The People Committee of Sutton Council is scheduled to consider updates on key policy and strategy developments, alongside specific reports concerning children's services and the reform of services for young people with special educational needs and disabilities. The meeting will also review the outcomes of an Ofsted inspection for Willow Rise Children's home and discuss regional collaboration initiatives for children's care.

People Committee: Policy and Strategy Overview

The committee is scheduled to receive an overview of key developments across the areas overseen by the People Committee. This report aims to inform decision-making and support the committee in scrutinising performance and delivery. It will set out the committee's role and responsibilities, provide context on key policy updates, financial considerations, and risks, and outline progress in delivering the 'Ambitious for Sutton' agenda, with priorities for the year ahead.

Reforming SEND Services in Sutton

An update is scheduled regarding the local area partnership's work to enhance support for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in the borough. This discussion will take place in the context of national reforms proposed in the government's white paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving, and the findings of a local area SEND inspection that occurred in January 2026. The report details the national consensus on the need for SEND reform due to increasing needs and capacity issues within mainstream schools, noting significant deficits accumulating across councils. The proposed national reforms include rebuilding mainstream capacity, establishing national standards for inclusion, introducing Individual Support Plans alongside Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), and improving access to educational psychology and therapy support. The local authority is preparing its SEND Reform plan for submission to the Department for Education.

Willow Rise Ofsted Report

The committee is scheduled to be updated on the outcome of the annual Ofsted inspection of Willow Rise Children's home, which took place between 17-19 March 2026. Willow Rise Residential Services, which includes Willow House, Oak House, and Cedar House, was registered as a multi-building children's home in September 2024. The report indicates that the service achieved an overall Good rating, with inspectors noting that children feel safe and have a stable environment, and that safeguarding practice is strong. Areas for improvement identified included staff not consistently following missing-from-care plans and delays in addressing actions from fire risk assessments. The report highlights Sutton's commitment to developing in-house residential care for children looked after, aiming to improve outcomes and reduce reliance on commissioned private care providers.

Transforming Children's Care - Regionalisation Reform and London Initiatives

This item is scheduled to provide an overview of recent government strategy and legislation concerning regional collaboration for children's care arrangements, and Sutton's involvement in London-wide initiatives. The report addresses the challenges within the current children's care home placement market, which is largely dominated by private providers, leading to increased costs and gaps in suitable provision. It outlines the government's intention to accelerate the establishment of Regional Care Cooperatives (RCCs) to leverage the collective purchasing power of local authorities. London has submitted an expression of interest for DfE funding to support the establishment of a London RCC, which would focus on planning, purchasing, and developing new homes and support for children in care, without replacing local authorities' statutory accountability. The report also discusses the strain on the fostering system and the government's target to create 10,000 new foster places by April 2029, encouraging regional collaboration through Fostering Hubs. A South West London Local Authorities' expression of interest for DfE funding to establish a Fostering Hub is also mentioned.

People Committee: Policy and Strategy Overview

The committee is scheduled to receive an update on key developments across the areas overseen by the People Committee. This report aims to inform decision-making and support the committee in scrutinising performance and delivery. It will set out the committee's role and responsibilities, provide context on key policy updates, financial considerations, and risks, and outline progress in delivering the 'Ambitious for Sutton' agenda, with priorities for the year ahead. The report details the committee's statutory responsibilities for Adult Social Care, Children's Social Care, and Education Services, and highlights the importance of collaboration with various partners. It also outlines key figures for children and young people, and adults within the borough, and discusses significant national legislative and policy changes impacting these services, including the NHS 10 Year Plan and the Crime and Policing Act. The report notes the Good rating received by Adult Social Care in its CQC inspection and the Good judgement for the Short Term Assessment and Reablement Team (START). It also covers the Children's Services inspection, which also received a Good grading, and the outcomes for Willow Rise Children's Home. The education section details the impact of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act and the national roll-out of the Families First Partnership Programme. The report also addresses the national SEND reform agenda and the upcoming submission of Sutton's SEND Reform plan. Financial pressures within Adult Social Care, Children's Social Care, and Education are highlighted, alongside challenges in recruiting and retaining staff. The report concludes by outlining key issues for the committee, including the development of a new corporate plan and the need for fundamental organisational change to address financial realities and demand pressures.