The Children and Education Scrutiny Sub-Committee met on 09 May 2024 to discuss progress on increasing women and girls' access to sports and physical activities, review the draft SEND and Inclusion Strategy, and examine the work of the Tower Hamlets Safeguarding Children Partnership. The committee also reviewed recommendations from a challenge session on child healthy weight.

Increasing Women and Girls' Access to Sports and Physical Activities

The committee received an update on initiatives to increase women and girls' participation in sports and physical activities. Councillor Iqbal Hossain, Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation, highlighted that the recently insourced leisure service, now operating under the Be Well programme, aims to improve access through initiatives like free swimming for women and girls, and targeted women-only sessions. Simon Jones, Head of Leisure Operations, confirmed that all six leisure centres have reopened and are implementing a new leisure management system, 4GLOBAL, to better track participation and impact. Deputy Mayor Councillor Maium Talukdar announced the recruitment of six coaches to deliver sports and physical activities in schools, with a focus on engaging girls.

In response to questions, officers confirmed that swim clinics and beginner sessions will be introduced, and creche facilities are being considered to address childcare barriers. Improvements to lighting and safety outside leisure centres are also being addressed. The committee resolved to receive further details on why membership for under-15s has declined, to collaborate with School Games Organisers for partnership opportunities, and to receive updates on the impact of women and girls' sports networks and staff employment percentages.

SEND and Inclusion Strategy

Councillor Maium Talukdar, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and Lifelong Learning, introduced the draft Special Educational Needs, Disabilities and Inclusion Strategy for 2024-2029. Steve Reddy, Corporate Director for Children's Services, and Dr Tina Sode, Head of Special Educational Needs Education, outlined the strategy's six priorities, which aim to ensure timely, user-friendly, and effective support for children and young people with SEND and their families. The strategy is currently out for public consultation.

In response to questions, officers acknowledged that specific analysis on the intersection of race and gender for young people with SEND has not yet been conducted but will be considered. They clarified that the strategy is based on feedback from young people, families, and stakeholders, and that a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) is being drafted to address undiagnosed SEND in relation to gender. The committee resolved to receive details of the JSNA once completed.

Children's Safeguarding Work

The committee received an overview of the Tower Hamlets Safeguarding Children Partnership's (THSCP) key activities over the past year. Steve Reddy, Korkor Ceasar (Chair of THSCP), and Detective Superintendent Ralph Coates presented the partnership's structure, governance, and priority areas. These include anti-racism, neglect, peer-on-peer harm, and infant safety.

Officers clarified that each priority area has sub-categories, and the aim for anti-racism is to develop a joint statement from all agencies. The focus of peer-on-peer harm is on education, particularly online threats, and statistics on sexual assault and harassment in schools will be provided to the committee. The committee noted that recruitment processes for the THSCP business unit are being enhanced and that community safety partnerships are responsible for young people's safety both in and out of the home. The committee resolved to receive a brief on peer-to-peer harm statistics related to sexual assault and harassment in schools.

Healthy Weight Recommendations

The Chair provided reflections on the scrutiny challenge session report on child healthy weight, which took place in November 2023. Eight recommendations were presented, focusing on themes of food, physical activity, and psychological/cultural aspects. Key points raised by members included the proximity of fast-food outlets to schools, the higher cost of healthy food options, and concerns that healthier school meals are not always appealing or sufficient to prevent children from seeking unhealthy options after school.

The recommendations were approved by the committee and will be submitted to the Mayor and Cabinet for an executive response. An action plan will be developed to address the recommendations. The committee noted that the report will be submitted to the Mayor and Cabinet for an executive response, and an action plan will be provided in the next municipal year.