The Children and Young People Scrutiny Commission met on Monday 15 January 2024 to review the City & Hackney Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report and to hold a question and answer session with the Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Education, Young People and Children's Social Care. The Commission also noted the work programme for the remainder of the municipal year and agreed the minutes of previous meetings.

City & Hackney Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report

The Commission reviewed the City & Hackney Safeguarding Children Partnership (CHSCP) Annual Report for 2022/23. Jim Gamble QPM, Independent Child Safeguarding Commissioner for the CHSCP, presented the report, highlighting key issues such as staff wellbeing, the need for greater engagement with housing providers and voluntary sector organisations, and the disappointing response from the police regarding institutional racism in the Child Q update report.

Councillors raised concerns about emerging risks, including the mental health crisis and the potential impact of faith-based hate crimes. The Commission also discussed the safeguarding risks associated with families placed in temporary accommodation and the challenges of balancing freedom of speech with anti-radicalisation programmes. The cost of living crisis was identified as a significant pressure on local children and families, with the partnership working to ensure families have access to appropriate grants and resources.

A key decision made was that the Commission would write to the Department for Education (DfE) to express concerns about the amended Working Together safeguarding children arrangements, specifically regarding the removal of independent chairs and the subsequent reduction in local accountability.

Cabinet Q & A: Free School Meals and School Estates Strategy

Deputy Mayor Cllr Anntionette Bramble, Cabinet Member for Education, Young People and Children's Social Care, addressed the Commission on two key policy areas: Free School Meals (FSM) and Childhood Food Poverty, and the School Estates Strategy.

Regarding FSM and food poverty, the Commission was updated on the local action plan, the establishment of a School Food Trust, and plans for auto-enrolment procedures. The £300k of additional investment announced in August was noted as supporting these plans. Discussions also covered the need to ensure parents continue to apply for FSM to secure Pupil Premium funding, and plans for supporting the Charedi community beyond the cessation of the Household Support Fund.

On the School Estates Strategy, the Commission received an update on proposals to close or merge six primary schools due to falling school rolls. The surplus places within Hackney's educational system were highlighted as being at 21%, significantly above the recommended 5-10%. The Commission heard about transitional support for children, families, and staff affected by the closures and mergers, including additional support for children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) or SEND support. The strategy aims to reduce surplus capacity to 17% following the closures and mergers, with ongoing work to address falling school rolls projected to continue until 2029/30. The Deputy Mayor assured members that there were no plans to sell off any school sites.

Work Programme 2023/24

The Commission noted the updated work programme for the remainder of the municipal year. The February agenda will focus on proposed changes to local Children Centres, with papers to be distributed informally once published. The March agenda will include an item on Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA). For the 2024/25 work programme, a joint meeting with the Living in Hackney Youth Justice and Housing for care leavers is planned for June, and childcare sufficiency, including new free childcare entitlements and wraparound childcare, is scheduled for July.

Minutes of Previous Meetings

The minutes of the previous meetings held on 30 November 2023 and 18 December 2023 were noted and agreed. Actions arising from these meetings were also reviewed.

Any Other Business

The next meeting of the Commission was confirmed for 19 February 2024. The meeting concluded at 9:10 pm.