The Children and Young People's Scrutiny Commission met to discuss behaviour management and school inclusion, sexual and reproductive health services for young people, and the commission's work programme. The commission heard from Astrid Shun, head teacher at London East Alternative Provision Leap in Tower Hamlets, about behaviour management and school inclusion. Members also received an update on sexual and reproductive health services for young people in Hackney, following up on concerns raised at a previous meeting.

Behaviour Management and School Inclusion

Astrid Shun, head teacher at London East Alternative Provision Leap, presented the work of the Tower Hamlets school, which caters for pupils from primary age to post-16 with a range of needs, including conduct disorders, criminal exploitation, anxiety, and mental health issues.

Key points from the presentation and discussion:

• Increase in Referrals: London East AP has seen a 23% increase in referrals since COVID-19.
• Student Population: The school's population includes a high percentage of students with social care involvement, looked-after children, and those known to the youth justice service.
• Therapeutic Provisions: The school offers extensive therapeutic support, including counsellors, therapists, parenting support workers, and social workers.
• Alternative Provision Specialist Task Force (APST): The APST, located at LEAP, includes a youth justice worker, parenting support lead, social worker, educational psychologists, and CAMHS[^1] therapist. [^1]: CAMHS stands for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. They are the specialist NHS services that provide assessment and treatment for children and young people with mental health difficulties.
• Restorative Practice: The school uses restorative practice to resolve conflicts, with all staff trained in this approach.
• Exclusion Rates: Councillor Margaret Gordon asked about Tower Hamlets' comparatively lower exclusion rates. Astrid Shun suggested that Tower Hamlets schools may have good tier one and tier two provisions in place.
• Zero Tolerance Policies: Astrid Shun expressed concern about zero-tolerance policies in mainstream schools, arguing that they may not be appropriate for all children and can lead to unnecessary exclusions. > I also think a change in mindset is really needed in mainstream schools to make staff understand that the children have needs and that they are presenting in ways that are trying to communicate a need that is not being met.
• Funding: Astrid Shun highlighted the need for stable and consistent funding for alternative provision schools.

Sexual and Reproductive Health Services for Young People

Councillor Christopher Kennedy, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, and representatives from City and Hackney Public Health and Homerton University Hospital provided an update on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services for young people in Hackney.

Key points from the presentation and discussion:

• CHIPS Plus Decommissioning: The Commission previously reviewed the decommissioning of the CHIPS Plus service[^2]. [^2]: The CHIPS Plus service was a dedicated sexual and reproductive health service for young people in Hackney. The update indicated that the number of SRH interventions accessed by young people had not been detrimentally impacted by the decommissioning and had even improved.
• SRH Strategy: Carolyn Sharpe, Consultant in Public Health, noted that the City and Hackney Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy and Action Plan had been formally ratified. A subcommittee co-chaired with the City of London meets quarterly to oversee implementation.
• Partnership Working: Partnership working is a key focus, with a subcommittee bringing together commission providers and other key partners.
• Health Promotion: Frux Kamminga, Senior Public Health Specialist, noted that a monthly campaign focuses on different themes for young people. Young Hackney and the Super Youth Hub have developed a digital communications campaign.
• Service Provision: Ladan Farah, the young people team leader at Homerton Hospital, reported that there is a young people's walk-in clinic every weekday afternoon for under-19s at the Clifton Centre, and a long-acting reversible contraception clinic every Tuesday.
• Super Youth Hub: The Health Spot Service at Forest Road Youth Club now has a dedicated young person's clinic every Tuesday.
• Telephone Line: A young people's telephone line has been established for advice and appointments.
• STI Rates: Councillor Claudia Turbet-Delof raised concerns about Hackney having one of the highest STI infection rates in young people under 25. Chris Lovitt, Deputy Director of Public Health, explained that this was due to demographics, with some population groups more likely to have higher levels of STIs.
• School Engagement: David Wright, Health & Wellbeing Team Leader from Young Hackney, reported that the team delivers sessions in schools, but that schools are now asking for sessions on topics such as sexual harassment, consent, and misogyny, rather than STIs and contraception. > We can only go into the schools and deliver, um, sessions around STIs and contraception if we're asked to do so.
• PrEP: Councillor Alastair Binnie-Lubbock asked about tracking and supporting those who access PrEP[^3]. [^3]: PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. It is a medicine people at risk for HIV take to prevent getting HIV from sex or injection drug use. Chris Lovitt responded that there is a London-wide HIV prevention programme and a digital PrEP service. Catherine Cohen added that people taking PrEP are tested for STIs every three months.

Work Programme 2025/26

The Commission reviewed and updated the work programme for the year to ensure it remains current and reflects the needs and concerns of the local community. An annual public engagement survey is being conducted to allow residents and local stakeholders to suggest topics for scrutiny.

Councillor Claudia Turbet-Delof suggested looking at the impact of increased mental health provision and funding, as well as dropout rates from mental health services.

Councillor Claudia Turbet-Delof also raised concerns about a potential cut of A-level provision in the B6 form¹. Councillor George Gooch suggested looking at destinations of young people beyond college and how services are equipping them for what happens next. Councillor Patrick Pinkerton suggested including apprenticeships in this review.

Minutes of Previous Meetings

The minutes of the meetings held on 17 March 2025 and 30 April 2025 were approved.