The Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee were scheduled to discuss a range of topics, including the Transforming SEND and Inclusion in Leicestershire Programme, the annual report of the Children's Social Care Statutory Complaints and Compliments, and the Leicestershire and Rutland Safeguarding Children Partnership Yearly Report. Also to be discussed was the performance of the Children and Family Services Department for the first quarter of 2025-26.

Transforming SEND and Inclusion in Leicestershire (TSIL) Programme

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the Transforming SEND and Inclusion in Leicestershire (TSIL) programme and the High Needs Block.

The report pack included a summary of the work and impact of the TSIL programme, progress since the last update in September 2024, and an overview of the current High Needs Block financial position.

The TSIL programme was established in August 2022 to address increasing demand for SEND support and to create a sustainable system for the future. The report pack stated that the programme was structured around four key workstreams:

• Inclusive Practice
• Service Transformation
• Accurate Information
• Communication and Engagement

The report pack stated that between 2022 and 2025, the TSIL programme had achieved a number of things, including:

• Supporting more children and young people with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) in mainstream schools
• Enabling £16.6 million of avoided costs in the current financial year
• Slowing the growth in EHCPs compared to the national average
• Reducing requests for tribunals and complaints

Despite the work undertaken through the TSIL programme, the report pack stated that significant demand pressure remains for support for children and young people with SEND. It noted that the number of requests for Education Health and Care Needs Assessments (EHCNAs) in Leicestershire increased by 12% in 2024, in line with a similar national increase.

The report pack stated that the current Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficit position for 2025/26 is budgeted at £68.8 million, and that the High Needs Block financial plan projects an annual funding gap of £15.2 million, with a subsequent cumulative HNB funding gap for 2025/26 of £80.2 million.

The report pack stated that the authority plans to develop a Belonging in Education strategy, co-producing with system partners, school leaders, parents, carers and young people with SEND.

Children's Social Care Statutory Complaints and Compliments Annual Report 2024-25

The committee was scheduled to receive a summary of the Children's Social Care Statutory Complaints and Compliments Annual Report for 2024-25.

The report pack stated that the Complaints Team manages complaints relating to:

• Adult Social Care
• Children's Social Care
• Corporate Complaints

The report pack stated that in 2024/25:

• 41 complaints were considered at Stage 1, compared to 42 in 2023/24
• Four complaints were considered at Stage 2, compared to seven in 2023/24
• Three complaints were considered at Stage 3, compared to three in 2023/24

The report pack stated that the main areas complained about were staff conduct/customer care and poor communication.

The report pack stated that the Council responded to 58% of the complaints at Stage 1 within the statutory maximum of 20 working days.

The report pack stated that the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman investigated 31 complaints relating to Children's Social Care during 2024-25 and found fault in eleven instances.

The report pack stated that the costs incurred through the statutory complaints procedure were £9,300, a decrease of £12,750 from 2023/24.

The report pack also included the Corporate Complaints and Compliments Annual Report 2024 - 2025, which stated that the number of Corporate Complaints received in 2024/2025 has decreased by 12% from 2023/2024, with highest volumes relating to Special Educational Needs Assessment (SENA) and School and Special Educational Needs (SEN) Transport.

Draft Leicestershire and Rutland Safeguarding Children Partnership Yearly Report 2024-25

The committee was scheduled to provide their views on the draft Yearly Report of the Leicestershire and Rutland Safeguarding Children Partnership (LRSCP) for 2024-25.

The report pack stated that the key purpose of the Yearly Report is to assess the impact of the work undertaken in 2024-25 on safeguarding outcomes for children in Leicestershire and Rutland, and to evaluate performance against the priorities set out in the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Safeguarding Children Partnerships' Joint Business Plan 2023-25.

The report pack stated that the key messages from the LRSCP to Leicestershire are:

• The Safeguarding Babies priority has achieved a good level of assurance and so it has not been carried over to the 2025-27 Business Plan.
• The Child Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing business priority has achieved a good level of assurance and so it has not been carried over to the 2025-27 Business Plan.
• A priority on Harm Outside the Home has been included in the Business Plan for 2025-27.
• A priority on Belonging has been included in the Business Plan for 2025-27.
• The Effective Safeguarding in independent and out of school settings business priority has achieved a good level of assurance and so it will not be carried over to the 2025-27 Business Plan.
• Transitional safeguarding has been carried forward to both the SCPs' Business Plan for 2025-27 and the Safeguarding Adults Boards' Business Plan for 2025-27.

The report pack stated that Leicestershire County Council contributed £66,258 to the LRSCP in 2024-25, which is 33% of the total funding for the LRSCP.

Children in Need of Help and Protection

The committee was scheduled to receive an overview of work in the Children and Family Department in relation to children within Leicestershire that require Help and Protection, who are referred to as Children in Need (CIN) and Children in Need of Protection (CP).

The report pack stated that following a service redesign in February 2024, Children's Social Care in Leicestershire underwent a realignment to refocus its attention on achieving better outcomes for children, and that services are delivered across Family Help and Family Safeguarding locality-based teams.

The report pack stated that in the year April 2024-March 2025, the number of contacts received by First Response was 28,124, and that 24% of all of these contacts meet the threshold to be progressed as a referral to Children' Social Care.

