The Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on Tuesday 2 June 2026 to discuss the progress of the Children and Family Services Departmental Plan, review performance reports, and consider updates on key strategies and national reforms. Key outcomes included noting the progress update on the departmental plan, requesting further detail in future performance reports, and noting the overview of Leicestershire Music's work.

Children and Family Services Departmental Plan 2026-29 Progress Update

The committee received an update on the progress of the Leicestershire Children and Family Service Departmental Plan 2026-29. The Director of Children and Families highlighted the department's strategic priorities and ambitions for children, young people, and families, emphasizing the established governance and performance reporting mechanisms used to monitor progress.

During the discussion, a member sought clarification on the priority of supporting children within their own communities, questioning if this would reduce reliance on specialist schools. The Director explained that the Belonging in Education Strategy aims to keep children connected to their communities, with specialist provision remaining available where needed, but with a broader ambition to support children in mainstream settings where possible. The importance of strengthening children's relationships with family members and significant adults was also stressed, including for children in care and those awaiting adoption.

Concerns were raised about how performance indicators are monitored and how underperformance is addressed. The Director outlined a structured performance management framework, with regular reviews and agreed actions for improvement. A suggestion was made for future reports to include more comparative data against regional and national averages, and clearer information on outcomes, including examples of strong and weak performance areas, as well as feedback from service users. The Director acknowledged these suggestions and agreed to consider them for future reports. The committee resolved to note the progress update and requested that the Director give consideration to providing additional detail on outcomes and impact in future reports, and to presenting a further progress report to the committee.

Leicestershire Music Overview Report

An overview of the work of Leicestershire Music and its links to education, advocacy, and profile-raising for music education was presented. The Cabinet Lead Member for Children and Families expressed strong support for the service, highlighting its reach and the benefits it provides to children and young people, including those with SEND. He also acknowledged the financial challenges facing the service.

The Chairman echoed these positive comments, but raised concerns about the potential impact of local government reorganisation on the future delivery and structure of the service. He stressed the need for strong advocacy to ensure its continuation, noting the wide-ranging benefits of music education for children and young people of all ages.

Discussion points included the importance of music education for children's wellbeing and development, with a suggestion for greater promotion of the service. The Director confirmed that while not exclusively SEND-focused, the service has adapted its provision to support vulnerable groups, including children with SEND and those requiring wellbeing support. The funding model was clarified, with core provision fully funded and additional activities operating on a traded basis. The committee resolved to note the overview of Leicestershire Music's work.

Quarter 1 2026/27 Performance Report

The committee reviewed the Children and Family Services Department's performance for April to June 2026. The Cabinet Lead Member highlighted two areas of concern: repeat child protection plans and re-referrals, both of which are being closely monitored. He expressed confidence in the improvement activities in place. Positive outcomes noted included improved assessment timeliness and a reduction in school suspensions, as well as significant improvements in the timeliness of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

Concerns were raised regarding the performance dashboard showing a significant number of deteriorating indicators, with a suggestion for future reports to include additional historical data for better context. The Director agreed to consider this. A question was asked about children's access to dental care, and the Director assured members that efforts had been made to register children in care with dentists, though encouraging some older young people to attend remained a challenge.

Regarding the increase in repeat child protection plans, the Director advised that this was a national trend and could be affected by small changes in overall numbers and the complexity of family circumstances, such as domestic abuse, parental mental health, and substance misuse. A suggestion was made for future reporting to include the length of time between child protection plans. The committee resolved to note the performance update and requested that the Director include figures alongside percentages in future reports.

Children's Social Care Statutory Complaints and Compliments Annual Report 2025/26

The committee considered the annual report on complaints and compliments received regarding children's social care services. The Cabinet Lead Member welcomed improvements in the complaints process, noting a tripling of compliments and a reduction in Stage 3 complaints. However, he expressed concern that only 46% of Stage 1 complaints were responded to within the required 20 working days, representing a decline in performance.

Discussion included the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on managing lengthy complaints, with the Council exploring proactive management strategies and the use of technology to support complaints handling. A member emphasized the importance of understanding how complaints inform service improvement, suggesting future reports should provide clearer evidence of lessons learned and resulting improvements. The Director stated that learning from complaints would be a key part of the authority's implementation of the Complaints Handling Code. The committee resolved to note the summary of complaints and compliments.

Draft Leicestershire and Rutland Safeguarding Children Partnership Yearly Report 2025/26

The committee reviewed the draft yearly report for the Leicestershire and Rutland Safeguarding Children Partnership. It was noted that young scrutineers had been appointed to provide independent oversight of safeguarding arrangements. The Director explained the Safeguarding Partnership's comprehensive governance structure, designed to hold partner agencies accountable for their responsibilities, and assured the committee that feedback from a national review panel had been positive regarding local safeguarding practice.

Members expressed satisfaction with the performance monitoring element of the governance structure and the formal escalation process for unresolved issues. Concerns were raised regarding the potential impact of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) on safeguarding arrangements, particularly the loss of district council functions. The Director assured the committee that preparations for LGR would ensure the maintenance of safe and effective services for children and families throughout the transition. The committee resolved to note the draft yearly report and that the views expressed would be presented to the Cabinet.

