The Children, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee met on Tuesday 14 July 2026 to discuss a range of important issues concerning the council's services for young people. Key discussions included the acceptance of significant government funding to improve support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and consideration of plans to expand Oakwood Park Grammar School. The committee also reviewed performance monitoring data and discussed the implementation of the Families First Partnership Programme.

SEND Transformation Grant and Expert at Hands Offer

The committee discussed the acceptance and deployment of the Expert at Hands (EaH) and Local Authority (LA) Special Educational Needs & Disability (SEND) Transformation Grant, totalling £12.2 million for 2026-27, with further indicative funding for the following two years. This grant, provided by the Department for Education, aims to support the implementation of national SEND reforms. The Expert at Hands offer will provide advice and direct support to early years settings, mainstream schools, and further education colleges, enhancing their capacity to meet the needs of children and young people with SEND. This initiative is part of a broader 10-year government plan to create a more inclusive SEND system.

Councillor Beverly Fordham, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, highlighted that this funding would build upon Kent's existing SEND support services, such as the Specialist Teaching and Learning Service and the Partnerships for Inclusion and Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) pilot. The grant is ring-fenced for preventative services and cannot be used to fund existing statutory duties or named support within Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

Concerns were raised by Councillor Claudine Russell regarding the practicality of the Expert at Hands model in rural settings, particularly the geographical challenges for accessing speech and language therapists. Councillor Craig Chapman, Interim Deputy Director for Education: Access and Inclusion, assured members that these concerns had been fed back to central government and would be a key consideration in the development work. The committee also discussed the national shortage of specialist staff, such as educational psychologists, and the challenges of recruiting and retaining them.

The decision to accept the grant was seen as crucial for the council's long-term financial sustainability, as it is linked to the repayment of the council's significant Dedicated Schools Grant deficit, estimated to be nearly £300 million.

Expansion of Oakwood Park Grammar School

The committee considered a proposal to expand Oakwood Park Grammar School in Maidstone by one form of entry from September 2027. This expansion is a response to a significant increase in the number of pupils requiring Year 7 places in the borough, largely due to population growth and new housing developments. The proposal has been part of the Kent County Council Plan (KCP) for some time, and this decision would bring forward the necessary additional grammar school capacity.

Performance Monitoring

The committee reviewed the performance monitoring data for the Children, Young People and Education Directorate. A key discussion point was the reporting of EHCPs issued within 20 weeks. While the rolling average showed an upward trend, Councillor Richard Stretfield raised concerns about month-to-month volatility and the impact of seasonal demand. Craig Chapman explained that this volatility was often due to seasonal changes and that the council had implemented an emergency project to address educational psychology capacity issues, which had led to improved numbers. He also noted that Kent's rolling average for EHCP delivery was 20% higher than the national average.

The committee also discussed the increase in young people not in education, employment, or training (NEETs). David Adams, Interim Deputy Director for Education: Sufficiency, Effectiveness and Skills, explained that this was a national issue, partly due to a demographic bulge moving through the system without a corresponding increase in provision. He highlighted the council's Pathways for All Work initiative, which aims to increase Level 2 and below course offerings, and the ongoing efforts to secure additional places and work with private sector providers.

A point of clarification was sought regarding RAG ratings on page 36, specifically the Kent CIC gap indicator for Key Stage 2 attainment. It was explained that this related to the gap between children on free school meals and those not, where a wider gap (higher number) indicated a worse outcome, hence the red rating despite the measure being above the target.

18+ Care Leavers Service

The committee received a report on the 18+ Care Leavers Service, following an Ofsted ILACS inspection which identified that while care for children in care was outstanding, the experiences and progress of care leavers requires improvement to be good. The report detailed forecasted demand, noting a significant increase in UASC (Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children) care leavers, with the average age of entry into care increasing. The forecast indicated a rise in the total number of care leavers to 2,363 by 2033.

Councillor Russell highlighted the issue of housing requirements for care leavers being a hot potato between authorities and expressed hope that future unitary arrangements would improve coordination. Councillor John Baker described the situation as a ticking time bomb, raising concerns about integration, radicalisation, crime, and societal integration for young people arriving as UASC. Kevin Kasaven, Director of Children's Countywide Services, acknowledged the conflict between national legislation deterring migration and the need to support these young people, stating that the service was doing its best within financial constraints.

The committee discussed the possibility of engaging with employers, such as racing stables and farmers, who might offer accommodation alongside work, as a more cost-effective approach. Kevin Kasaven agreed to investigate this further.

Families First Partnership Programme

Councillor Paul Webb introduced the implementation of the Families First Partnership Programme, stemming from the landmark Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026. This Act mandates local authorities to offer family group decision-making, strengthen information sharing, and require multi-agency child protection teams. The programme aims to ensure prevention is effective, with children receiving the right help at the right time, and to eliminate the need for families to repeatedly tell their story to different workers. The implementation is planned for late 2026 or early 2027, with a statutory deadline of March 2027 for multi-agency child protection teams.

Concerns were raised by Councillor John Baker about safeguards for children placed with family members, ensuring their safety and preventing them from being placed in harmful situations. Councillor Webb and officers assured that safeguarding duties would not change and that the intention of the reforms was to exhaust all opportunities for parents and children to stay together safely.

Other Matters

The committee also noted the verbal updates from Cabinet Members, including Councillor Beverly Fordham's extensive visits to various educational settings and organisations across Kent, and Councillor Paul Stepto's update on his portfolio, which included visits to reception centres for UASC children, short break units, and family hub units. The committee also noted the work programme for future meetings.

The meeting concluded with the committee noting the work programme and thanking all involved for their contributions.