The Children & Families Scrutiny Committee of Stockport Council met on Wednesday 22 January 2025 to discuss the council's medium-term financial plan, school admissions arrangements for September 2026, and the schools finance settlement for 2025/26. The committee also reviewed the Schools Sufficiency Investment Plan, the Schools Strategy, and a report on children in poverty.

Responding to the Medium-Term Financial Plan: Update

A report was presented outlining the council's financial position and how the Children and Families portfolio fits within wider change proposals and budget setting. The report detailed the challenging financial circumstances facing local government, including significant funding gaps, rising costs due to demographics and inflation, and increased demand for essential services such as children's social care and education, health, and care plans (EHCPs). The report also highlighted the provisional local government settlement for 2025/26, noting that the increase in core spending power was less than the average for metropolitan borough councils and that the costs of meeting growing needs were rising faster than funding. The committee was asked to consider and comment on this report.

School's Admission Arrangements - September 2026 and School Organisation Proposals

This item concerned proposed amendments to admission arrangements and published admission numbers for community and voluntary controlled infant, primary, junior, and secondary schools in Stockport for the academic year 2026/27. The report also detailed a consultation on the proposal to amalgamate Lark Hill Nursery School and Lark Hill Primary School, and to change the age range at Lark Hill Primary School, following the retirement of the Headteacher at Lark Hill Nursery School. The committee was asked to comment on and note this report.

Schools Finance Settlement 2025/26

A report was presented providing an update on key announcements from the Department for Education regarding the education funding settlement for 2025/26. The committee was asked to note this report.

Schools Sufficiency Investment Plan

This report provided a framework for a school place plan for short, medium, and longer-term sufficiency. It was intended to sit alongside other strategic documents, including the Borough Plan and the Children and Young People’s Strategy. The committee was asked to comment on and note this report.

Schools Strategy

The committee was to consider an update on the progress made against the Schools Strategy, which was adopted by Cabinet in September 2023. The report provided an update on each of the strategy's priorities, which were intended to guide partnership work over the next five years. The committee was asked to note this report.

Children in Poverty Report

This report provided an update on the work being undertaken to understand, identify, and address child poverty. It included an overview of the national and local context, the Stockport Anti-Poverty Objectives 2024-2027, and key next steps and areas of focus. The committee was asked to comment on and note this report.

Scrutiny Work Programme

A report was presented outlining planned agenda items for the committee's next meeting and other work programme items within its remit. The committee was invited to consider this information and suggest any additional agenda items for future meetings.