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Children's Services Scrutiny Sub-Committee - Tuesday 8 July 2025 7.00 pm

July 8, 2025 View on council website Watch video of meeting
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Summary

The Children's Services Scrutiny Sub-Committee met to discuss special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and alternative provision, elective home education, and to receive an Ofsted update. The sub-committee agreed to receive an update on the results of the annual families survey and report back at the next milestone, to include awareness of the process of elective home education in the corporate safeguarding training, and to circulate a breakdown of the demographic data in relation to children who were electively home educated and the reasonings parents provided for electively home educating their children. The sub-committee also agreed to note the content of the Ofsted update report and that the pupil place planning report scheduled for October include an update on the lessons learned from the school adjudicators decision.

SEND and Alternative Provision

The sub-committee welcomed a report on SEND and alternative provision, and heard from Sophie Garner, Interim Director of Education and Learning, who introduced the new strategy to drive improvement for 2025 to 2030. The strategy was co-produced with schools, parents, families, children and young people, and was also subject to a Local Government Association (LGA) peer review in November 2023. The strategy is underpinned by an action plan and governance sits within the SEND Strategic Partnership Board. The seven priorities include alternative provision, and aim to achieve improvements by 2030, especially around sufficiency and inclusive mainstream practices. The report also detailed support for children and young people who do not have education and healthcare plans (EHCPs), such as the three-team for children at risk of exclusion and the Exceptional Needs Grant. Lulu Pinkney, SEND Youth Involvement Coordinator, spoke about amplifying the voices of children in SEND and ensuring their involvement in decision making.

The sub-committee then heard from Rosemary Merricks, Facilitator of the Lambeth Parent Forum, who welcomed the incorporation of feedback from families into the strategy and highlighted the need for everyone to understand the needs of children and young people with SEND and to work together to provide the best possible outcomes. Andrea Parker, Executive Headteacher of BJS Federation of Schools and Children Centres, offered feedback from primary schools, highlighting the support from the area SENCO team and the training available to schools. Karen Chamberlain, Headteacher of Lilian Baylis Technology School, gave a secondary school perspective, noting a rise in EHCPs and praising improvements in inclusion and attendance.

Following questions from the sub-committee, Sophie Garner, Interim Director of Education and Learning, and Councillor Ben Kind, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, explained that the strategy was increasingly shaped by feedback from families, with a current emphasis on improving key transition points. They also noted that the annual SEND Family Survey was conducted to collect feedback from families, and that the team had expanded its expertise and worked to ensure proper consultation responses and options were provided to families regarding the EHCP consultation process.

The sub-committee resolved to welcome the report, and that officers provide an update on the results of the annual families survey and report back to the sub-committee at the next milestone.

Elective Home Education

The sub-committee then considered a report on elective home education (EHE). Councillor Ben Kind, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, noted that there had been a rise in elective home education across the country since the pandemic. Sophie Garner, Interim Director of Education and Learning, explained that the council had implemented a multi-agency audit which led to nine school attendance orders where children were deemed vulnerable. She also noted that officers supported families to re-engage with schools through a ten day cooling-off period and personalised transition planning, and that the elective home education team worked closely with social care, education welfare officers, and inclusion teams to ensure children were safeguarded and supported.

Following questions from the sub-committee, Sophie Garner, Interim Director of Education and Learning, and Councillor Ben Kind, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, explained that corporate safeguarding training for staff and councillors included awareness of EHE and would be further refreshed. They also noted that discussions with the Department for Education were ongoing regarding the preparation for the new Children Not in School legislation, and that officers had flagged the need for additional funding to meet increased responsibilities.

The sub-committee resolved that officers include awareness of the process of elective home education and how members can make the right referrals in the corporate safeguarding training, and that officers circulate a breakdown of the demographic data in relation to children who were electively home educated and the reasonings parents provided for electively home educating their children.

Ofsted Update Report

The sub-committee then received an Ofsted update report from Laura Feeney, Assistant Director, Improvement and Transformation, who confirmed that while the next full Ofsted inspection had not yet been scheduled, it was expected in Autumn 2025. She noted that a structured improvement programme was underway. Dan Stoughton, Director of Integrated Children's Commissioning and Youth Services, noted the integration of mental health and emotional wellbeing services in schools, which had increased early intervention.

The sub-committee agreed to note the content of the report, and that the pupil place planning report scheduled for October include an update on the lessons learned from the school adjudicators decision.

Work Programme

Finally, the sub-committee considered the work programme for 2025/26. The chair reminded members that the work programme was a live document that could change throughout the year. The sub-committee supported a proposal to invite a representative of the Lambeth Youth Council to contribute to the sub-committee as a witness in consideration of items. The sub-committee agreed to note the content of the report, and endorse a representative of the Lambeth Youth Council to contribute to the sub-committee as a witness in consideration of items.

Attendees

Profile image for Councillor David Oxley
Councillor David Oxley  Vice-Chair of Overview and Scrutiny •  Labour •  Stockwell West and Larkhall
Profile image for Councillor Dominic Armstrong
Councillor Dominic Armstrong  Labour •  Streatham Common and Vale
Profile image for CouncillorChristine Banton
CouncillorChristine Banton  Deputy Mayor and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Champion •  Labour •  Gipsy Hill
Profile image for Councillor James Bryan
Councillor James Bryan  Deputy Chief Whip •  Labour •  Brixton North
Profile image for Councillor Matthew Bryant
Councillor Matthew Bryant  Deputy Group Leader •  Liberal Democrats •  Streatham Hill West and Thornton
Profile image for Councillor Sarah Cole
Councillor Sarah Cole  Labour •  Streatham Common and Vale

Topics

No topics have been identified for this meeting yet.

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