives to support child development and readiness for school, the role of Family Hubs as integrated service access points, and the work of 0-19 Public Health Nursing teams, including Health Visitors and School Nurses. The panel is also to be updated on the Youth Service offer, with a focus on the UK Government's National Youth Strategy, and other health needs such as immunisation programmes, sexual health services provided by WISH, and efforts to reduce smoking and vaping. Physical activity, healthy lifestyles, and mental health and wellbeing initiatives are also on the agenda, alongside targeted work in priority neighbourhoods and the impact of community wellbeing grants.

Performance and 2025/2026 Draft Year-End Budget Monitoring

The panel is set to review performance information for services relevant to Children and Families, presented as a dashboard for Quarter 4 of the 2025/2026 financial year. This is expected to include Ofsted performance data for primary, secondary, special schools, and pupil referral units, alongside Worcestershire County Council's key performance indicators (KPIs) for schools. The report is anticipated to detail school attendance rates, including commentary on persistent and severe absence, and specific data for Children Looked After, children on child protection plans, and those receiving child in need support. Children Missing Education (CME) data is to be presented, with commentary on trends, investigation times, and Worcestershire's performance compared to national averages. The panel is also to receive information on Part-Time Timetables (PTTs) and Elective Home Education (EHE), including data on children with EHCPs and SEND support who are home-educated. Exclusions data is to be presented, noting Worcestershire's trend in reducing permanent exclusions compared to the national picture, with specific figures for students with EHCPs, on child protection plans, and child in need plans. Finally, the panel is expected to review data on young people Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) aged 16-18, detailing geographical variations, gender differences, and the impact of transition points and vulnerable groups.

The financial information to be presented includes the year-end draft outturn for 2025/2026, with an expected breakeven position after the use of reserves and exceptional financial support. Overspends are noted in Adult and Children's Social Care, to be mitigated by underspends elsewhere. A significant overspend is highlighted in the High Needs Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) budget, with a cumulative deficit of £180.8m. The report is expected to detail the High Needs Stability Grant expected from the government, contingent on the approval of the Local SEND Reform Plan. The council's overall revenue debt and draft forecast reserves are also to be presented, indicating a decrease in reserves and a significant portion earmarked for specific purposes. Specific financial details relevant to Children's Services are to be provided, including gross and net budgets, actual outturns, and variances for Social Care, Education & Early Help, All Age Disability, and Home to School Transport. Key headlines on placement numbers are expected to show an increase in external placements and average unit costs, particularly for agency residential care. The Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) position is to be further elaborated, detailing the High Needs deficit and the projected impact of the deficit management plan and the High Needs Stability Grant.

Work Programme

The panel is to consider its work programme for 2026, reviewing scheduled items and potential future topics for investigation. This is expected to include progress on the SEND Local Area Partnership Priority Action and Improvement Plan, updates on Fostering Strategy/Service, and budget scrutiny. Potential future items for discussion include domestic violence, the Children and Families Business Plan, support for children and young people with challenging behaviour, and updates on Social Care Reform. Standing items such as quarterly performance and budget monitoring are also to be noted.