The Education, Children and Families Policy Committee were scheduled to discuss a range of issues relating to education and social care in Sheffield. These included updates on children's services, school exclusions, school transport, and budget monitoring.

Strategic Director of Children's Services Update

Meredith Dixon-Teasdale, Strategic Director of Children's Services, was scheduled to provide an update on the performance and governance of Children's Services. The update included progress towards meeting the Director of Children's Services accountabilities, statutory requirements, and the council's delivery plan.

The report also provided an update on the OFSTED/CQC Local Area SEND inspection, which was published on 24 June 2025, and the establishment of a Local Area SEND Improvement Board. The improvement plan was submitted to the Department for Education on 11 August, along with the SEND Manifesto.

The Strategic Director's report noted that Steve Kay was appointed as Service Director for Belonging on 16 July, and that several interim officers had been appointed to support the Belonging Directorate during a key period of transformation.

The report also included an overview of the Academy Conversion Programme in Sheffield, noting that as of August 2025, 61.1% of schools in the city were academies.

Children's Services Performance

The committee were scheduled to discuss the Children's Services 2025/26 Quarter 1 Performance. The report summarised performance information for the Education Children and Families Committee up to the end of quarter 1 (30th June 2025). It included an overview of performance for each measure, organised by the Council Plan priority they show progress against.

The report noted that the number of families registered with a Family Hub continues to increase, and that Sheffield has met targets in previous years and is on track to meet national registration targets this year. It also noted that in Sheffield pupils are securing their first preference school.

The report also raised concerns that the percentage of 2-year-old children benefitting from funded early education has dropped, and that the percentage of 3- and 4-year-olds benefitting from funded early education has dropped.

Alternative Provision for Primary Children Excluded from School

The committee were scheduled to discuss a report on alternative provision for primary children excluded from school. The report noted that permanent exclusions of children from both primary and secondary schools are continuing to increase, placing unsustainable demand on The Sheffield Inclusion Centre.

The committee were asked to approve the commissioning of new primary alternative provision (AP) places in response to growing need for high-quality support for permanently excluded primary-aged pupils. The proposed expansion included increasing the number of places at Abbeyfield School from ten to twenty, developing a new hub for 6-8 pupils at Tinsley School, and developing an additional hub for up to fifteen children in the south of the city.

School to Pool Contract Tender

The committee were scheduled to discuss the School to Pool Transport Contract, which ensures the safe, timely, and equitable transport of thousands of pupils from their school sites to local swimming facilities and back during the academic year. The current School to Pool Transport contracts are due to expire in July 2026, and the committee were asked to approve the re-procurement of the services.

Families First Partnership Programme

The committee were scheduled to discuss the 2025 update on the Families First Partnership Programme (FFPP), a national reform initiative led by the Department for Education to transform children's social care. The FFPP aims to rebalance the system away from crisis intervention toward early, family led support, helping families stay together safely.

The committee were asked to approve the delegation of both the Children's Social Care Prevention Grant (£4,226,573) and the Children and Families Grant (£4,367,414) to the Strategic Director of Children's Services in order to realise the plans set out in the delivery plan.

Staying Close Funding

The committee were scheduled to discuss the Department for Education's Staying Close funding for 2025 – 2027. The DfE Staying Close funding supports the continuation of the Staying Close Project that sits within the Leaving Care Service. The Staying Close Project provides a tailored wrap around service for a cohort of care leavers who have come from residential placements. The committee were asked to accept the funding and approve the spending plans for the Staying Close Project 2025-2027. Appendix 1 Project Forecasting 25-27 1 sets out the proposed spending plans.

Autism Outreach

The committee were scheduled to discuss autism outreach, and were asked to approve the commissioning of a 1-year autism outreach contract up to a value of £265,000, to an external specialist provider, continuing an existing commission. The delivery of autism outreach focusses on supporting primary pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and preventing placement breakdown.

Budget Monitoring

The committee were scheduled to discuss the 2025-26 Q1 Budget Monitoring Report. The report summarised Sheffield City Council's 2025-26 revenue budget position, noting key variances, risks, and opportunities as of Q1 2025/26. The report noted that the Council is currently facing significant financial challenges due to increased service demand, rising costs, and reduced funding, leading to a forecast overspend of £28.2m at Q1 2025-26. The key areas of budget pressure are Adult Social Care, Children's Services, and Homelessness services. The committee were asked to note the updated information on the 2025/26 Revenue Budget Outturn and the targeted actions and work underway to bring the in-year forecast overspend down.

Councillor Dawn Dale was scheduled to welcome attendees to the meeting and outline basic housekeeping and fire safety arrangements. The agenda also included apologies for absence, declarations of interest, approval of the minutes of the previous meeting, public petitions, questions and statements, and members' questions.