The Children and Education Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee of Barnet Council met on Monday 26 January 2026 to discuss a range of critical issues affecting children and young people in the borough. Key discussions included the significant financial pressures on the High Needs Block, the ongoing challenges and improvements in Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) services, and the positive impact of the My Say Matters youth participation programme. The committee also reviewed the Barnet Safeguarding Children Partnership's annual report and received updates on various Task and Finish Groups.

Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) and Alternative Provision Update

The committee received a comprehensive update on SEND and Alternative Provision (AP) services in Barnet, highlighting both strengths and significant challenges. Despite Barnet's strong performance in early identification and positive outcomes for pupils with SEND, ranking highly nationally for inclusion and attainment, the service is facing considerable pressure. Demand and complexity of needs are rising, leading to a projected £5.9 million deficit in the High Needs Block of the Dedicated Schools Grant by March 2026. This is exacerbated by a shortage of specialist school places, increasing costs for independent placements, and gaps in therapy provision.

To address these issues, Barnet is investing in its SEND statutory services, including recruiting additional caseworkers and team leaders, and strengthening early dispute resolution. Capital investment in rebuilding Oakleigh and Mapledown Special Schools is deemed critical for sufficiency and value for money. A spend to save approach is being implemented for therapies, aiming to build in-house capacity to reduce reliance on external providers and address the fact that therapy issues are a factor in approximately 65% of Tribunal appeals. Alternative Provision is being reformed through a three-tier model, with strengthened governance and the recruitment of a dedicated Section 19 Officer. The national SEND reforms remain uncertain, with the Schools and SEND White Paper expected in early 2026.

The committee was also informed about a review of the notional SEND funding formula for schools, proposing a revised model with higher weightings for deprivation and low prior attainment to better reflect SEND prevalence. The Early Years SEN Inclusion Fund (SENIF) is also undergoing reform due to demand pressures, with proposals for a banded model and a strengthened multi-agency decision-making panel. The My Say Matters programme, which includes initiatives like Early Language Support for Every Child (ELSEC), Nurture Spaces training, and the Autism Hub, continues to demonstrate positive impacts on children's development and staff confidence.

Barnet Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report

The committee reviewed the Barnet Safeguarding Children Partnership (BSCP) Annual Report for 2024/25. The report highlighted strong multi-agency partnerships, with Ofsted commending Barnet Children's Services for mature and positive relationships with police, health, and designated safeguarding leads. Key areas of focus included promoting safer sleep for babies, supporting children who are out of sight of services, and addressing the needs of children questioning their gender identity. The report also noted the refreshing of the Keeping Young People Safe Strategy and positive outcomes in reducing youth reoffending and custody rates. However, persistent challenges with inequitable funding were highlighted, with MOPAC's funding remaining low and reserves projected to deplete.

My Say Matters Youth and Democracy Report

The My Say Matters Youth and Democracy Report for April 2024 to March 2025 showcased the significant engagement of young people in Barnet's democratic processes. The UK Youth Parliament, Barnet Youth Ambassador schemes, Youth Assembly, and Youth Board have all seen increased participation and demonstrable impact. Young people have actively contributed to policy development, including discussions on financial literacy, curriculum diversification, public art, council finances, knife crime prevention, and the local offer website. The report highlighted the co-production of resources and the influence of young people's feedback on council strategies and services, demonstrating a thriving culture of participation.

Barnet Financial Update

A financial update indicated a forecast service overspend across all council services of £4.8 million for Q3, against the agreed budget. This overspend is to be met by contingency. Within this, Children's and Families services reported a forecast overspend of £1.224 million, an improvement from the previous quarter. However, the High Needs Block for SEND is forecast to be overspent by £5.93 million, with DSG reserves fully committed and a projected deficit position for 2026-27. Mitigation strategies include workforce investment, dispute resolution strengthening, AP reform, and a spend to save approach for therapies.

Task and Finish Group Updates

Updates were provided on several Task and Finish Groups, including those focusing on Elective Home Education, Youth Homelessness, the Barnet Highway Network, Discharge to Assess, Primary Care (GP) Access, Allotment Management and Governance, Food Security, Fostering, and Sustainable Travel. The committee formally agreed the scope for the Barnet Young Carers Task and Finish Group, which will investigate identification, support needs, and joint working amongst agencies to improve outcomes for young carers.

Cabinet Forward Plan

The committee reviewed the Cabinet Forward Plan for 2026, identifying items for potential pre-decision scrutiny. These included the Annual Equalities Report, the Chief Finance Officer's Q3 Financial Forecast, updates on Places for Barnet, Private Sector Housing Licensing, Brent Cross, and the Council Housing Performance. The committee also noted upcoming reports on the Youth Strategy, Library options appraisals, and the Fostering Estate development.

The meeting also included discussions on safeguarding, with a response provided to a public question regarding preventative measures for child sexual exploitation. The Barnet Safeguarding Children Partnership presented their annual report, highlighting key themes and learning from reviews. The committee also noted the Children and Education Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee Work Programme for August 2025 to July 2026.