The Children and Young People Scrutiny Commission met on Monday 15 September 2025 to discuss behaviour management and school inclusion, the lessons learned from previous children's centre consultations, and an update on childcare sufficiency. Key discussions included the challenges faced by schools in managing pupil behaviour, the impact of the pandemic, and the need for better external support. The commission also reviewed the findings of a lessons learned report concerning past consultations on children's centres, highlighting issues with communication and documentation. An update on childcare sufficiency revealed that while there is capacity for more children, particularly in the under-two age group, providers are proceeding with caution regarding expansion.

Behaviour Management and School Inclusion

The commission received a comprehensive update on its ongoing review into behaviour management and school inclusion. This review has involved extensive evidence gathering from various stakeholders, including Ofsted, educational policy institutes, teaching unions, local authority services, and numerous voluntary and community sector organisations.

Key themes emerging from the discussions included the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's emotional and social needs, leading to increased behavioural issues and disengagement. A lack of timely access to specialist external support, such as educational psychologists and mental health services, was identified as a major challenge for schools. Presentations from organisations like the National Association of Headteachers (NAHT), the Mayor of London's Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), Nurture UK, UNICEF UK, Attachment Research Community (ARC), and Lewisham Virtual School highlighted a growing consensus on the need for a more relational and nurturing approach to education, moving away from purely behaviourist models.

Voluntary and community sector organisations, including Hackney Quest, The Crib, and Immediate Theatre, shared their experiences of working with excluded young people. They emphasised the importance of community-embedded, trusted relationships and highlighted challenges in gaining access to schools and being treated with respect. Concerns were raised about the effectiveness of current school policies, particularly in secondary schools, and the need for better support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

The commission heard that Hackney primary schools have a strong record in nurturing practices, with very low exclusion and suspension rates. However, secondary schools present a different picture, with suspensions being more in line with statistical neighbours. There was a strong call to extend the effective practices seen in primary settings to secondary schools. The VRU's London Inclusion Charter, which promotes equity, diversity, and student voice, was presented as a framework for change, with UNICEF UK's Rights Respecting Schools award being highlighted as a way to embed children's rights within school culture.

Children's Centre Lessons Learned Report

The commission reviewed the Lessons Learned Review: Children's Centre Consultation and Judicial Review, 2024 report¹. This report was commissioned following a judicial review claim that led to the council settling the case by consent. The review aimed to reflect on the factors contributing to the judicial review and its outcome to inform future council practices.

The report identified several key issues, including inconsistencies between consultation documents, Cabinet reports, and the Ernst & Young (EY) Summary Report, particularly regarding the number of opportunities identified for service changes. This misalignment was a central point in the judicial review. The report also highlighted challenges related to insufficient staff capacity and timescales for complex service change projects, as well as difficulties in communication with staff in children's centres during periods of uncertainty, especially when legal proceedings were involved.

Recommendations from the report include engaging independent support to quality assure consultation documentation, ensuring adequate staff capacity and timescales for projects, establishing steering groups for significant policy changes, and improving communication and wellbeing support for staff. The report also suggested reviewing the relevance of older evidence, such as the EY Childcare Review, if it is to be used in future proposals. The prolonged period of uncertainty surrounding children's centres was noted as having a negative impact on staff wellbeing, trust in the council, and the financial position of the council.

Childcare Sufficiency Update

An update on childcare sufficiency in Hackney was provided, focusing on the uptake of the extended free childcare entitlement. The government's phased rollout of increased free childcare hours for eligible working parents, from 9 months old up to 30 hours per week by September 2025, was discussed.

The report indicated that while there is capacity for more children, particularly for those aged 0-2 years, providers are proceeding with caution, wanting to observe demand before making significant changes to their business models. A survey of early years providers revealed that a majority are planning changes, primarily related to staffing and capacity, to accommodate the childcare expansion. However, there was a low response rate to this survey, meaning the analysis should be viewed with caution.

The number of providers offering funded entitlement places for 3 & 4 year olds has seen a slight decrease, while the number of providers offering funded entitlement for 2 year olds has increased. The report also mentioned the Childcare Expansion Capital Grant funding, which aims to support the creation of new places. While the overall picture suggests sufficient capacity, concerns remain about the sustainability of the childcare market and the impact of funding arrangements on providers.

Work Programme

The commission reviewed and monitored its work programme for the remainder of the municipal year 2025/26. New items added to the programme include housing support for families of children with SEND and for care leavers, and improving outcomes for young black children and young people. The chair and vice-chair will also explore a joint scrutiny of employment and training with the Skills, Economy and Growth Commission.