The report pack stated that the number of children who are subject to Child Protection Plans as of 1 August 2025 is 552, which is an increase compared to 427 children at the end of august 2024.

The report pack stated that there are currently (July 2025) 688 children subject to Child in Need plans, of which 550 sit within the Family Help service, 50 children subject to child in need plans sit within the Families Together team, Child exploitation team or the family safeguarding team and are allocated to social workers within those teams, and that there are a further 90 children who are open on Child In Need Plans within the Children's Disability Service.

Leicestershire Music Overview Report

The committee was scheduled to be informed about the work of Leicestershire Music (LM), including data about latest achievements and impact, and funding and governance arrangements.

The report pack stated that LM was established as the Lead Organisation for the Leicester and Leicestershire Music Hub in 2024, and that through a central workforce and a variety of partnerships, LM enables children and young people from all backgrounds in Leicester and Leicestershire to enrich and connect their world through life changing experiences.

The report pack stated that the LMH receives two ring-fenced grants allocated by the Department for Education (DfE):

• Core funding through the revenue grant to co-ordinate and support the delivery of music education provision through a Hub partnership in line with the vision, aims and strategic functions for Hubs as set out in the NPME.
• A capital grant to increase the volume, range, relevance and accessibility of musical instruments, equipment and technology in the Hub area.

The report pack stated that in 2024-25:

• 95 % of all schools in Leicester and Leicestershire have been supported in their music education
• 79% of schools took part in a singing opportunity
• 21.6% of all pupils taking part in LM activity are eligible for Pupil Premium or have Special Educational Needs
• LM worked with over 18,000 students in schools

The report pack stated that the Service had identified four key challenges:

• The Local Government Pay Award is unfunded and will add £120k to LM salaries
• Continuing real terms funding reductions
• A local authority music service is more restricted in fundraising opportunities than a charity
• Schools and families are purchasing fewer traded goods as a result of competing educational priorities and limited available funding

Independent Reviewing Officer Service Annual Report 2024 – 2025

The committee was scheduled to receive a summary of the Independent Reviewing Officer Annual Report for 2024 – 2025.

The report pack stated that as of 31 March 2025, there were 694 children in care, representing a 4.4% decrease compared to the previous year, and that during the reporting period, a total of 1,989 review of arrangements meetings were held, with 98.1% completed within the required timeframe.

The report pack stated that children's participation in their reviews remains strong, with 92% of children aged four and above contributing to their review meetings, and that face-to-face reviews accounted for 64.2% of all meetings, an increase from 55.1% the previous year.

The report pack stated that Ofsted rated Leicestershire's Children's Services as Outstanding in April 2024, and commended the positive practice of IROs in supporting care planning.

The report pack stated that all IRO posts are now permanently filled, significantly reducing reliance on agency staff and contributing to service stability, and that the use of the 'My Review' booklet has increased, with 227 submissions received from children and young people prior to their review meetings, compared to 128 the previous year.

The report pack stated that IROs raised 244 quality assurance alerts during the year, and that the Service continues to celebrate children's achievements through dedicated events and awards.

Quarter 1 2025/26 Performance Report

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the Children and Family Services Department's performance for the period April to June 2025 (Quarter 1).

The report pack stated that from 12 measures reported that have a national benchmark, 3 are in the top quartile, 5 are in the second quartile, and 4 are in the third quartile.

The report pack stated that the percentage of children becoming subject to a child protection plan for a second or subsequent time in the year to date decreased to 23.0% at the end of Quarter 1 compared to 24.9% at the end of Quarter 4, and that Leicestershire is now placed in the second quartile of local authorities.

The report pack stated that the percentage of re-referrals to Children's Social Care within 12 months was 22.4% at the end of Quarter 1, and that Leicestershire is now placed in the third quartile of local authorities.

The report pack stated that the percentage of assessments completed within 45 days to the end of Quarter 1 was 86.8%, and that Leicestershire continues to be placed in the second quartile of local authorities.

The report pack stated that the percentage of Care Leavers aged up to 21 in Suitable Accommodation was 96.0% at the end of Quarter 1, and that Leicestershire continues to be in the top quartile of local authorities.

The report pack stated that the percentage of Care Leavers aged up to 21 in Education, Employment or Training improved to 63.5% at the end of Quarter 1, and now places Leicestershire in the first quartile.

The report pack stated that the number of children in mainstream schools in Leicestershire with an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP) was 3,526 at the Summer term 2025 school census, which is 703 children higher than at the Spring term 2025 school census.

The report pack stated that the percentage of primary schools rated Good or Outstanding for leadership and management was 93.0% at the end of Quarter 1, and that this figure is within the third quartile of local authorities.

The report pack stated that the percentage of applicants obtaining their first preference for first time admission to Primary school in 2025 was 95.4%, and that this figure is within the second quartile of local authorities.

The report pack stated that the percentage of applicants obtaining their first preference for Secondary school transfer in 2025 was 92.0%, and that this figure is within the first quartile of local authorities.

The report pack stated that the number of children Electively Home Educated (EHE) was 1,461 at the end of Q1 2025/26, which is an increase of 182 students compared to the end of Q1 2024/25.

The report pack stated that the number of permanent exclusions from Leicestershire schools as a percentage of the school population in the 2023/24 academic year was 0.07%, and that this places Leicestershire in the second quartile of performance nationally.