The Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to discuss significant reforms to children's services, including the Families First Transformation Programme and the SEND Specialist Sufficiency Strategy. The committee was also set to review the Quarter 4 2025/26 performance report.

Families First Transformation Programme

The committee was scheduled to consider an update on the Families First Transformation Programme, a national initiative aiming to reform children's social care. This programme, running from April 2025 to March 2027, seeks to address increasing demand and financial pressures within the children's system. Key reforms include merging Early Help and Child in Need services into a single Family Help system, establishing Multi-agency Child Protection Teams (MACPTs), and embedding Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) to empower families. The report highlighted progress in recruiting staff, implementing the North Gloucestershire MACPT, and launching a workforce training programme. The proposed new operating model aims to create integrated Family Help Teams, local Intensive Intervention Teams, and strengthen multi-agency child protection responses. The committee was asked to note the upcoming changes, oversee implementation, and recommend that future scrutiny arrangements include assurance for the Families First Partnership Programme's objectives.

SEND Specialist Sufficiency Strategy

The committee was also scheduled to provide input into the development of the SEND Specialist Sufficiency Strategy for 2026-2031. This strategy aims to ensure Gloucestershire County Council meets its statutory duty to provide sufficient school places for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The strategy has been developed in response to rising demand and national reforms outlined in the Department for Education's White Paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving, and the Education Estates Strategy. A public consultation on the draft strategy received 117 representations, with feedback indicating general support for the direction but concerns about implementation details, resourcing, and workforce capacity. The feedback also highlighted the need for equitable access and outcomes for all children with SEND. The analysis of consultation responses was ongoing, with a summary to be produced before the strategy is presented to Cabinet in September 2026.

Quarter 4 2025/26 Performance Report

The committee was to receive the Quarter 4 2025/26 performance report, providing an overview of the council's performance. The report included key performance indicators related to child protection, children entering care, social care referrals, and early years provision. It also detailed performance in areas such as SEND provision, including the rate of children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), persistent absence rates for pupils with SEND, and post-16 outcomes for young people with SEND. The report also covered performance related to children in care, including placement stability, children placed out of county, and the proportion of young people in suitable accommodation or education, employment, or training. The report also included a corporate strategic risk monitoring report, highlighting risks such as the failure to develop sufficient placement capacity and increasing demand for EHCPs.

Work Plan

The committee was scheduled to review its work plan and consider items for future meetings. Suggestions included scrutinising the progress of inspection recommendations, regionalisation of care, and updates on the Families First Transformation Programme. The committee was also to consider future scrutiny items such as school attendance, support for young carers, and the Fostering Improvement Plan.