Councillor Tony Vourou, Chair of the Children and Education Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee, welcomed attendees to the meeting, where the subcommittee discussed a range of topics, including youth services, school planning, elective home education, and family services. The committee noted the progress of several task and finish groups and reviewed the Cabinet Forward Plan.

Youth Strategy Overview

The committee discussed a report providing an overview of the statutory duty placed on local authorities to secure sufficient youth services, and Barnet's approach to developing a coordinated and inclusive youth offer. The report highlighted the importance of accessible recreational and educational activities for young people, especially those who are vulnerable. Robin Moss, Chief Executive of UNITAS Youth Zone, gave a presentation on the organisation's work in the borough, including the challenges of attracting young people from across Barnet, and the need to provide a safe space for young women. He also highlighted the importance of youth services being seen as a valued partner, and the need for youth workers to be seen as professionals. He noted that UNITAS Youth Zone receives no ongoing statutory funding, and relies on philanthropic donations. Councillor Nigel Young asked what the council could do to support UNITAS, and Mr Moss suggested helping with consortia bids, navigating the public sector, and endorsement.

The committee heard that a youth needs assessment was underway to inform the impending youth strategy, with initial feedback showing that 85% of young people use parks and open spaces, but do not associate leisure facilities or sports spaces as supportive or safe spaces.

Planning for School Pupil Places 2023-2027 Update

The committee then discussed the Planning for School Pupil Places 2023-2027 Update, which provided an update on school roll projections and outlined past successes and future challenges. The report noted a continuing fall in demand for school places, but also stressed that in parts of the borough there was still a need for more spaces, particularly community places in Collindale. The committee heard that the council had been able to manage the fall in demand by reducing the published admission number (PAN) of schools. The report also noted that there may be a need to consider potential school closures in the future, but that the council was trying to avoid that wherever possible. Councillor Wakeley asked about the risk of independent schools closing due to VAT changes, and whether this had been factored into the pupil placement figures. She also asked for an update on Saracens Primary School, and was told that the decision was with ministers, and that the earliest it would open was 2028. Councillor Young asked about schools having breakout spaces, and was told that the council was supporting schools to create SEN spaces, and that some schools had additional resource provision (ARP). He also asked about census day, and whether there could be two census days to account for transient populations. Councillor Innocenti asked about the number of SEND children in mainstream schools, and how schools were being supported to meet their needs. She also asked whether there was an ideal number of children with SEND in a mainstream class. Councillor Raziel Benstock asked about the vacancy rates in faith schools, and whether there was any work being done with neighbouring local authorities to better share out populations. Councillor Ann O'Shea asked about the school organisation and place planning board, and whether head teachers represented the various phases and types of schools.

Elective Home Education Task and Finish Group - Update on Recommendations

The committee then received an update on the recommendations of the Elective Home Education Task and Finish Group. Councillor Wakeley asked about the national register for EHE children, and whether the council would write to London Councils to get their support to lobby the government. She also asked about exam centres, and whether the council would lobby the government to provide funding for home educated families to access exams. The committee agreed to make a recommendation to the cabinet to review the question of writing to the government.

Family Services Quarterly Update

The committee then received a Family Services Quarterly Update, which highlighted operational and strategic challenges, and family service performance. The report covered the SEND inspection, national children's social care reforms, the Better Start in Life strategy, and family service performance indicators. Councillor Monasterio asked about adoption, and why there were zero families looking to adopt. She also asked whether a poll could be carried out to understand the reasons for this. Councillor Longstaff asked about the increase in MASH referrals, and whether there were any ideas as to why this was the case. Councillor Benstock asked about the timeliness of assessments, and whether anything could be done to improve this. She also asked whether there was any insight into religion or faith cultural perspectives in the chat reporting. Councillor Young asked whether there was any comparative data with other boroughs or national statistics. Councillor Pauline Coakley Webb asked how the council was dealing with the SEM inspection, and the challenges of meeting the new framework.

Task and Finish Group Updates

The committee noted that the first meeting of the task and finish group on fostering would be held on 18 September.

Cabinet Forward Plan

The committee noted the Cabinet Forward Plan.

Children and Education Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee Work Programme

The committee reviewed the work programme and agreed to arrange school visits in early November, including a Jewish school, a faith school, and a community school. It was also suggested that a visit to frontline services should be arranged. The committee also noted that Naomi Phillips was no longer on the committee, and that a new governor representative needed to be found. It was agreed that the frontline service visits should be specifically focused on SEND, in preparation for the SEND focus in January.