The Children's Overview and Scrutiny Committee met to discuss the rising demand for education, health and care plans (EHCPs) and the council's 'Back to School 2025' programme, which supports schools, pupils, and families. A task and finish group is exploring the reasons behind the increase in EHCPs, while the 'Back to School 2025' programme is rolling out initiatives like Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and the Apple Schools Programme.

Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)

A task and finish group, led by Councillor Rex Osborne, is examining the rising demand for EHCPs and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support in Wandsworth. The group aims to identify challenges in policy, funding, and provision, while prioritising the experiences of children and their families.

Councillor Rex Osborne noted the system is under strain due to:

• Rising demand
• Increasing complexity of children's needs
• Mounting financial pressure
• Escalating costs and legal pressures

The task and finish group is focusing on early intervention, diagnostic processes, contact groups for parents, transition support, training for school staff, and inclusivity in schools. Councillor Rex Osborne highlighted a recent statistic indicating a 69% national increase in EHCPs for under-fives between 2019 and 2023, adding:

Everybody knows that the system is not fit for purpose to deal with that. Radical change is much needed, and radical change is indeed on the horizon.

Councillor Will Sweet requested more detailed information on complaints related to the EHCP process, suggesting a confidential session to review specific cases, with the caveat that individuals should not be named.

An officer, Mr. Newly, responded that a November report would contain more information on corporate complaints. He noted a shift in the nature of complaints, with fewer now concerning communication and more focusing on the lack of specialist provision, such as therapies.

Deborah Johnson, Assistant Director, Send and Inclusion, explained that the council has tightened up annual review processes, particularly regarding statutory timescales, using a new IT system to monitor paperwork submission from schools.

Councillor Emmeline Owens raised concerns about cases where EHCP funding is not being used as intended within schools. She also questioned why John Archer Primary School is in the Roehampton cluster despite being a Battersea school. She requested a breakdown of the special educational needs of the 6,100 children in the borough with SEND.

Lisa Fenaroli clarified that school placement from primary to secondary depends on parental preference, not a feeder system.

Councillor Sarah Davies asked about ways to capture the voices of very young children in the EHCP process. Deborah Johnson responded that practitioners are expected to centre their reporting on the voice of the child and the views of parents.

Councillor Mrs. Rosemary Birchall emphasised the need for transparency in communicating what support is available to families.

Councillor Will Sweet requested more data on timeliness at each stage of the EHCP process. He also noted a 50% increase in SEND appeals and asked for the reasons behind this rise.

Councillor George Crivelli asked about the nature of the 96 appeals, specifically how many were due to insufficient support versus outright EHCP refusal. He also asked if the council engages with parents to offer alternative support before appeals are filed.

Councillor Sana Jafri highlighted a peak in EHCP requests for children starting nursery and suggested a project to support health visitors in providing early interventions.

Councillor Will Sweet asked Councillor Judy Gasser, Cabinet Member for Children, what she is doing to address ongoing challenges for young people needing support in Wandsworth. Councillor Judy Gasser responded that the challenge is primarily financial, but the council is listening to young people, families and schools, and hopes the task and finish group will propose cost-effective interventions.

Councillor Emmeline Owens requested a comparison of Wandsworth's SEND statistics with other boroughs. She also suggested that EHCPs and SEN are becoming a catch-all for other unmet needs.

Councillor Sarah Davies asked what schools feel would help them to avoid requesting EHCPs, and whether they feel supported in meeting complex needs.

Councillor Sana Jafri asked how the council can better utilise parent champions, governors and SENCOs. She also asked about providing better provisions for children from minority backgrounds, second language households and deprived children.

Ms. Nabila Haroon, Parent Governor Representative, requested data on Wandsworth pupils attending schools in other boroughs, data about independent schools, data about EHCPs issued rather than requested, and more information about occupational therapy provision.

Councillor Rex Osborne summarised key lines of inquiry for the task and finish group, including inclusivity in schools, support for parents, transition from primary to secondary school, and integration between different services.

Back to School 2025 Programme

The committee discussed the 'Back to School 2025' programme, which aims to support schools, pupils, and families with various initiatives.

Key components of the programme include:

• Dolly Parton's Imagination Library: A scheme providing every child under five in Wandsworth with a free, age-appropriate book each month.
• Apple Schools Programme: Expanding digital learning opportunities in schools, with a focus on accessibility for learners in resource bases.
• Free School Meals: Extending free school meal eligibility to the Access for All cohort in secondary schools.
• Schools Breakfast Programme: Expanding the programme to more secondary schools, offering healthy breakfasts to pupils.
• School Trips Access for All Transport Service: Providing low-cost transport for school trips using the council's SEN transport fleet.
• Uniform Support: Extending uniform grants to families in the Access for All cohort.

Gary Hipple, Assistant Director of Children Support Services, explained that the programme builds on the council's efforts to identify and support children in need, using data to target resources effectively. He also highlighted the importance of universal free school meals in lifting families out of poverty.

Councillor Will Sweet questioned the lack of evidence on the effectiveness of these initiatives and the absence of a decision-making role for the committee. Councillor Judy Gasser responded that the committee's role has changed, and the schemes are funded from a pre-existing Access for All reserve.

Councillor Emmeline Owens asked about the rationale for extending the breakfast programme to secondary schools and questioned the targeting of support. She also raised concerns about the limited opening hours of libraries for students needing study space.

Councillor Judy Gasser responded that hunger is a reported issue in secondary schools, and the breakfast programme aims to address this. She added that the council is working to address the library study space issue, including exploring a volunteering scheme and identifying alternative spaces.

Councillor George Crivelli noted the high cost of school uniforms and asked if the council is engaging with schools to reduce the number of branded items required.

Councillor Emmeline Owens asked if the council had looked at what individual schools do in terms of second-hand uniform.

Gary Hipple responded that the council has engaged with schools on uniform policies and that many schools have good second-hand uniform provision.

Ms. Nabila Haroon asked for more details on the inclusive learning environment initiative and its budget.

Councillor George Crivelli asked about uniform support and the extension of the Access for All cohort.

Work Programme

The committee reviewed the work programme for upcoming meetings. The next meeting will include a report from the task and finish group on violence against women and girls, an update on the EHCP task and finish group, and the annual complaints report. A future meeting will include mainstream school standards, schools finance, the education performance report, general fund capital allocations, and the annual review of charges.

Councillor Emmeline Owens asked what the task and finish group on violence against women and girls will be about in the context of schools. Councillor Lizzy Dobres responded that the group is focusing on prevention, including safeguarding children in domestic abuse households and training young men and boys to prevent misogynistic behaviour.

Ms. Irene Wilson-Helm asked how non-educational aspects of children's services, such as the youth mayor, fit into the committee's work. Councillor Sheila Boswell responded that these aspects are still important and will be included in discussions as expert witness testimony.