The Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Warwickshire Council met on Tuesday 25 November 2025 to discuss a range of critical issues affecting children and young people in the county. Key topics included the performance of children's services, post-16 education and training, school outcomes, and the development of family hubs. Decisions were made regarding the ongoing improvement of children's services following an Ofsted inspection and the strategic direction for post-16 provision.

Ofsted Inspection of Children's Services

Warwickshire's children's services were rated as Requires Improvement to be Good following an Ofsted inspection in June 2025. While the inspection acknowledged the ambitious reforms being implemented as part of the Department for Education's Pathfinder programme, it highlighted inconsistencies in frontline practice due to the pace and scale of change. Strengths identified included the support for care leavers, improvements in specialist teams for disabled children and those at risk of extra-familial harm, and effective targeted early support within Family Help teams. However, areas for improvement included the consistency of response to children at risk of harm, the use and oversight of unregistered children's homes, the timeliness of permanence decisions for children in care, and the consistency of supervision and audit processes. A Post Inspection Plan has been developed, focusing on improving practice, people, and processes, with clear KPIs and governance structures in place to monitor progress. The committee resolved to note the findings and monitor progress against the identified areas for improvement.

Post 16 Provision and Participation

The committee received an update on post-16 provision and participation in education, employment, and training (EET). Warwickshire continues to perform strongly compared to national and regional averages, with 94.4% of 16- and 17-year-olds participating in EET. The proportion of young people with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) participating in post-16 education has also increased. NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) rates remain low, particularly for vulnerable groups and those with EHCPs. The report highlighted the success of initiatives such as the Future Destinations Hub and the Warwickshire Careers Hub in supporting young people. The committee noted the positive performance and the ongoing efforts to ensure sufficient post-16 places.

School Outcomes Report

An early overview of school performance data for 2025 was presented, covering Early Years Foundation Stage Profile, Phonics, Key Stage 2, and Key Stage 4. Warwickshire's schools generally performed well, with EYFSP results slightly above the national average and Key Stage 4 attainment also strong. However, the report highlighted a persistent attainment gap for disadvantaged pupils, who performed below national averages across all measures. The committee noted the ongoing challenges in this area and the planned establishment of a Pupil Premium network to address the attainment gap. Performance of Children in Care (CiC) also showed mixed results, with improvements in EYFSP but decreases in Phonics, Key Stage 2, and Key Stage 4 outcomes compared to the previous year.

Best Start Family Hubs

The committee received a strategic update on the development of Best Start Family Hubs, building on the existing network of Children and Family Centres. The government's Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life strategy aims to provide integrated, accessible services for families with children aged 0-5, with a target of 75% of reception-aged children achieving a Good Level of Development by 2028. Warwickshire is required to submit a local plan by March 2026 and identify its first Family Hub site by January 2026. A development grant of £216,158 has been received. The report detailed the current network of 14 Children and Family Centres and outlined plans to build on their strengths, incorporating a wider range of services and partnerships, with a particular focus on areas of high deprivation. The committee noted the strategic update and the ongoing work to develop the Family Hub model.

Other Matters

The committee also received an update on the Quarter 2 Integrated Performance Report, which indicated a cumulative net service overspend of £7.741m for services reporting to the committee. The report highlighted challenges in children's placements and rising demand for services. The committee noted the financial position and the ongoing management of risks. The work programme was also discussed, with a proposal to include a report on the closure of Great Old School for the next meeting.

The meeting concluded with thanks to the officers for their contributions throughout the year.