The Children and Education Scrutiny Sub-Committee of Tower Hamlets Council is scheduled to meet on Monday 14 September 2026. The meeting's agenda includes a review of the SEND Reform Update, the THSCP Annual Report 2025-26, and the draft Children and Education Scrutiny Sub Committee Work Programme for the 2026/27 Municipal Year.

SEND Reform Update

The Sub-Committee is scheduled to consider an update on the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reforms. This will include an overview of national SEND reforms, Tower Hamlets' local reform plan, and actions currently underway. The report pack indicates that the Department for Education (DfE) has commissioned all local authorities to produce a SEND Reform Plan, with Tower Hamlets' plan submitted in June 2026. The national reforms, as outlined in the Schools White Paper, aim for changes from 2029, including updating the SEND code of practice, introducing individual support plans (ISPs) for pupils with less complex needs, and a new tiered system of support. The DfE's expectations include earlier intervention, stronger multi-agency working, reduced reliance on Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) escalation, and improved outcomes and family confidence.

The report details Tower Hamlets' local SEND Reform Plan, which aims to strengthen inclusion, improve early intervention, and enhance partnership working. Key elements of the plan include the establishment of Local Area Partnerships (LAPs) comprising approximately 10 primary and secondary schools, each with a 'convener' school. These LAPs will be supported by specialist posts, and early years provision will align with Best Start Family Hubs. The plan also outlines the Experts at Hand model, which aims to provide multidisciplinary support at the SEN Support stage, involving Speech and Language Therapists, Educational Psychologists, and Occupational Therapists. The report highlights that the SEND Transformation Team will provide central support and governance for these initiatives.

The 2025/26 SEND Annual Report is also scheduled for discussion. This report provides an overview of the work undertaken by the Tower Hamlets SEND Improvement Board and its partners. It notes that a Local Area SEND Inspection in June 2025 confirmed that children and young people with SEND are valued and that significant weaknesses identified in a previous inspection had been addressed. The report details progress against inspection actions, including improvements in EHCP timeliness and the development of new pathways for support. It also outlines four national reform priorities: inclusion across mainstream settings, access to specialist support and local provision, strong partnership governance and accountability, and an inclusive culture and behaviours.

THSCP Annual Report 2025-26

The Sub-Committee is scheduled to review the Tower Hamlets Safeguarding Children Partnership (THSCP) Annual Report for 2025-26. This report provides an overview of the partnership's work, key achievements, and learning from reviews and audits. It also details the partnership's work on its two thematic priority areas: Think Family and Adolescent Safeguarding . The report is required to be published and shared with the National Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel and the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements by September 2026, in line with the requirements of Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026¹.

The report highlights the role of the Independent Scrutineer, Sarah Parker, in providing constructive challenge and supporting continuous improvement. It also details the contributions of the Young Scrutineers, Jasmine and Sakinah, who have been involved in projects such as shaping a new service specification for supported accommodation and reviewing the youth offer. The report notes a Joint Targeted Area Inspection (JTAI) on child sexual abuse in the family environment, which identified both strengths and areas for improvement. Learning from national reviews, including I Wanted Them All to Notice concerning child sexual abuse and Race, Racism and Safeguarding Children , is also detailed. The THSCP has launched an Anti-Racism Statement and is developing a multi-agency CSA strategy. The report also covers learning from multi-agency audits, including a thematic audit on CSA, and the Section 11 audit, which assesses the safeguarding arrangements of partner organisations.

The report outlines the THSCP's priorities for 2026-27, which include a focus on child sexual abuse and exploitation, suicidal ideation and self-harm, online safety, and data and evidence-led practice. Key actions for these priorities include developing a CSA strategy, delivering multi-agency training on adolescent safeguarding, and strengthening the multi-agency data dashboard.

Draft Children and Education Scrutiny Sub Committee Work Programme for the 2026/27 Municipal Year

The Sub-Committee is scheduled to consider and comment on the draft work programme for the 2026/27 municipal year. This programme has been developed through discussions with officers, a Scrutiny Member Workshop, and community engagement sessions to gather residents' views. The proposed programme includes scrutiny activities such as reviewing the THSCP Annual Report, the SEND Annual Report, and the Corporate Director Spotlight on Children Services. It also includes a review of Youth Services, Children and Young People's Mental Health, and School Organisation. The work programme is designed to be flexible and will be reviewed regularly.