The Children, Families and Skills Scrutiny Committee met on Wednesday, 14 January 2026, to discuss the progress of the Child and Youth Justice Service, the Education Strategy, and the SEND Improvement Programme. Key discussions included the work of the Child and Youth Justice Service, updates on the Education Strategy, Annual Report and Attainment Data, the Committee Work Programme, and the SEND Improvement Programme.

Child and Youth Justice Service

Georgine Lee, Head of Service for Fostering, Adoption and Adolescent Services, presented an overview of the Child and Youth Justice Service (CYJS). The service is a multi-agency partnership jointly funded by Lancashire County Council, the police, health services, and probation services, with additional grant funding from the Youth Justice Board. It employs approximately 90 staff and works with around 500 children annually through prevention, diversion, and statutory interventions.

The CYJS has a strong place-based, partnership-led approach to tackling anti-social behaviour and exploitation. Notable achievements include reducing first-time entrants to the youth justice system and custodial sentences. The service also highlighted its work in prevention and diversion, including the Your Choice programme and the Crucial Crew initiative in primary schools. The Harmful Sexualised Behaviour Hub has been expanded, and the service is working with the NSPCC on a county-wide action plan.

Key performance indicators show that Lancashire is performing well in reducing first-time entrants and custody rates, remaining in the second and third quartiles respectively. However, re-offending rates are an area for development, with Lancashire in the fourth quartile. The service is also focusing on reducing the number of young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET), with 52% of the post-16 cohort being NEET. Innovative initiatives include an allotment project and the Reuse Hub, which provides work experience and qualifications for young people.

The committee discussed the criminalisation of looked-after children, with a joint strategy between children's social care and youth justice aiming to reduce this. The Youth Endowment Fund toolkit is being used to inform evidence-based interventions. Areas for development include improving data sharing, strengthening responses to serious youth violence, and refining the governance structure with the separation of operational and strategic boards.

The committee was asked to note the work of the Child and Youth Justice Service and was recommended to support its service priorities for 2025-2026.

Education Strategy, Annual Report and Attainment Data

Aby Hardy, Head of Education Improvement, presented the attainment data for Lancashire schools, the annual report of the Education Improvement Service, and the draft Education Strategy, The Lancashire Way.

Lancashire's attainment data shows performance below national averages across all key stages, with the gap being larger in early years and narrowing as children progress through the system. The report highlighted specific challenges in districts such as Burnley, Pendle, and Hyndburn, which are areas of deprivation. Phonics outcomes are also below national averages. However, at Key Stage 2, Lancashire is closing the gap, and at secondary level, the attainment gap is narrow. The report also noted that Lancashire matches or exceeds most of its statistical neighbours.

The Education Improvement Service has supported schools to improve their Ofsted grades, with over 11,000 delegates attending training courses. Attendance initiatives have shown positive results, and inclusion has been strengthened through new panels and processes. The Lancashire Way education strategy aims to be ambitious, inclusive, and evidence-based, focusing on early years, attendance, transitions, outcomes for vulnerable groups, and inclusive practice. The strategy will be delivered through five locality areas, with termly Education and Inclusion Partnership Groups.

The committee raised concerns about the attainment gap between boys and girls, particularly in secondary schools, and the disparity for disadvantaged pupils. Data on early years education in Preston was requested, and a comparison between academy-run and county-run schools was discussed. The importance of employability skills within the education strategy was also highlighted.

The committee was asked to note the updates on the Education Strategy, Annual Report, and Attainment Data. Recommendations were made for the Education Strategy to be presented at Cabinet in March 2026 for ratification.

Children, Families and Skills Work Programme 2025/26

The committee received the work programme for 2025/26. This included noting formal written responses from Cabinet Members to previous committee recommendations regarding the SEND Priority Action Plan, Corporate Parenting, the Lancashire House Project, and Where Our Children Live. The Fostering Annual Report was also shared.

The committee was asked to note the Work Programme for 2025/26 and to consider and discuss key lines of inquiry for future meetings, including school attendance, exclusion, school place planning, and children missing education.

The committee confirmed the work programme for 2025/26.

SEND Improvement Programme December 2025 Update

An update on the SEND Improvement Programme was presented. While some milestones were on track, others were noted as being off-track, including the review of SEN support offers, accreditation for private providers, and the review of the EHCP template. Key risks identified included capacity within inclusion and supporting services, the impact of the recovery plan on sufficiency of places, and the potential loss of progress if the service redesign is not adequately funded. The update also provided data on EHCPs, including the number of plans in backlog and the average weeks to finalisation.

The committee discussed the increasing number of EHCP requests and the perceived increase in parents seeking assessments. Concerns were raised about the disconnect between system improvements and the lived experiences of families. The council acknowledged the challenges faced by families and apologised for poor experiences, while emphasizing the ongoing journey of improvement.

The committee was asked to note the SEND Improvement Programme December 2025 Update for information.

Decisions Made

• The committee noted the work of the Child and Youth Justice Service and was recommended to support its service priorities for 2025-2026.
• The committee noted the updates on the Education Strategy, Annual Report, and Attainment Data, and recommendations were made for the Education Strategy to be presented at Cabinet in March 2026 for ratification.
• The committee confirmed the work programme for 2025/26.
• The committee noted the SEND Improvement Programme December 2025 Update for information.
• Recommendations were made to the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills regarding school attendance, including providing data on alternative provision, a list of providers, and further analysis of attendance issues in Lancaster and Ribble Valley.
• Recommendations were made to the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills regarding children not in school, including providing detailed breakdowns of CME figures, considering a member visit to a college, providing further contextual data on CME and EHE trends, and exploring the establishment of a Home Education Forum.
• A recommendation was made to the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills that the draft Surplus Place Strategy come back to the scrutiny committee once ready.