The Together for Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee met to discuss several key issues affecting children and families in Cornwall, including child poverty, adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and home to school transport. The committee reviewed the Director of Public Health's annual report on child poverty and recommended that the Cabinet approve both the Cornwall Joint SEND Commissioning Strategy and the Cornwall SEND Strategic Plan, with an ambition to reach 100% compliance. They also discussed the progress of Curriculum Kernewek and home to school travel assistance.

Child Poverty in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

The committee reviewed the Director of Public Health’s Annual Report on Child Poverty, which was co-authored with the Strategic Director for Together for Families and the Director of Children's Services for the Council of the Isles of Scilly. The report highlighted that over 27,000 children and young people in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are growing up in relative poverty, affecting their health, wellbeing, education, and future aspirations.

The report, titled Growing up in poverty: The voices of babies, children and young people from Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, shared lived experiences and made recommendations to improve outcomes for children and families. It included insights from over 1,000 children, young people, parents, and carers.

Key issues raised in the report included:

• The impact of poverty on every aspect of a child's life.
• The importance of collaboration and commitment at national, regional, and local levels to tackle child poverty.
• The need to listen to the voices of children and young people with direct experience of poverty.

The report highlighted the need for action to both prevent poverty and reduce its impact, and called for brave decisions at all levels.

Adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

The committee discussed the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), an international treaty that sets out the civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights of all children under 18. The overview-and-scrutiny-committee-report-UNCRC updated 1.pdf sought to confirm the value of embedding the UNCRC in governance, policy, and service delivery.

The UNCRC contains 54 articles covering all aspects of a child's life, and is built on four core principles:

• Non-discrimination (Article 2)
• Best interests of the child (Article 3)
• Right to life, survival and development (Article 6)
• Right to be heard (Article 12)

The report highlighted that adopting the UNCRC would ensure children are treated with dignity and respect, and that their voices are heard in decisions that affect them. It also stated that it would provide a universal framework for governments and organisations to:

• Protect children from harm
• Promote their wellbeing
• Ensure their participation in society

The committee agreed to recommend that the Cabinet formally adopt the UNCRC, embedding its principles into the council's operations.

Home to School Travel Assistance

The committee received an update on the growing challenges in delivering statutory home-to-school travel assistance (HTSTA). The report outlined the interventions taken to date and potential actions the council may need to take if the forthcoming SEND reform does not sufficiently address these pressures.

The demand for HTSTA is projected to grow further, driven by the increasing number of children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and the limited availability of local specialist educational provision. These pupils often require travel via taxi or minibus, and in some cases, single-occupancy vehicles with passenger assistants, which are among the most expensive and complex to deliver.

The council has taken action to manage the escalating costs of HTSTA through a series of targeted interventions, including a commercial review to ignite the taxi marketplace and actively reviewing and negotiating fees paid to taxi providers.

The committee was informed that while the measures already implemented are expected to deliver meaningful short-term savings and help stabilise the current budget, they are unlikely to fully contain costs over the medium to longer term.

Curriculum Kernewek

The committee evaluated the progress made in developing the Curriculum Kernewek, acknowledging its strengths, limitations, opportunities, and threats. The overview-and-scrutiny-committee-report-CK.pdf set out the progress made to date and the planned next steps for the Curriculum Kernewek project.

The Curriculum Kernewek seeks to broaden the ways of viewing Cornwall and thinking about the Cornish experience, helping pupils to understand and celebrate the distinctive quality of living and learning in Cornwall, identify their own sense of being Cornish, and develop a heightened sense of belonging to their local community and the Duchy.

The committee supported the next step actions planned to ensure the continued progress of the project, so that it might meet its intended aims within the existing constraints, including financial resources.

Public Question

A question was received from a member of the public, K Williams from Mevagissey, regarding the Home To School Travel Assistance Policy. The question asked for a review of the transport policy so that St Austell, which encompasses both Penrice Academy and Poltair School, could be a shared designated area. The question stated that in 2020 and 2024, children from Mevagissey weren't granted their designated school due to oversubscription, and that rural communities should have a choice.

Cabinet Member Update

Councillor Hilary Frank, Portfolio Holder for Children, Families and Schools, expressed appreciation for the professionalism and commitment of the Together for Families team. She highlighted the Article 12 Celebration Day as a moving experience where young people articulated their concerns and hopes for the future and referenced the Lundy Model as used support children's rights and participation. She invited all Committee Members to attend a Youth Council meeting in order to witness the passion and engagement of young people in Cornwall. She also noted that SEND reforms were expected in autumn 2025, and were shaping up to be ambitious and transformative, with significant implications for local authorities, schools and families.