The Education, Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee of Newham Council met on Thursday 10 September 2026 to discuss the implementation of key reforms and transformation projects within Children and Young People's Services, as well as to review youth safety and youth justice initiatives. The meeting also included a review of the performance dashboard for the directorate.

Newham 27 and Newham 30 - Implementation of Reforms and Transformation

The committee was scheduled to examine the readiness for the implementation of key reforms and transformation projects across Children and Young People's Services. This included an overview of the Newham 27 (social care reforms) and Newham 30 (SEND reforms) workstreams, focusing on national reforms, strategies, and guidance affecting the directorate. The discussion was also intended to consider the impact of transformation and change on existing service delivery. The report pack indicated that these programmes are aligned around early help, more inclusive universal and mainstream services, stronger family and community networks, and better integration between Council, health, education, and voluntary-sector partners. The social care reform programme was reported as being on track for implementation in accordance with the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026¹, and the SEND plan provided a phased three-year roadmap. The Best Start in Life initiative was noted to have moved from strategy into delivery, with a joint dashboard and quarterly reporting.

Youth Safety and Youth Justice

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to considering the impact and effectiveness of youth safety and youth justice activity in the London Borough of Newham. The report pack indicated that Newham continues to prioritise youth safety through a whole-system, public health approach. This includes efforts to divert children from the youth justice system, reduce reoffending rates, and address serious youth violence and exploitation. The committee was to be updated on performance data, including a slight reduction in first-time entrants to the youth justice system and a decrease in reoffending rates. The report pack also highlighted ongoing challenges related to serious youth violence, exploitation, weapon possession, school exclusion, and disproportionality within the youth justice cohort. Findings from a recent HM Inspectorate of Probation inspection were also scheduled for discussion, noting strengths in partnership working and a commitment to tackling inequality, alongside areas for improvement such as transitions to adulthood and victim engagement.

Performance Dashboard Review

The committee was also scheduled to consider the performance dashboard for the Children and Young People Directorate. This included a review of key performance indicators (KPIs) across services, with a focus on identifying trends, areas of concern, and comparative data. Specific indicators mentioned in the report pack included the percentage of infants receiving a face-to-face new birth visit within 14 days, the percentage of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) issued within 20 weeks, suspension rates from schools, permanent exclusions, persistent absence, knife crime injury victims, first-time entrants to the youth justice system, percentage of re-referrals within 12 months (with a specific focus on Black and Black British children), and the percentage of care leavers in employment, education, or training.