The Children and Young People Select Committee met on Tuesday 30 June 2026 to discuss the council's work programme for the upcoming year and to receive an update on the national Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reforms. Key decisions included the agreement of the committee's work programme and the confirmation of the 7 pm start time for future meetings.

Children's Homes Project Update

The committee received an update on Lewisham's sufficiency strategy and its children's home project. Leemya McHugh, Director for Family Health and Care, and Steven Chaplin, Head of Service Care Resources, explained that sufficiency is crucial for ensuring children in care receive the right support and care to meet their needs, enabling them to remain in Lewisham and maintain relationships with their families and communities. They highlighted national challenges such as a dwindling number of foster carers and the increasing cost of external placements.

To address this, Lewisham is developing its own children's home in Sydenham, which will accommodate five children and is projected to save £700,000 annually compared to private market costs. The project has received £800,000 in grant funding from the Department for Education and an additional £400,000 from the sale of an existing asset. This initiative aims to give Lewisham more control over its residential care provision.

Work Programme for 2026-27

The committee discussed and agreed its work programme for the municipal year. The planned meetings are scheduled for 15 September, 11 November, 19 January, and 10 March. The programme includes in-depth scrutiny of the children's homes project, the youth strategy with a focus on inclusion and provision for trans youth, and an update on SEND reform implementation. A significant portion of the January meeting will be dedicated to discussing the implementation of SEND reforms and how schools are experiencing new educational programmes. The March meeting will focus on tackling racial inequality in educational attainment.

Councillor Justin Calcutt Cheadle raised the importance of discussing the financial efficiency of procured children's homes, which was noted for the September meeting. Councillor Aaron Regisford suggested a focus on how schools are implementing new educational programmes, including T-levels and BTECs, and how young people are being prepared for employment. This was agreed to be incorporated into the January meeting.

Preparing for National SEND Reforms

The committee received a comprehensive presentation on the national SEND reforms and Lewisham's preparations. Reinhild Onuoha, Head of Integrated SEND Services, and Sue Franklin, Principal Educational Psychologist, outlined the government's vision for earlier, more consistent support within mainstream settings, a tiered model of SEND support, and the introduction of Individual Support Plans (ISPs).

Key aspects of the reforms include:

• Experts at Hand (EAH): A multidisciplinary team of experts (educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, specialist teachers) to provide on-demand support to educational settings.
• Inclusion Bases: Dedicated spaces within mainstream schools to offer specialist teaching or targeted support for children with additional needs.
• Future of EHCPs: Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) will be created after specialist provision packages and placement decisions are made. They will become digital and standardised nationally.
• National Price Bands: New price bands for provision will aim to end unjustified fee variations and ensure consistent, high-quality support from independent special schools.
• Local SEND Reform Plan (LSRP): Lewisham has developed an LSRP, which has been submitted to the Secretary of State. Approval of this plan could lead to up to 90% of the High Needs Block deficit being written off.

During the discussion, councillors raised concerns about:

• Stigma associated with inclusion bases: The approach will involve children in the development of these spaces to foster understanding.
• Measurement of outcomes: Ensuring a framework is in place to measure the impact of reforms beyond process-related criteria, focusing on parental satisfaction, attainment, and life outcomes.
• Staff turnover: Plans are in place to improve retention of SEND caseworkers through appraisals, development opportunities, and flexible working, with a focus on showcasing Lewisham's positive practice.
• Engagement with ethnic minority families: Efforts are being made to engage diverse communities through place-based approaches and partnerships, including working with faith-based groups and the voluntary sector. The council also uses translation services and aims to make information accessible.
• Provision outside of school and term time: This area is not explicitly covered by the reforms but will be raised with commissioners for short breaks and targeted specialist support.
• Support for children in multi-academy trusts (MATs): While local authorities do not have statutory powers over MATs, schools are legally obligated to deliver provision outlined in EHCPs. The Experts at Hand model aims to improve communication and support between home and school.
• Early diagnosis for neurodiverse girls: A working group is focusing on identifying red flags for conditions like autism and ADHD in girls, particularly those exhibiting masking behaviours, and ensuring parents' concerns are heard.
• Place-based outreach: Plans include engaging with families where they are, through faith-based groups and community organisations.
• Enforcement of support: A clear strategy for enforcing implementation of support will be developed, though some aspects may be dependent on national legislative changes.

The committee also discussed the need to consider the impact of staff cuts in further education providers like Goldsmiths on SEND reform implementation and the importance of addressing the needs of LGBTQ+ children and ethnic minority gay children. The committee requested further information on translation services, contingency plans for staff shortages, strategies to address stigma and early diagnosis, and practical details on place-based outreach and out-of-term provision.