The Children's, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee met to discuss several key issues, including the removal of residential provision at Broomhill Bank School, and proposed changes to the post-16 transport policy. The committee agreed to stop residential provision at Broomhill Bank School and endorsed the proposed decision regarding the post-16 transport policy. They also endorsed the proposed decision on the Children's Social Care Prevention Grant.

Post-16 Transport Policy Statement

The committee endorsed the proposed decision on the post-16 transport policy statement, including post-19 transport for 2026-27. The proposal involves providing a Personal Transport Budget (PTB) to most learners who qualify for additional support from Kent County Council (KCC) to facilitate their travel to their place of education.

Craig Chapman, Head of Fair Access, explained that the local authority has a duty to consult on a transport policy, even if there are no changes. He noted that Kent has continued to provide free transport to around 1,500 learners, but there has been a 75% increase in the number of qualifying young adults and a 40% increase in the average cost of transport per pupil since 2018. This has increased the overall spend to over £10 million per year.

Mr Chapman clarified the legislative expectation, stating that the authority should provide transport or other support to facilitate attendance of all persons of sixth form age receiving education or training.

Paul Stepto questioned whether the new arrangements could lead to more taxis on the road and increased prices. Mr Chapman acknowledged this potential but said that the proposals would not give the same amount of money as a taxi and were about facilitating alternatives.

Mr Stratfield raised concerns about the impact of the charges on pupils out of education, training, and employment. Mr Chapman responded that an analysis had been done, and the financial modelling took the potential impact into account.

Ms Hammond stated that there was not substantial evidence that children with EHCPs are materially impacting adult social care when their education opportunities cease.

Mr Chapman added that one of the benefits of the change is that it will allow the travel training team to engage with pupils in year 10 and year 11, delivering life skills around independence at an earlier point. He also noted that there is an exceptional circumstances clause and a member-led regulation committee to consider more extreme cases.

Claudine Russell raised concerns about rural versus town implications and what happens if the bus doesn't come to the stop. Mr Chapman responded that rural schools have asked to have the flexibility to work with the council to put in their own arrangements. He added that the travel training is real-world training, and the staff go and travel with the young person at key points in the day.

Paul Thomas was pleased to see that the aim was to create clear, effective pathways for young people and transition confidently into adulthood. He thought that the lack of bus services needed to be picked up by the other committees to ensure that value was added to this.

The consultation on the proposals received a mixed response, with 34% agreement and 56% disagreement for the PTB change, and 24% support against 63% disagreement for the 19-plus space¹.

Broomhill Bank School

The committee agreed to the removal of residential provision from Broomhill Bank School North, effective September 2025. The school, located in Hextable, Swanley, specialises in providing for children with communication and interaction difficulties, including autism and speech, language, and communication needs.

Beverley Fordham, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, visited the school and praised the headteacher, Steve Ackerley, and the calm and structured environment. She explained that the current daytime provision costs about £20,500 per student, while residential provision costs around £62,000. Maintaining the residential department, even without placements, costs a minimum of £480,000 per annum. The proposal aims to use the extra capacity to widen participation from local children who require support.

Christine McInnes, Director of Education, clarified that the decision was not a reflection of the quality of provision, which is high quality, but a consequence of applying strict criteria to children placed in residential provision.

Ian Watts, Assistant Director Education-North Kent, added that the residential provision can accommodate up to 20 young people, but there is currently a very small number attending. He assured the committee that the closure would not negatively impact the education of those young people, as they are reaching the natural conclusion of their education at Broomhill Bank. No placements have been made by Kent County Council for two to three years.

Mr Watts explained that the proposal is based on the criteria for placing children in residential provision, and those who would normally attend Broomhill Bank would not fit that criteria. He added that there would be a saving in terms of financials, as day placements are far cheaper than residential.

Mr Stepto asked about the greater capacity for other children. Mr Watts responded that there is a live consultation to increase the designated number for the school from 318 to 490, with the majority of additional places on the north Hextable site. He said that the existing buildings can be used for other provision, allowing the school to take in a wider dimension of need.

Mr Thomas asked about the cost of converting the buildings and whether the work done with the residential children would be carried on in some other way with the day children. Mr Watts responded that the staff would remain broadly the same, and the same skill sets and opportunities would be afforded to youngsters. He added that the work is already underway to make sure that the appropriate care is there for those young people. The cost of the conversion is still at feasibility stage, but the costs are hugely favourable compared to the normal benchmark costs for capital spend for specialist provision.

Connie Nolan noted that the decision to stop the residential provision was taken some years ago and that the committee was being asked to give the final last rites to the residential provision. Mr Watts confirmed that Kent has shown its commitment to keeping the provision in place until such a decision is taken and that there is a significant cost being incurred every year to keep that provision open.

Ms Nolan asked if there had been a cost-benefit analysis on the cost of the residential care and the costs of providing transport for those children. Mr Watts responded that there hasn't been a direct insertion, but there are notes in the finance comments about the prospective costs that might be incurred.

Mr Thomas clarified that the report said it would save the authority approximately £40,000 per place and that the estimated average home-to-school transport is £8,500 per year. He asked if the officers could confirm that his understanding was correct that the vacant residential provision space would be utilised to repurpose for additional school places and that this would result in a reduction of the need for the home-to-school transport. Mr Watts responded that the unused buildings would be used for intervention space, breakout space, and admin space for the school and that the new builds would provide the appropriate teaching areas.

Children's Social Care Prevention Grant

The committee endorsed the proposed decision on the Children's Social Care Prevention Grant 2025/2026 (Families First).

Chris Palmer, Cabinet Member for Integrated Children's Services, introduced the item, describing Families First as a brilliant initiative that will ensure a fully integrated, family-centred approach to all children.

Ingrid Crisan explained that this is a national grant offered to every local authority in the country. It expects every local authority to use the funding very specifically to implement the reforms that are coming through the new Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill. Some of it will be towards service delivery or preventative services to children and families, and some of it towards the transformation.

Paul Stepto asked what the shift in the workforce with roles evolving would mean. Ms Crisan responded that there is a move nationally in recognising those who are alternatively qualified and part of the workforce, like social work assistants, and to increase their capacity and ability to work more directly with families.

Work Programme

The committee noted the work programme.