The Children, Families and Skills Scrutiny Committee met to discuss school attendance, children not in school, and school place planning. Key decisions included noting the work programme for 2025/26 and receiving an update on the SEND Improvement Programme.

School Attendance

The committee received a report detailing current school attendance levels across Lancashire. Abbie Hardy, Head of Education Improvement, explained that while overall attendance 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 in secondary schools. The report highlighted that term-time holidays are a significant driver of penalty notices issued to parents.

County Councillor Matthew Salter, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, addressed concerns about prosecuting parents, stating that it is a last resort and only pursued when families have refused to engage with support. He emphasised the importance of consistent education for children's well-being and future prospects.

The committee discussed the effectiveness of targeted interventions, noting that a DfE-supported programme had led to improved attendance in ten secondary schools. Plans are in place to recruit additional staff to enhance support for schools and to develop a parental toolkit to help families manage attendance challenges.

Children Not in School

The committee was presented with data on the growing number of children not in school, encompassing those missing education (CME), electively home-educated (EHE), and receiving education otherwise than at school (EOTAS). Abbie Hardy reported a significant increase in EHE, with over 3,600 children now home-educated, and a rise in CME referrals. The primary reasons cited for EHE are SEND needs and mental health issues.

Concerns were raised about the capacity of services to manage this increase and ensure suitable education is provided. The council has doubled its staffing in these areas and secured additional funding to improve oversight and preventative work. The report highlighted that while many families choose EHE, the council has limited powers to intervene unless safeguarding concerns are evident. The upcoming Schools Bill is expected to provide greater powers for oversight.

The committee also discussed the challenges faced by children transitioning from home education to further education, with a notable percentage of Year 11 EHE students not progressing to college or apprenticeships. Colleges are beginning to offer more support, including summer schools, to aid this transition.

School Place Planning

Paula Durant, School Planning Manager, presented an overview of school place planning in Lancashire. She explained the council's legal duty to ensure sufficient school places and the use of data, including GP registrations and housing development plans, to forecast future needs.

The report indicated that Lancashire currently has surplus school places overall, a trend attributed to a national decrease in birth rates. However, specific areas, particularly in Preston, are experiencing capacity pressures due to housing growth. The committee discussed the challenges of balancing community needs with resource limitations, especially concerning secondary school provision in areas with increasing populations.

Discussions also touched upon admissions criteria, with particular attention given to the priority of siblings attending the same school, and the complexities of out-of-area applications for SEND places. The council is developing a surplus place strategy to address the long-term implications of falling rolls.

Children, Families and Skills Work Programme 2025/26

The committee noted the draft work programme for the upcoming year, which includes planned discussions on the SEND Priority Action Plan, Early Years, and updates on the Families First and Lancashire House projects.

For Information - SEND Improvement Programme January 2026 Update

An update on the SEND Improvement Programme was provided, including milestone progress and a summary of off-track milestones. The committee requested data on EHCP requests over the past ten years to better analyse trends.

Key Decisions Made:

• The minutes of the previous meeting held on 14 January 2026 were confirmed as an accurate record.
• The committee noted the work programme for 2025/26.
• The committee received an update on the SEND Improvement Programme.

Key Topics Discussed:

• School Attendance: Levels, variations, persistent absence, term-time holidays, penalty notices, and improvement strategies.
• Children Not in School: CME, EHE, EOTAS, reasons for EHE, safeguarding concerns, and support for transitions.
• School Place Planning: Forecasting methods, surplus places, capacity pressures in specific areas, admissions criteria, and the impact of housing developments.
• SEND Improvement Programme: Progress updates and data requests.
• Children, Families and Skills Work Programme 2025/26: Noted for the upcoming year.