The Children, Young People and Education Scrutiny Commission of Leicester Council is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 17 June 2026. The meeting's agenda includes a review of the Executive's response to recommendations concerning the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) High Needs Block, an update on the post-inspection improvement plan for Children's Social Care, and a presentation on priorities and performance ambitions for social care and education.

Executive Response to SEND High Needs Block Recommendations

A key item for discussion will be the Executive's response to recommendations made by the CYPE Scrutiny Commission's Task Group regarding the SEND High Needs Block¹. This block of funding, part of the Dedicated Schools Grant, is crucial for supporting children with high needs. The Task Group conducted an in-depth evaluation of its efficiency and effectiveness. The Executive's response, detailed in Appendix D of the public reports pack², indicates that many of the Task Group's recommendations align with the national direction set out in the Department for Education's Schools White Paper, 'Every Child Achieving and Thriving'. The response also highlights the ongoing development of the Leicester City Local SEND Reform Plan, which aims to address the High Needs Block deficit and secure long-term financial sustainability.

Post-Inspection Improvement Plan for Children's Social Care

The Commission is scheduled to receive a presentation on the post-inspection improvement plan for Children's Social Care. This update, outlined in Appendix E³, will cover progress made following a full Ofsted inspection in September 2024 and a focused visit in March 2026 concerning care leavers. The report details areas identified for improvement, such as leadership oversight, the timeliness and robustness of responses to contacts and referrals, and the quality and consistency of care plans. It also outlines the actions taken and priorities for further improvement in these areas.

Priorities and Performance Ambitions for Social Care and Education

An update on performance in social care and education services for Quarter 4 of 2025-26 will be presented, as detailed in Appendix F⁴. This report provides information on monitoring and improving quality across various departmental priorities. The presentation will cover thirteen identified priorities, including developing a maturity matrix for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) work, ensuring school place sufficiency, and refining strategies for preparing young people for adulthood. The report also includes performance data and analysis for key areas such as assessing needs, care provision, safeguarding, looked-after children, and SEND.

Introduction to CYPE

The Lead Scrutiny Directors will provide an introduction to the Children, Young People and Education (CYPE) service areas that fall under the Commission's remit. This will help to outline the scope of the Commission's work and the services it scrutinises.

Terms of Reference

The Commission will also be asked to note its Terms of Reference, as detailed in Appendix B⁵. These terms define the role and responsibilities of the Commission in reviewing and scrutinising the work of the Executive and partner organisations.