The Children and Young People Scrutiny Commission met on Monday 12 October 2026 to discuss housing support for families of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), review performance monitoring for children and education services, and examine the childcare sufficiency audit for Hackney. The Commission noted a letter sent to the Department for Education regarding a child safeguarding practice review.

Housing Support for Families of Children with SEND

The Commission reviewed the council's response to recommendations made in February 2026 concerning housing support for families of children with SEND. Deputy Mayor Councillor Dylan Law, Cabinet member for Safer Homes and Housing Services, alongside officers, provided an update on the progress of a cross-council task and finish group established to improve pathways and provide coordinated advice for these families. While acknowledging the complexity and the need for multi-agency collaboration, including with the NHS and Homerton Hospital, officers projected that a comprehensive multi-agency pathway would take approximately one year to fully implement. Governance structures are being formalised, with a steering group involving parent representatives planned. The Commission noted concerns about the recording of medical needs on Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and the coordination between housing allocations and SEND processes. A commitment was made to re-examine specific data points and to ensure a more compassionate and coordinated approach across departments. The Commission agreed to request an update on its recommendations and progress in six to nine months.

Children & Education Performance Monitoring

The Commission discussed the development of a performance dashboard for children and education services. Officers presented a prototype dashboard with 27 indicators, aiming to provide strategic oversight. The discussion focused on agreeing on key principles, governance, reporting frequency, and the suite of indicators to be included. Senior leaders currently monitor performance through various boards and daily dashboards, with key indicators including finances, timeliness of services, and EHCP completion rates. The Commission stressed the importance of including qualitative data, contextual narratives, and demographic analysis to identify and address structural inequalities, such as disproportionate exclusion rates among Black and Global Majority children. The feasibility of including data on children and young people's mental health and kinship care was also raised. The Commission will collate member feedback to finalise metrics and governance arrangements for the performance report.

Childcare Sufficiency Audit

The Commission reviewed the latest audit of childcare provision in Hackney, which confirmed that the council continues to meet its statutory duty to secure sufficient childcare places. Overall supply aligns with demand, and the expansion of funded entitlements has been successfully implemented. Key findings included a stable number of providers, diverse childcare options, and childcare costs in the local private and voluntary sectors remaining below the Inner London average. However, challenges remain, including provider sustainability due to rising business rates, rent, and utility costs, as well as insufficient funding rates for 30-hour provisions. Localised demand pressures persist in the north of the borough, and the uptake of the 15-hour free childcare for vulnerable families was discussed, with efforts underway to improve engagement. The Commission noted that while Hackney has adequate overall childcare space, affordability issues persist, requiring a systemic approach and lobbying for national policy changes. A progress report on the Affordable Childcare Commission recommendations is to be presented in six to nine months.

Child Safeguarding Practice Review

The Commission noted that following its scrutiny of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review of Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy in July, it had written to the Department for Education requesting a response to its questions regarding policy and practice issues related to school behaviour policies.

Work Programme

The Commission reviewed its work programme for the remainder of the municipal year 2026/27. Items confirmed include childhood immunisations, support for young parents, the Families First Programme, Ofsted inspection reports, SEND reform, and budget monitoring. Items yet to be scoped include NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) figures, young people's engagement in decision-making, and the impact of excessive heat on schools. The Commission also agreed to prioritise preventing young people from becoming involved in the Youth Justice System for its work programme in the new municipal year.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 9th September 2026 were reviewed and agreed upon with no matters arising.