The Children, Education and Families Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee meeting was scheduled to cover a range of important topics, including updates on the Children, Education and Families Portfolio Plan, a review of the provisional financial outturn for the 2025/26 financial year, and decisions regarding contract awards and planned maintenance programmes. The committee was also set to discuss the forward work programme and consider reports on early intervention and family support services.

Appointment of Co-opted Members

The committee was scheduled to confirm co-opted membership appointments for the upcoming municipal year. This included making appointments for Parent Governor Representatives, a Church Representative, and an Early Years Representative. The report highlighted the legal requirements for these appointments, including the need for a minimum number of Parent Governors and the entitlement of specific churches to representation on education committees.

Matters Outstanding and Forward Work Programme

This item was intended to allow the committee to review progress on actions arising from previous meetings and to shape its future work programme. Members were expected to comment on the proposed schedule for the year ahead, identifying any particular issues they wished to scrutinise. Additionally, the committee was scheduled to reconstitute the School Place Planning Working Group for the 2026/27 municipal year, including the appointment of its Chair and Vice-Chair. The purpose of this working group is to advise the Council on meeting its statutory duties regarding the need for school places.

Portfolio Holder Update: Children, Education and Families Portfolio Plan 2025/26 Q4 Update and 2026/27 Refreshed Plan

The committee was to receive an update on the progress of the Children, Education and Families Portfolio Plan for the fourth quarter of the 2025/26 financial year. Alongside this, a draft of the refreshed Portfolio Plan for 2026/27 was presented for comment. The plan focuses on five priority outcomes: Safeguarding, Affordable, Decent and Secure Homes, Life Chances, Resilience and Wellbeing, Supporting and Challenging Effective Multi-Agency Working, and Ensuring Efficiency and Effectiveness. These priorities align with the Council's corporate strategy, Making Bromley Even Better.

Pre-Decision Scrutiny of Decisions for the Children, Education & Families Portfolio Holder

Provisional Outturn Report 2025/26

This report provided the provisional financial outturn position for the Children, Education and Families Portfolio for the 2025/26 financial year. It was noted that a projected overspend of £1,292,000 on controllable expenditure was anticipated. The report detailed the breakdown of these variations across different divisions and highlighted pressures in areas such as Children's Social Care (CSC), SEN Transport, and staffing costs. The Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) position also showed a projected overspend of £12,918,000, with significant pressures in the high needs block related to placement costs. The report also outlined the government's announcement regarding the write-off of a portion of historic SEND deficits and the conditions for receiving a High Needs Stability Grant.

Contract Award: Autism Family Support Service

The committee was asked to scrutinise a recommendation to renew the contract for the Autism Family Support Service with Bromley Mencap for a further 18 months. This service, jointly funded by the Council and the South East London Integrated Care Board (SEL ICB), provides targeted support to children and young people with autism and social communication needs. The report highlighted the specialist expertise and trusted relationships developed by Bromley Mencap, noting that decommissioning the service would create a significant gap in provision. The renewal was recommended to ensure continuity while local delivery aligns with national SEND, health, and social care reforms.

Education Planned Maintenance Programme 2026/27

This report sought agreement on the capital maintenance programme for maintained schools for the 2026/27 financial year. Bromley's allocation of £285,954 from the Department for Education's School Condition Allocation (SCA) was to be used for capital maintenance works at the remaining community and foundation maintained schools. The proposed programme focused on boiler replacement and rationalisation works at Riverside School's St Paul's Cray site.

Award of Contract for Capital Works at Marian Vian Primary School Part 1 (Public) Report

The committee was asked to note the contents of this report concerning capital works at Marian Vian Primary School. The report detailed the proposed demolition of an existing modular block and its replacement with a new two-storey classroom block. This project, part-funded by Section 106 funding, was to be awarded following an open competitive tendering process.

Early Intervention and Family Support Service Update

This report provided an annual update on the work of the Early Intervention and Family Support Services (EIFS). EIFS encompasses both statutory and non-statutory services and leads Bromley's early help Family Support work. The report highlighted activities undertaken by Children and Family Centres, the Family Support and Parenting Practitioner Team, the Parenting Offer, the Information Advice and Support Service (IASS), the Reducing Parental Conflict Programme, the Social Communications (including Autism) Needs Targeted Support Coordinator, and Youth Services. Significant increases in data for registrations, footfall, referrals, and website engagement were noted, indicating growing demand and positive family engagement. The report also detailed extensive multi-agency working within Children and Family Centres, aligning with the Family Hubs approach.

Pre-Decision Scrutiny of Executive Reports

Gateway 1 - Permission to Tender for a Children and Adults Passenger Transport Framework

This report sought Executive approval to procure a new contract for passenger transport services for all eligible client groups, including children and adults. The current framework contract, with an estimated whole life value of £89 million, was due to end in August 2027. The proposed new framework would be an open framework, allowing for the reopening of competition, with an estimated annual value of £20 million and a whole life value of £160 million over an eight-year term. The report detailed the service profile, data analysis, and options appraisal, recommending an open framework of providers as the preferred option.

Gateway 1 - Permission to Tender for an Independent Fostering Agency Framework

The committee was asked to scrutinise a report seeking Executive authorisation to undertake a procurement exercise for an Independent Fostering Agency (IFA) Framework for children looked after. This closed framework would be commissioned for four years, with an estimated annual value of £7.16 million, totalling £29 million over the term. The report highlighted the high demand for fostering placements, market constraints, and price volatility, and outlined the benefits of a structured framework for standardising commissioning, onboarding, and quality assurance. The recommended option was a stand-alone solo council framework, complementing in-house fostering efforts.

Policy Development and Other Items

Children, Education and Families Risk Register - 2025/26 Q4 Update

This report presented the updated Children, Education and Families Risk Register for the fourth quarter of 2025/26. It outlined key departmental risks, including those related to financial strategy, service delivery, recruitment and retention, emergency response, school place planning, SEN transport, SEND reforms, youth offending, out-of-borough placements, integrated therapies, school attendance, and changes to the national landscape. The register detailed the causes and effects of these risks, the existing controls in place, and any further actions required for mitigation.

Children, Education and Families Contracts Register Part 1 (Public) Report

This report provided an extract from the Contracts Register as of May 2026, detailing contracts with a whole life value of £50,000 or higher. The register was organised by portfolio, procurement status, and contract value, with a summary for the Children, Education and Families PDS Committee. It highlighted the number of active contracts, those flagged as concerns, and their risk index and procurement status. The report was presented for review and comment by the committee.

Performance Reporting - Children's Scrutiny Dataset Part 1 (Public) Report

The committee was to receive a regular update on the performance of children's services as at the end of March 2026. The report included key performance indicators and management commentary. Specific indicators performing below expectation were highlighted: the number of in-house foster households recruited (Red status) and the stability of placements for Children Looked After (Amber status). Management commentary provided explanations for these figures and outlined ongoing actions.

Children, Education and Families Information Items

Elective Home Education Briefing Paper

This briefing paper was circulated for information only, with the possibility of debate if a committee member requested it. It provided information on elective home education within the borough.

Part 2 (Closed) Agenda

The agenda indicated that Part 2 of the meeting would involve the exclusion of the press and public to consider items containing exempt information, likely relating to financial or business affairs, or information that could reveal an individual's identity. These items included exempt minutes, pre-decision scrutiny of exempt decisions, and exempt performance reporting.