The Children and Education Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee of Barnet Council met on Thursday 12 March 2026 to discuss a range of important issues affecting children and education within the borough. Key topics included educational standards, the annual child care sufficiency assessment, updates on family services, and the outcomes of task and finish groups focusing on young carers and fostering.

Educational Standards in Barnet

The committee received a comprehensive report on educational standards in Barnet for 2024/25. A significant point of discussion was the attainment gap for disadvantaged pupils, particularly Black Caribbean and mixed White and Black Caribbean pupils. While overall attainment for disadvantaged pupils in Barnet is improving and performing better than the national average, a gap persists. Officers have been undertaking a research project, visiting nine schools to understand the experiences of these pupils, examining factors such as engagement, curriculum visibility, and intersectionality with pupils eligible for free school meals (PP) and those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). A conference is planned for July to explore raising Black achievement.

The report also highlighted Barnet's success in achieving a high standard across all its maintained schools, with every school now rated as expected standard or above by Ofsted. This is a historic achievement for the borough. Councillors congratulated the officers and staff for this success, while also discussing strategies to ensure schools continue to strive for improvement and avoid complacency. The discussion touched upon the new Ofsted framework with its five categories: urgent improvement, needs attention, expected standard, strong standard, and exceptional. The committee noted that comparative data between local authorities is no longer published by Ofsted.

Further discussion focused on the availability of data, with a request for more granular breakdowns, particularly for phonics and early years data, to understand when disparities emerge. It was confirmed that data for children looked after, children in need, and children on child protection plans would be circulated in supplementary reports. The role of independent schools was also raised, with the council's primary responsibility being safeguarding, rather than performance oversight. However, the council is working to build partnerships with independent schools through termly briefings.

Annual Child Care Sufficiency Assessment

The committee reviewed the Annual Child Care Sufficiency Assessment, which indicated that Barnet generally has sufficient childcare provision. However, two wards, Burnt Oak and Golders Green, require closer monitoring. The council has supported schools and nurseries with capital funding to expand provision. The successful rollout of the childcare offer provides working families with up to 30 hours of free early education for children aged nine months to statutory school age, alongside the universal offer of 15 hours for three and four-year-olds, and a similar entitlement for disadvantaged two-year-olds. The assessment also highlighted the national challenge of recruitment and retention of early-years staff due to low pay and long hours, with the council working with Barnet and Southgate College and supporting nurseries with recruitment efforts. The ambition for all schools to provide wrap-around childcare from 8 am to 6 pm is progressing, with most schools meeting this target, with exceptions for special schools and some faith schools due to specific logistical reasons or a lack of local need.

Family Services Quarterly Update

The Family Services update covered several critical areas. A safeguarding update was provided regarding a child death in the borough, which is progressing through the Crown Court. The committee will continue to receive standing updates on this matter. Significant progress has been made in transition planning for care-experienced young people, with earlier and more robust pathway planning and improved oversight of accommodation planning, including clearer escalation routes. Ofsted's focused visit on care leavers was positive, highlighting strong pathway planning and leadership oversight, though areas for further improvement were identified, including minimising anxiety in accommodation, capturing young people's voices, and addressing gaps in supervision records.

The committee also discussed the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill and Family First Social Care reforms, outlining the national strategic direction and Barnet's implementation plans. A performance update for Quarter 3 was presented, detailing the trajectory of children's social care services.

Specific discussions included how local offers are shared with young people, with a summary sheet of rights and expectations being produced, alongside group work and text-based communication. Advocacy services are available and commissioned through Action for Children, with a review underway to increase capacity. The transition tracking panel has been merged with the Mental Health and Adult Social Care panels to provide a multidisciplinary approach to planning for young people transitioning into adulthood. A pathways document is being developed with parent carer forums and young people to clarify support routes.

The committee also addressed the issue of young carers, noting that many remain unidentified. An estimated 6,500 young carers aged five to 17 live in Barnet, with only 13% known to the service in 2023. Efforts are underway to improve identification through assessments, partner information sharing, and increased awareness campaigns in schools and with GPs. The transition form from primary to secondary school now includes a question about young carer status. The figures for young carers are estimates based on national trends and youth surveys, acknowledging the difficulty in obtaining precise data due to the hidden nature of this group.

Task and Finish Group Updates

Updates were provided on two Task and Finish Groups. The Fostering Task and Finish Group reported on efforts to recruit foster carers. This year, Barnet has recruited 11 new foster carer households, bucking a London-wide trend of decline. The group found that face-to-face conversations at community events, such as Brent Cross shopping centre and local fairs, have been more effective than social media for recruitment. They are also maintaining contact with individuals who have previously expressed interest.

The Young Carers Task and Finish Group's recommendations have been largely accepted by the Cabinet. These include improving identification of young carers through schools and other referral points, and ensuring wraparound support services are in place.

Cabinet Forward Plan and Work Programme

The committee noted the Cabinet Forward Plan and the Children and Education Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee Work Programme. A commendation was given to the Cabinet for accepting seven out of eight recommendations from the Fostering Task and Finish Group, with the eighth being partially accepted.

The meeting concluded with votes of thanks to the Chair, Councillor Tony Vourou, the officers, and the committee members for their work throughout the year.