The Children's Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Wandsworth Council was scheduled to discuss a range of important issues affecting children and young people in the borough. Key topics included a report on preventing Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), a review of the drivers and experiences related to Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), and the financial outlook for Wandsworth schools in the upcoming academic year. The committee was also set to review the education performance report for 2025-26.

Report on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Prevention

A significant item on the agenda was the report by the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Task and Finish Group. This group had been established to review the prevention and early intervention of VAWG. The report was scheduled to outline the group's findings and recommendations, which were intended to be submitted to the Cabinet for consideration. The recommendations included enhancing the reach and visibility of Wandsworth's existing VAWG prevention offer in schools, exploring options for interventions co-produced with young people, and ensuring a robust systems approach across statutory agencies, voluntary and community organisations, and communities. A further recommendation was to maintain ongoing engagement with survivors, with a renewed focus on seldom-heard communities, to ensure their voices inform service delivery. The report highlighted that prevention is most effective when it is early, sustained and treated as core learning, not an add-on. ¹

Drivers of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)

The committee was also scheduled to consider the final report from the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) Drivers Task and Finish Group. This report aimed to understand the local drivers of EHCP demand and the lived experiences of children, young people, families, and professionals within Wandsworth. The report was expected to detail themes such as delays in early identification, fragmented pathways across education, health, and social care, inconsistent transitions, and variability in inclusive practice. The recommendations proposed included strengthening Early Help pathways and promoting equity, improving communication and expectations management with families, and enhancing multi-agency coordination across Education, Health, and Social Care. The report noted that Disadvantaged families are more likely to have children with SEND, yet face greater barriers to timely diagnoses, EHCPs and effective support. ²

Wandsworth Schools Finance for 2026/27

The committee was to receive a report on Wandsworth Schools Finance for the Financial Year 2026/27. This report was expected to detail the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) allocation for the upcoming year, including the Schools Block, High Needs Block, and Early Years Block. It was noted that while national funding formula factors had increased, falling pupil numbers meant the Schools Block had seen a smaller rise. The report indicated that Wandsworth's Schools Forum had elected to move 20% closer to the National Funding Formula (NFF), which would shift funding away from primary schools towards secondary schools. The report highlighted that Wandsworth schools were in a stronger financial position compared to national averages, with a lower percentage of schools in deficit.

Education Performance Report 2025-26

The Education Performance Report for 2025-26 was also scheduled for discussion. This report was intended to provide an overview of educational outcomes across Wandsworth's mainstream school settings. The report indicated that overall performance remained strong and above comparators on most headline measures, with disadvantaged pupils in Wandsworth outperforming the national average. Areas of focus included attendance, exclusion rates, and outcomes for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The report highlighted that Wandsworth schools remain strong and inclusive; headline attainment outperforms London and England across phases. ³