The Children & Families Scrutiny Committee of Stockport Council met on Wednesday 05 March 2025 to discuss a range of important issues concerning children and young people in the borough. Key topics included updates on the Stockport Attendance Strategy, the Empowering Parents Empowering Communities (EPEC) programme, and the provision of children's therapies. The committee also reviewed reports on Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), the Protected Characteristics Implementation Plan for care leavers, and services for young people.

Presentation from the Student Equalities Council

Students representing the Equalities Council were scheduled to attend the meeting to deliver a presentation to the Scrutiny Committee. The committee was asked to note this presentation.

Empowering Parents, Empowering Communities (EPEC) Stockport

A report was scheduled for consideration regarding the Empowering Parents, Empowering Communities (EPEC) programme in Stockport. This report marked the programme's sixth anniversary and was intended to highlight its key achievements and progress over the past six years. The committee was asked to comment on and note the report. The EPEC programme is an evidence-based parenting initiative that trains local volunteer Parent Group Leaders (PGLs) to run parenting groups within their communities, fostering peer-to-peer support and strengthening community connections. The programme aims to equip parents with positive parenting skills, improve communication, and build resilient family relationships.

Stockport Attendance Strategy

The committee was scheduled to consider a report detailing the Stockport Attendance Strategy. This strategy aims to ensure that children and young people in Stockport grow up happy, healthy, and confident, surrounded by love, care, and kindness. It is underpinned by the understanding that school attendance offers significant benefits for children's learning, wellbeing, and overall development. The strategy, which covers a two-year period, pays full regard to statutory guidance from the Department for Education. The report outlined anticipated improvements such as enhanced user experience for those with school attendance concerns, a more even spread of data across all child cohorts, a reduction in electively home-educated children, and improved attainment and progress for vulnerable groups. The committee was asked to comment on and note the report.

Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

A report was scheduled for discussion concerning Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). The report was intended to provide a brief overview of the causes and impact of FASD and to describe Stockport's response to the NICE FASD quality standards published in 2022. FASD is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that can result from prenatal alcohol exposure, affecting a child's development in various ways. The report highlighted Stockport's multi-agency FASD advisory board, which was established to provide strategic oversight and partnership working to improve outcomes for children and young people affected by FASD. The committee was asked to consider and comment on the report.

Protected Characteristics Implementation Plan 2024-2025

The committee was scheduled to consider an update on the protected characteristic implementation plan for care leavers for 2024-2025. This plan aims to address inequalities faced by care-experienced young people. The report outlined agreed priorities, including advocating for the extension of the Our Pass bus pass for care leavers from age 21 to 25, developing flexible dental schemes, and working with housing providers to adopt the Greater Manchester care leaver housing pledge. The plan also focused on improving access to education, employment, and training opportunities, as well as enhancing support for social and emotional wellbeing and finances. The committee was asked to consider and comment on the report.

Cabinet Response - Services for Young People

A report detailing the Cabinet's response to a previous scrutiny review of Services for Young People was scheduled for consideration. This review had focused on youth provision for adolescents aged 11 to 16 years old in Stockport. The report provided an update on the three recommendations made in the original scrutiny review, which included developing a single directory solution for youth provision, enhancing communication strategies regarding youth services, and ensuring a sustained and widespread input of young people's voices into the youth provision offer. The committee was asked to consider and endorse the report.

SEND Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the current position and context of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Stockport. This report provided information on the volume of demand, timeliness, and communication related to Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), as well as preparations for the next SEND inspection. The report highlighted the ongoing challenges within the SEND system, including chronic underfunding and increasing demand. It detailed Stockport's efforts to address these issues, including the development of an EHCP recovery plan and preparations for the upcoming SEND inspection framework. The committee was asked to comment on and note the report.

Children's Therapies Commission

A report was scheduled for discussion regarding the procurement of contracts for Speech, Language, and Occupational Therapy services for children and young people with additional needs. The report outlined the statutory responsibilities of the council in providing these services and detailed the move towards a Balanced System® approach. This approach aims to allocate resources based on need, consider the child within their environment, and incorporate public health principles and early intervention. The committee was asked to comment on and note the report.

Agenda Planning

The committee was scheduled to consider a report on planned agenda items for future meetings and Work Programme items. The committee was invited to review the information presented and propose any additional agenda items for upcoming meetings.