Annual Report of the Independent Reviewing Officer 2025/2026

The committee considered the Annual Report of the Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs) for children in care. The Cabinet Lead Member highlighted the increasing demands on the Children in Care service, noting a significant rise in the number of children in care. Despite this, over 2,200 statutory reviews were completed, with 98.4% undertaken within required timescales.

A member queried whether future reports could provide more detail on the outcomes of investigations and how concerns raised by IROs had led to service improvements. The Director explained that while the report provided an overview, further information could be included in future reports where appropriate. The escalation process for IROs was outlined, with regular challenge meetings held to review unresolved issues. The committee resolved to note the summary and contents of the report.

Leicestershire School Term Dates Autumn 2027 to Summer 2032

The committee considered proposed Leicestershire school term and holiday dates for the period autumn 2027 to summer 2032. The report outlined two potential models for consultation, both retaining the traditional Leicestershire early July finish to the school year. Model 1 retains the historic pattern with a one-week autumn half-term, while Model 2 proposes an earlier return to school in August to accommodate a two-week autumn half-term. The consultation, which began on 5 May 2026 and runs until 15 June 2026, seeks feedback from parents, teachers, and local residents. A decision on the recommended model is expected to be presented to the Cabinet in September 2026.

Elective Home Education in Leicestershire

An overview of elective home education in Leicestershire was presented, detailing the County Council's statutory duties and how they are discharged by the Inclusion Service. The report highlighted a national rise in elective home education since the 2010s, exacerbated by the Coronavirus pandemic, with potential safeguarding risks identified when children are not seen by professionals in an educational setting.

The report detailed the local authority's duties to ensure children educated at home receive a full-time, efficient, and suitable education, and the process for issuing preliminary notices and School Attendance Orders if education appears unsuitable. Data showed an increase in the number of electively home-educated children in Leicestershire, mirroring national trends. The primary reasons cited for home education included education provision not meeting a child's needs, particularly in relation to SEND and mental health, as well as relationship breakdowns between schools and parents. The report emphasized the need for strengthened and standardized recording of reasons for elective home education to better identify drivers and target support.

Corporate Parenting Strategy

The committee received details and context for the updated Corporate Parenting Strategy, which will be in place until 2029. The strategy sets out how the County Council will meet its statutory duties and responsibilities for children in care and care leavers, guided by the co-produced Our Promise. Key aims include ensuring children are safe, stable, and feel they belong; raising aspirations and achievement; supporting positive health, education, and employment outcomes; and preparing care leavers for independent adulthood up to age 25. The strategy emphasizes a lifelong, relational approach and is underpinned by the Children and Social Work Act 2017 principles. The updated strategy has been shaped by the views of children in care and care leavers, and reviewed by key stakeholders.

Schools White Paper and SEND Reform

An update was provided on the Government's Schools White Paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving, and associated SEND Reform proposals. The report outlined the national policy direction, its implications for the County Council and its partners, and highlighted key risks and opportunities. The SEND system nationally is under significant pressure, with a near doubling of active Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) since 2019. The reforms aim to raise standards, strengthen inclusion, and rebalance investment towards prevention and early intervention. A key requirement is the submission of a Local SEND Reform Plan by mid-June 2026, which is critical for securing High Needs Stability Grant funding to address historic deficits. The report detailed proposals for governance, the Experts at Hand model for early intervention, and SEND sufficiency and place planning.

Quarter 4 2025/26 Performance Report

The committee received an update on the Children and Family Services Department's performance for January to March 2026. The report highlighted that out of nine measures with a national benchmark, two were in the top quartile, four in the second, two in the third, and one in the bottom quartile. Key areas of performance included:

• Repeat Child Protection Plans: The percentage increased to 25.4%, placing Leicestershire in the third quartile nationally.
• Re-referrals to Children's Social Care: The rate increased to 24.7%, placing Leicestershire in the fourth quartile.
• Assessments completed within 45 days: Performance remained similar at 87.5%, placing Leicestershire in the second quartile.
• Care Leavers (up to 21) in Suitable Accommodation: Performance remained high at 95.8%, placing Leicestershire in the top quartile.
• Care Leavers (up to 21) in Education, Employment or Training: Performance was 63.2%, placing Leicestershire in the first quartile.
• Children in Care with Dental Checks: Increased to 72.1%.
• Children in Care with Annual Health Assessments: Increased to 86.5%.
• Children with EHCPs in mainstream schools: Increased to 4,039.
• Permanent Exclusions: Increased to 0.09% of the school population, the highest since 2006/07.
• Fixed Term Suspensions: Decreased to 3.41% of the school population.
• Young People (16-17) Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET): Remained low at 1.3%.

The report also detailed performance in Early Years, Key Stage 4 Attainment, and Elective Home Education. The committee resolved to note the performance update and requested that the Director give consideration to including figures alongside percentages in future reports.