The Children, Families and Skills Scrutiny Committee of Lancashire County Council met on Wednesday 25 February 2026 to discuss school attendance, children not in school, and school place planning. The minutes from the previous meeting were approved as a correct record, and the Children, Families and Skills Work Programme for 2025/26 was noted.

School Attendance

The committee received a report detailing current school attendance levels across Lancashire and the strategies being employed to improve them. Abbie Hardy, Head of Education Improvement, explained that while overall attendance in Lancashire remains above the national average, there are significant variations between primary and secondary schools, and across different districts. Persistent absence, defined as missing 10% or more of school sessions, is a particular concern, especially in secondary schools.

Councillor Barnes raised concerns about the use of penalty notices and prosecutions for non-attendance, questioning if this approach was proportionate. It was clarified that penalty notices are issued by schools in line with Department for Education (DfE) guidance, and the council acts as the issuing body. The revenue generated from these notices funds attendance and Children Missing Education (CME) staff. County Councillor Matthew Salter, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, emphasised that prosecution is a last resort, typically used when families have refused to engage with support measures.

Councillor Ritson inquired about the council's control over the fines system and suggested a greater focus on understanding the reasons behind non-attendance, including potential issues within schools themselves. It was explained that while the council provides advice on fines, schools make the decision to issue them. The Section 19 panel was highlighted as a mechanism for providing alternative provision for children who cannot attend mainstream school.

The discussion also touched upon the variation in attendance across districts, with areas like Preston and Chorley showing strong secondary attendance, while others like Lancaster and Ribble Valley experience a significant drop from primary to secondary. The impact of term-time holidays was noted as a major reason for penalty notices.

Children Not in School

The committee also considered the growing number of children not in school, encompassing those who are missing education (CME), electively home-educated (EHE), or receiving education otherwise than at school (EOTAS). Abbie Hardy reported a significant increase in elective home education, with over 3,600 children registered as EHE. The primary reasons cited for this trend are children's mental health issues and the perceived inability of schools to meet their Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) requirements.

Concerns were raised about the council's capacity to oversee these children, particularly those who are home-educated, as current legislation limits the council's right to inspect their education or even see the child. The upcoming Schools Bill is expected to provide more powers to the local authority in this area. The committee heard that the council has doubled its staff numbers in this area and is seeking further funding to increase capacity and implement a more preventative approach.

Councillor Duke highlighted the figure of 179 children missing education in Preston, describing it as shockingly awful. Questions were raised about the longest waiting times for these children and a breakdown of reasons for their absence, including potential issues with school transport. It was confirmed that the council is working to provide more detailed figures and analysis for Preston and other areas with high numbers of children not in school.

The issue of parents being fined or prosecuted for their children's non-attendance due to mental health issues was revisited. It was clarified that prosecutions are rare and typically occur only after all engagement and support options have been exhausted.

School Place Planning

Paula Durant, School Planning Manager, presented an overview of school place planning in Lancashire. She explained the council's statutory duty to ensure sufficient school places and the methods used for forecasting pupil numbers, including GP registration data and housing development plans.

A key finding was that Lancashire currently has surplus school places across most areas, a trend attributed to a national drop in birth rates. However, specific areas like Preston Rural and Preston East still face capacity pressures. The council is developing a surplus place strategy to address this, which may involve federating schools or considering mixed-age classes.

Councillor Blake raised concerns about out-of-area applications, particularly for SEND places, and the admissions criteria used by schools. It was explained that while schools have their own admissions criteria, council schools generally prioritise local catchment areas. Councillor Duke voiced concerns about the impact of new housing developments on existing families' access to local schools, particularly regarding sibling admissions at Broughton High School. The council committed to reviewing the admissions criteria for Broughton High School and maintained schools in general concerning sibling priority.

The discussion also touched upon the need for new school provision in Preston, despite the overall surplus of places in Lancashire. County Councillor Matthew Salter, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, stated that while a new primary school is planned for the Whittingham area, there is currently insufficient demand to justify building a new secondary school in Preston. This led to a debate about the council's statutory duty to provide local catchment schools versus meeting parental preference, with the council emphasising its duty to provide a place, not necessarily a preferred one.

Children, Families and Skills Work Programme 2025/26

The committee noted the work programme for the upcoming year, which includes updates on the SEND Priority Action Plan, Early Years, and the Families First and Lancashire House Project. The next meeting was scheduled for 15 April 2026.

SEND Improvement Programme Update

An update on the SEND Improvement Programme was provided for information, detailing progress on the Priority Action Plan (PAP) milestones. The committee noted the significant increase in requests for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and requested data on EHCP requests over the past 10 years to better analyse trends.