The Children's Select Committee of Wiltshire Council was scheduled to discuss a range of important topics concerning young people in the county. Key areas of focus included school attendance, support for young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET), and a review of a targeted free swimming trial aimed at improving physical activity among children from low-income families. The committee was also set to receive updates from the Department for Education (DfE) and review the council's forward work programme.

School Attendance

The committee was scheduled to receive a summary of progress towards the implementation of statutory guidance, Working Together to Improve School Attendance 2024, and related regulations. This update was expected to detail activities undertaken during the 2025-2026 academic year, including the development of the Wiltshire Attendance Strategy 2026-2028. The report was to provide an analysis of attendance data for Wiltshire schools, comparing it to national and regional averages, and highlight trends in persistent and severe absence. Specific attention was to be given to the temporary reduced timetable rate, a new code introduced that academic year. The report was also to include breakdowns of absence by specific cohorts, noting positive trends in attendance for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) support, and Children in Need (CIN) and Child Protection (CP) cases.

Department for Education (DfE) Updates

An update on developments relating to children's services arising from the Department for Education between November 2025 and January 2026 was scheduled for discussion. This included information on British brands backing free breakfast clubs, with specific Wiltshire schools participating in a pilot scheme. Guidance on providing supported internships for young people with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan was also to be reviewed, alongside Wiltshire's position on this initiative, which has seen a stable success rate in moving young people into employment. The committee was also to be informed about government actions to tackle childhood obesity and new curriculum plans aimed at equipping young people with skills for life and work. Finally, an update on the Education Secretary's roadmap to improve attendance levels was to be presented, detailing expectations for individual school attendance targets.

Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) Annual Report 2024/2025

The committee was to receive a report summarising the support for young people in Wiltshire aged 16 and over who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET). The report was to detail the implementation of the statutory duty to ensure all 16 and 17-year-olds participate in education, employment, or training (EET), including tracking, preventative support, and intensive help for vulnerable young people. It was to present data on NEET and unknown rates for young people in Wiltshire, comparing them to regional and national averages, and highlight the success of the September Guarantee, which ensures every 16 and 17-year-old has a suitable place in education or training. The report was also to address NEET figures specifically for young people with EHC plans, noting a rise in this cohort. An analysis of NEET leavers and their destinations, including trends in employment, education, and apprenticeships, was to be provided, alongside information on re-engagement provision and the outcomes of NEET prevention services.

Targeted Free Swimming Trial Update

A review of the Targeted Free Swimming Trial initiative, piloted in Summer 2025, was scheduled for discussion. This initiative aimed to increase physical activity among children from low-income families, specifically targeting those eligible for free school meals and/or attending the FUEL programme. The report was to detail the methodology used for data collection, attendance figures, and participation overview, including take-up by leisure centre, age, gender, and geographical area. It was to highlight the limited participation from rural postcodes, likely due to transport challenges, and provide an analysis of attendance data, noting difficulties in accurate reporting. The report was also to include feedback from a participant questionnaire, detailing reasons for taking up the offer and actual usage of sessions. The committee was to be presented with the findings on the initiative's performance, including its impact on generating new customers and the barriers to future usage, such as membership costs. Recommendations for the continuation and potential expansion of the initiative were to be put forward.

Forward Work Programme

The committee was asked to note the attached documents showing the relevant items from the Overview and Scrutiny Forward Work Programme and the latest version of the strategy list for the Children, Education and Skills directorate. This included ongoing task groups and rapid scrutiny exercises, as well as future agenda items for upcoming committee meetings.