The Children and Young People's Scrutiny Panel was scheduled to consider a range of important issues, including a detailed update on the council's finances for the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year. The panel was also scheduled to review the progress of the Haringey Youth Justice Plan for 2024-2027 and discuss the consultation outcomes for the Haringey SEND and Alternative Provision Strategy for 2026-2029. A verbal update on the government's white paper on schools was also scheduled to be provided.

2026/27 Finance Update – Quarter 1

The panel was scheduled to scrutinise the council's financial position at the end of the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year. This included a review of the General Fund Revenue and Capital, the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), and the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG). The report indicated a challenging financial situation for the council, with a forecast overspend on day-to-day services, largely attributed to increased demand in adult services, children's services, education, and housing demand, particularly temporary accommodation. A significant element of the forecast overspend was also due to the non-delivery of agreed savings. The report highlighted concerns raised by the council's external auditors regarding the persistent failure to deliver on savings targets, which exposes the authority to a risk of significant financial loss. The Dedicated Schools Grant was forecasting an £8.4 million overspend, primarily related to the High Needs Block, reflecting increased demand and the cost of commissioned placements for those with special educational needs. The Housing Revenue Account was also forecasting an overspend, mainly due to temporary accommodation spending and a higher-than-budgeted level of void properties. The report also detailed underspends against both the General Fund and HRA capital programmes. The panel was asked to consider the elements of the report relevant to Children's Services and submit any recommendations to the Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

Haringey Youth Justice Plan 2024 - 2027 - Year 2 Review

The panel was scheduled to receive the second annual review of the statutory Youth Justice Plan for 2024-2027. This plan outlines the key strategic priorities, progress, and activities undertaken over the past year to prevent offending by children and young people. The report indicated that the Youth Justice Service (YJS) and its partners had received an overall rating of 'good' with outstanding features in their most recent inspection by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP). The plan supported various partnership strategies, including the Corporate Delivery Plan, Early Help Strategy, Young People at Risk Strategy, Health and Wellbeing Strategy, Community Safety Strategy, SEND and Alternative Provision Sufficiency Strategy, and the Mayor of London's Policing and Crime Plan. Key quantitative data for 2025-2026 was scheduled for review, showing an increase in throughput of interventions and programmes, particularly pre-court programmes like Turnaround and Community Resolutions. However, the report also highlighted rising complexity within the cohort of children within the local youth justice system, with increased risks related to reoffending rates, safety and wellbeing, and health needs such as emotional and mental health and substance misuse. The plan detailed key achievements, including a reduction in serious youth violence, expansion of prevention and diversion activity, and innovative programmes like Dusty Knuckle and the Child First Custody Project. The strategic priorities for 2024-2027 were scheduled for discussion, focusing on a child-first approach, restorative justice, improving the health offer, addressing disproportionality, supporting children in care, reducing serious youth violence, and increasing prevention and diversion.

Haringey SEND and Alternative Provision Strategy Consultation 2026 - 2029

The panel was scheduled to be informed about the outcomes of the formal public consultation on the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Strategy for Haringey 2026-2029. The report indicated that the previous SEND strategy, in place from 2022-2025, had been refreshed following extensive co-production and feedback. Haringey had achieved the highest possible rating in its local area SEND inspection. The five strategic priorities for the refreshed strategy were scheduled for review: Early Intervention, High-quality local provision, Responsive local offer, Authentic coproduction, and Preparation for adulthood. The consultation, which ran from December 2025 to February 2026, received 139 responses and evidenced strong support for the five priority areas, with early intervention and high-quality local provision being identified as most important. Feedback highlighted the need for greater inclusion, more training for education staff, improved access to information and signposting, and better access to therapy and overnight short breaks. The strategy had been updated to explicitly name the overarching principle of inclusion as 'Every child included. Every voice heard. Every difference celebrated' and committed to developing a borough-wide Inclusion Charter. The report also detailed actions taken to strengthen early intervention, expand specialist teams, and improve the local offer, including the opening of Conway House for overnight short breaks. The strategy was noted to align with the national SEND reforms outlined in the white paper 'Every Child Achieving and Thriving'.

Update on the Government White Paper on Schools

A verbal update was scheduled to be provided regarding the government's white paper on schools. This item was not accompanied by a written report in the provided documentation.

Work Programme Update

The panel was scheduled to receive an update on its work programme. This would likely have outlined planned future scrutiny activities and reviews.

Dates of Future Meetings

The panel was scheduled to note the dates of future meetings.