The Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Panel met on Tuesday 30 June 2026 to discuss departmental priorities, departmental updates, and the future work programme. Key discussions included the Children, Lifelong Learning & Families Department's priorities for 2026/27, the impact of school roll changes on budgets, and the Council's holiday activities and food programme. The Panel also reviewed departmental updates concerning sports facilities, autism strategy, and the Abbey pilot project, and discussed the upcoming work programme for 2026/27.

Children, Lifelong Learning & Families Department Overview and Priorities

The Cabinet Member for Children's Services and the Executive Director of Children, Families and Lifelong Learning presented an overview of their priorities for the 2026/27 financial year. A key area of discussion was support for young people aged 18-30 who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET). The Executive Director committed to providing further written information on the Council's offerings, including apprenticeships.

The Panel also explored the economic benefits of the Council's employment support initiatives. The Cabinet Member for Jobs, Skills and Education highlighted that each job secured through the Employ Merton scheme contributes approximately £15,000 to the local economy, with a total contribution of around £250,000 since the scheme's inception.

Concerns were raised regarding the impact of decreasing school rolls on school budgets. It was noted that class sizes of fewer than 25 pupils are insufficient to cover costs, and nineteen schools in Merton have already transitioned to a one-form entry model. A dedicated officer is available to provide support to schools facing budget challenges.

In the fight against child poverty, the Cabinet Member for Children's Services announced a series of pilot programmes, including the Abbey pilot scheduled to commence in August 2026. The Panel also requested more detailed information on the impact of the Council's Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme in 2025/26, along with specifics on the auto-enrolment process for free school meals. The auto-enrolment for free school meals is set to be rolled out to all schools in the borough by September 2026, with a digital process implemented to mitigate any associated stigma.

Departmental Update - June 2026

The Panel received an update on various departmental activities. Discussions included the ongoing work with the Merton School Sports Partnership regarding policy and funding changes for sports facilities, and the impact of affiliation cost changes on memberships. The Panel requested to be kept informed of any developments.

Furthermore, the Panel addressed the entitlement of Merton resident children attending schools outside the borough to be assessed under the all-age autism strategy. It was noted that identifying children requiring support during the summer holidays is more challenging when their school is located outside Merton.

The Cabinet Member for Children's Services agreed that ward councillors should be involved in the Abbey Pilot, recognising their valuable local knowledge.

Work Programme

The Executive Director provided feedback on the Panel's draft work programme. Scrutiny of child poverty is scheduled for 2027, with interim updates to be provided as part of the Departmental Update. The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) item will focus on key themes and patterns rather than a full annual report, with the comprehensive report to be reviewed by the Merton Safeguarding Children Partnership. A small group of members will be convened to review the Merton Safeguarding Children Partnership annual report for assurance, and volunteers are being sought.

Scrutiny of SEND provision in Merton is planned for 2027, pending clarification of the financial position by HM Treasury. In the interim, the Executive Director will share the executive summary of the Council's Delivery Plan for reform. The Executive Director will also review actions from the previous meeting and provide a response, including timelines. The Panel requested that an analysis of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) by ward be included in future performance reports.