The Scrutiny Children & Young People Sub-Committee of Croydon Council was scheduled to meet on Tuesday, 10 March 2026, to discuss key areas of service delivery for the borough's children and young people. The agenda included updates on public health nursing, education standards, youth engagement services, and performance dashboards for early help and children's social care. The committee was also set to review its work programme for the upcoming year.

Public Health Nursing Transformation

The Sub-Committee was scheduled to receive an update on the Public Health Nursing transformation programme, building on discussions that began in November 2022. This item was intended to provide an overview of Key Performance Indicator (KPI) trends since March 2025, with a specific focus on mandatory 2-2.5-year reviews and New Birth Visits. The report pack indicated that the transformation programme aims to reduce health inequalities, improve workforce efficiency and resilience, and provide a more integrated service across localities, aligning with family hubs. The service offer is structured into Universal, Targeted, Specialist, and Enhanced levels to meet individual needs. The report pack highlighted improvements in the completion of New Birth Visits and the 2-2.5-year reviews, attributing these to a new service delivery model that enables localised responsibility and collaborative working. A recruitment and retention strategy was also noted as a key intervention to address vacancy rates.

Education Standards 2024/25

A report was scheduled to summarise the education performance and outcomes for children and young people in Croydon schools for the academic year 2024/25, covering all phases from Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) to Key Stage 5 (KS5). The report pack noted the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on learning, particularly for cohorts who missed crucial early years and secondary school phases. Despite these challenges, the report indicated positive performance in some areas, such as the proportion of children achieving a Good Level of Development (GLD) at EYFS, which was above the national average. At Key Stage 2 (KS2), 68% of pupils achieved the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, exceeding the national average. However, Key Stage 4 (KS4) outcomes showed Croydon underperforming against most national and regional averages, with a provisional Attainment 8 score lower than the England and London averages. Actions planned to improve outcomes included continued support for early years practitioners, a focus on oracy development, and partnerships with schools to enhance teaching and learning. The report also detailed outcomes for Children Looked After (CLA) and pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), noting areas of progress and ongoing challenges.

Youth Engagement Services Update

The Sub-Committee was scheduled to review changes to the operating model for Youth Engagement Services, following a key decision made in June 2025 to disband the previous service and make arrangements for provision to continue elsewhere. The Youth Engagement Service (YET) fully disbanded on 8 September 2025, with three staff members redeployed into the targeted Early Help service. The report pack indicated that services have continued and developed under a new plan, with initiatives such as 'Million Hours' continuing at the Samuel Coleridge Taylor Family Hub, and 'Starz & Sisterz' resuming for girls. The report also highlighted ongoing work with the Croydon Youth Assembly and the procurement of a new provider to strengthen youth voice representation. Junior youth hubs were established in Shrublands and New Addington, with new programmes like the Girls Empowerment Programme launched. The report noted that Croydon Council plans to invest over £4 million in the voluntary and community sector in 2026 to support early help, mental health, and youth engagement.

Early Help, Children's Social Care and Education Dashboard (December 2025)

The Sub-Committee was scheduled to receive the Early Help, Children's Social Care and Education Performance Dashboard for December 2025. This dashboard aligns with the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) included in the Mayor's Business Plan 2022-26. The report pack indicated that the dashboard provides a performance overview across various service areas, with indicators colour-coded to show performance against targets (Red, Amber, Green). Specific areas highlighted in the dashboard included the proportion of 16 and 17-year-olds not in education, employment, or training (NEET), the percentage of care leavers in education, employment, or training, and the timeliness of issuing Education Health & Care Plans (EHCPs). The dashboard also presented data on contacts to children's services, the percentage of children subject to Child Protection Plans, and the rate of local Children Looked After (CLA) per 10,000 population. The report pack noted that the Sub-Committee could identify areas of concern from the data for further investigation.

Work Programme 2025-26

The Sub-Committee was asked to review its draft work programme for the 2025/26 municipal year. Members were invited to propose any additions or amendments to the programme. The report pack indicated that the final decision on any changes to work programmes rests with the Chairs & Vice-Chairs Group, following consultation with officers. The proposed work programme included items such as updates on the Council's Stabilisation Plan as it relates to the Children, Young People & Education (CYPE) Directorate, the development of the Family Hub Model, and the Youth Justice Plan. Future items scheduled for discussion included CYPE Transformation, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Transport, Budget Scrutiny Challenge, and the Education Estates Strategy. The Sub-Committee was also asked to consider items for the 2026-27 Work Programme.