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Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee - Monday, 16th June, 2025 7.00 pm
June 16, 2025 View on council website Watch video of meeting Read transcript (Professional subscription required)Summary
The Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee met to discuss a range of issues affecting young people in Islington, including selecting a scrutiny topic for the year, reviewing a report on religious education, and examining performance data related to children's services. The committee decided to focus its scrutiny efforts on play spaces and services in Islington for the coming year. They also agreed to add an update on post-16 opportunities to their work programme.
Play Spaces and Services
The committee voted to proceed with an investigation into play spaces and services in Islington as its main scrutiny topic for the year. This decision followed a discussion of three potential topics: early help and safeguarding, disproportionality in referrals to social services, and play spaces.
Councillor Claire Zammit, Arts Champion, spoke passionately about the importance of play, noting the lack of green spaces and play opportunities on some estates. She highlighted play as a tool for early identification of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and as an equity issue, arguing that children from lower-income backgrounds may have fewer play opportunities. She also emphasised the role of play in healthy child development, teaching communication, emotional regulation, creativity, resilience, and problem-solving skills.
Councillor Ernestas Jegorovas-Armstrong supported the focus on play, linking it to mental well-being for all age groups. He suggested exploring how to make the best use of existing and new play spaces, and formalising play opportunities in schools through breakfast and after-school clubs.
Councillor James Potts, Reading Champion, declared a conflict of interest as a parent of young children who use Islington's play facilities. He emphasised the human right to play and the importance of shared play spaces for community building. He suggested focusing on what Islington does well in terms of play provision and seeking international feedback, particularly from Scandinavia, where play is a significant part of the education system.
Councillor Paul Convery, Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee and the Pensions Committee, supported the play proposal, highlighting Islington's legacy of adventure playgrounds and organisations like Islington Play Association, which runs adventure playgrounds and children's centres. He suggested examining why some play spaces are underused and how to support organisations providing adventure playgrounds.
Tanya, Head of Strategic Programs and Strategy, noted that the last National Play Strategy was in 2008 and that there are moves to create a new one. She also mentioned Diana Bournett, an architect who has written a book about creating spaces for children to play, and suggested that she could provide perspective on play in the public realm.
Mary Clement supported the focus on play for mental health and normalising outdoor play. She suggested looking at safety concerns that prevent parents from allowing their children to play outside and considering sensory areas and ecology centres as play spaces.
Councillor Micheline Sattin-Gongo, this member for children, young people and families, mentioned a recent meeting with play association groups and plans to send a letter to the minister to promote play.
During the discussion, Councillor Ilkay Cinko-Oner, Deputy Leader of the Independent and Green Group, advocated for a focus on early help and intervention, particularly in addressing the needs of families who feel they did not receive early intervention.
SACRE Annual Report
The committee reviewed the Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) Annual Report for 2023-2024. Ben Dunne, Assistant Director School Improvement, provided an overview, noting that the report covers progress within the framework of the SACRE and includes a three-year development plan. He highlighted improvements in GCSE results for religious education (RE) and efforts to increase representation from Buddhist, humanist, Hindu, and Muslim communities on the SACRE board.
Councillor Ernestas Jegorovas-Armstrong asked about collective worship in schools. Ben Dunne explained that the format varies but should be inclusive and invitational, including pupils of all faiths or no faith. He mentioned the AWARE award (Award for Widening Achievement in RE) to share best practices in RE provision and collective worship.
Councillor Praful Nargund questioned how the report measures the endorsement of diversity, encouragement of tolerance, respect, and mutual understanding. Ben Dunne responded that these outcomes are measured through behaviour in schools, reasons for suspensions, and attendance, particularly among vulnerable communities. Councillor Micheline Sattin-Gongo added that schools are starting to reflect values of different faiths and allow young people to celebrate with their families.
Councillor Saiqa Pandor, Women and Girls Champion, asked about steps to increase representation from the Hindu and Muslim communities on the SACRE board. Ben Dunne said that Father David Allen has links with major groups across the borough and is in touch with those groups.
Quarter Three Performance Report
The committee reviewed the Quarter Three Performance Report for Children and Young People's Services. John Abbey, Director of Children's Services, provided an overview, noting a decrease in the number of children of staff and highlighting participation rates at youth clubs.
Councillor Gulcin Ozdemir, Chair of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee, raised concerns about suspensions in primary schools and the need for governors to be informed of every suspension. John Abbey confirmed that schools should be reporting suspensions to governors and offered to reinforce this message.
Councillor Ilkay Cinko-Oner expressed concern about young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET), noting that Islington's numbers are still behind London averages. John Abbey responded that there are targeted programmes to address this issue, requiring an integrated systems approach.
Councillor Ernestas Jegorovas-Armstrong questioned the rate of suspensions in secondary schools, particularly for pupils with SEND, and asked about the SEND symposium. He asked if more parents would be involved in future events. John Abbey responded that the Department for Education is expected to release a SEND white paper, which will inform future strategy. He confirmed that more parents would be invited to the next event.
Mary Clement raised concerns about the high number of suspensions for free school meal-eligible pupils and the impact of constant suspensions on children. She asked if the council had data on whether the suspensions related to different children or the same children being repeatedly suspended. She also highlighted that almost three-quarters of secondary suspensions are from the COLAT schools1.
John Abbey acknowledged the concerns and said that the data would be broken down to show the number of individual students suspended, as opposed to the total number of suspensions. He also said that Ben Dunne had been sharing suspension data with deputy heads to increase visibility and accountability.
Councillor Praful Nargund questioned whether suspensions are an effective tool and what is being done to help teachers manage behaviour in the classroom. John Abbey responded that the Secretary of State has recognised the issue and that the Children's Well-being Schools Bill addresses it. He said that the council is providing training to schools to promote inclusive practices and help staff manage behaviour.
Councillor Ilkay Cinko-Oner asked if the council collects data on detentions in secondary schools, as persistent detentions can lead to suspensions. John Abbey responded that schools collect this data and that it should be reported back to parents.
Councillor Claire Zammit suggested that the council should name the schools with the highest suspension rates and share good practices from schools with low suspension rates.
A member of the public asked about the impact of internal exclusions and the correlation between fixed-term exclusions and well-being. John Abbey responded that the complexity and needs of young people have changed and that schools may lack the resources to provide adequate support.
Tanya suggested adding an update on post-16 opportunities to the work programme, which was agreed.
Councillor Paul Convery said that schools have become increasingly fragmented and competitive, and that the council has been reluctant to shine a spotlight on schools with high rates of persistent absenteeism.
Councillor Saiqa Pandor asked about steps to address the lack of representation among staff. John Abbey responded that the council is working to strengthen governor training and increase participation in global majority networks.
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It is not clear from the transcript what COLAT schools are. ↩
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