The Children & Families Scrutiny Committee met on Wednesday 26 November 2025 to discuss the council's Medium Term Financial Plan, review the mid-year performance of the Children, Families and Education portfolio, and consider several annual reports. Key decisions included commenting on proposals within the Medium Term Financial Plan and reviewing progress against the Children, Families and Education portfolio's priorities.

Responding to the Medium Term Financial Plan

The committee discussed proposals to address the council's significant funding gap, estimated at £20 million by 2026/27. Proposals within the Children, Families and Education portfolio aim to achieve savings of £1.725 million. These include £750,000 from SEN transport efficiencies and £975,000 from productivity improvements through digitalisation and service reviews. The committee heard that the SEN transport savings are modelled with an optimism bias of 20% to account for uncertainties, such as parents' entitlement to independent appeals against transport arrangements. Concerns were raised about whether current savings targets for this financial year had been met, with officers explaining that savings are phased, with a smaller saving expected this year and a larger one in the following financial year. The committee also heard about the ongoing pressures within SEN transport due to increasing demand and complexity of needs, and the potential impact of the upcoming SEN reform white paper.

2025/26 Mid-Year Portfolio Performance and Resources Report: Children, Families & Education

The committee reviewed the mid-year performance of the Children, Families and Education portfolio. The report highlighted progress in areas such as piloting multi-agency child protection teams to improve the timeliness and consistency of strategy meetings, and the implementation of an EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) Recovery Plan to reduce waiting times. However, the portfolio is forecasting a £6.9 million deficit, primarily due to pressures in SEN transport and children in care placements. Councillor Wendy Meikle, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education, apologised for the omission of the recent Ofsted inspection findings from the report's introduction, acknowledging it should have been included and promising to ensure future reports are more comprehensive.

Discussions within this item included:

• Priority 1: Working together to give families the help they need: Progress was noted on establishing a family help practitioner role and refreshing the threshold document for safeguarding. Family Group Conferences are being offered to families in pre-proceedings, and work is underway to strengthen kinship care support. The multi-agency child protection teams have shown improvements in meeting timescales for strategy meetings.
• Priority 2: Best start in life and readiness for school: The early years foundation stage (EYFS) shows strong overall outcomes, but concerns remain regarding communication and language development for disadvantaged children and those receiving free school meals. Initiatives include the balance system and targeted work with 17 early years providers. The report also highlighted the launch of the Family Hub app and increased engagement with parenting support programmes.
• Priority 3: Educational attainment and achievement: Overall educational outcomes are strong, with particular strengths in reading and maths at Key Stage 2, and GCSE results. However, gaps persist for disadvantaged groups, boys in early years and primary phases, and girls in Key Stage 4. The report detailed specific challenges for boys with SEN and those from the global majority. The council is focusing on improving attendance, particularly for vulnerable cohorts, and is implementing initiatives like Success at SEN Support and Reading for all. The committee discussed the complexities of measuring educational attainment and the potential benefits of added value metrics.
• Priority 4: Support for children and families with SEND: Challenges in timeliness and waiting times for EHCPs persist due to increased demand and capacity constraints. A recovery plan is in place, and efforts are being made to strengthen preparation for adulthood pathways. Communication with families is being improved through a dedicated communications plan and a user forum.
• Priority 5: Clear and inclusive early help offer: The Early Help Strategy is progressing, with a refreshed Prevention and Early Help Board. The Family Hubs network continues to expand, with over 1,000 app downloads and increased engagement with parenting support programmes. Efforts are being made to improve the capture of family feedback, with a low but helpful return rate from text messages sent to families accessing the Multi-Agency Safeguarding and Support Hub (MASSH).
• Priority 6: Good physical and emotional health and wellbeing: Progress has been made on teenage pregnancy initiatives, with a joint strategic group established with Tameside. Work is underway to establish a neurodevelopmental hub, and a whole-school approach to mental health is being expanded, with three schools having completed the process. The healthy weight pathway has been launched as a standard operating procedure.
• Priority 7: Children in care and care leavers: A peer diagnostic of the corporate parenting strategy found a strong foundation, with recommendations for improvement. Stockport is increasing its internal sufficiency of children's homes and supported lodgings for care leavers. A refreshed permanence strategy is nearing finalisation, and a new social work service for children in care is being implemented. The Care Leaver Hub has opened, providing a safe space for care leavers to access support.
• Financial Resources and Monitoring: The portfolio is forecasting a £6.9 million deficit, with significant pressures in Children in Our Care (CIC) placements (£4.659 million) and SEN transport (£1.688 million). The report detailed the breakdown of CIC placements and the high costs associated with external residential and foster care.

School Investment Plan 2026-27

The committee considered the School Investment Plan, which outlines the council's strategy for ensuring sufficient high-quality school places. Stockport faces significant challenges, including a £121 million backlog in school maintenance, a growing cohort of children with complex needs, and low national funding per pupil. The plan prioritises urgent repairs, SEN provision, and flexible expansions in secondary schools. The council is actively seeking additional funding and exploring innovative investment approaches. A particular concern raised was the lack of specific funding for climate action projects in schools, with officers noting this as a blind spot requiring further investigation.

Safeguarding Partnership Annual Report 2024/25

The committee reviewed the Stockport Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP) annual report, which detailed the partnership's work and effectiveness from April 2024 to March 2025. Achievements include improved partnership working and information sharing, increased health representation at strategic meetings, and the launch of a new practice framework. Challenges identified include funding imbalances, with the local authority contributing the most, and ongoing work to strengthen transitional safeguarding. Priorities for the coming year include a continued focus on neglect, child sexual abuse, and embedding national reforms. The committee noted the significant contributions of Gail Hopper, the Independent Scrutineer, who is retiring.

Holiday Activities and Food Programme Annual Report 2024-2025

The committee received a positive report on the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, which provided free holiday clubs, meals, and enrichment activities for children eligible for free school meals. The programme delivered 33,856 funded spaces across 31 providers and 43 clubs, with high levels of family satisfaction reported. Key challenges included managing the 15% allowance for vulnerable children, ensuring sufficient SEND-specific provision, and the initial uncertainty over future funding. The report highlighted the programme's success in promoting physical activity, emotional wellbeing, and easing financial pressures for families. The government has confirmed a further three years of funding for the HAF programme.

Mosaic Annual Report 2024-2025

The committee reviewed the annual report for Mosaic, Stockport's Young People's Family Drug and Alcohol Service. The service supports children, young people up to 26, and families affected by substance use. Key developments include a 47% increase in under-18 referrals and more than double the referrals for children of substance-using parents. A new triage and referral system has improved access, and school-based interventions have been expanded. Challenges include staffing pressures and the rise in ketamine use among young people. Priorities for the coming year include deeper integration with family hubs, expanded community engagement, and responding to emerging trends. The report highlighted the success of the 26+ pathway for parents involved in safeguarding processes and the positive impact of the A&E pathway in identifying emerging risks.

Scrutiny Work Programme

The committee discussed the scrutiny work programme for the upcoming year. Several items were confirmed for future meetings, including reports on complex safeguarding, child exploitation, and falling school rolls for January 2026. The committee also identified several areas for future scrutiny, including the strategic priority reserve relating to free school meals eligibility, and a briefing paper on the integration of education, health, and care services for preparation for adulthood. Concerns were raised about the low take-up of free school meals in Stockport compared to other Greater Manchester authorities.