The Children, Young People and Education Scrutiny Commission is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 17 June 2026 to discuss a range of important topics concerning the services provided to children and young people in Leicester. Key areas for consideration include the executive's response to recommendations regarding the High Needs Block for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), an update on the post-inspection improvement plan for Children's Social Care, and a review of priorities and performance ambitions for the Social Care and Education department.

Executive Response to SEND High Needs Block Recommendations

The commission is set to consider the Executive's response to recommendations made by a Task Group concerning the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) High Needs Block (HNB). This block of funding, part of the Dedicated Schools Grant¹, is crucial for supporting children with higher levels of need. The report, detailed in Appendix D of the public reports pack², outlines how the Executive views the Task Group's recommendations as complementary to both national reform agendas and the emerging Leicester City Local SEND Reform Plan. The Executive's response highlights that work is already underway to strengthen early intervention, expand local provision, and improve transparency in funding arrangements.

Post-Inspection Improvement Plan for Children's Social Care

An update on the post-inspection improvement plan for Children's Social Care will be presented, as detailed in Appendix E of the public reports pack³. This report follows a full Ofsted inspection in September 2024 and a focused visit in March 2026 concerning services for care leavers. The presentation will cover progress made and outline priorities for the next 12 months. The report indicates that while leadership oversight has improved, performance information remains fragmented. Priorities for further improvement include strengthening performance management, introducing clear performance thresholds, and developing a clear communications approach to share learning from audits.

Priorities and Performance Ambitions for Social Care and Education

The commission will receive an update on performance in social care and education for Quarter 4 of 2025-26, as outlined in Appendix F of the public reports pack⁴. This report provides information on monitoring and improving quality across the department. The presentation will focus on thirteen identified priorities, with specific attention given to Priority 5, which concerns the development of an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) maturity matrix and a clear action plan. The report highlights that while some areas are on track, others face obstacles, such as delays in the Sector Led Improvement Programme and challenges in recruiting staff for SEND reforms.

Introduction to CYPE

The Lead Scrutiny Directors will provide an introduction to the Children, Young People and Education (CYPE) service areas that fall under the commission's remit. This item, detailed in Appendix C of the public reports pack⁵, aims to give members a clear overview of the department's structure and responsibilities.

Work Programme

Members will have the opportunity to consider the commission's work programme for the upcoming year, as presented in Appendix G of the public reports pack⁶. This will involve reviewing planned items and suggesting any additional topics that the commission deems necessary to address. The forward plan includes items such as updates on the SEND reforms, corporate parenting, and the impact of recruitment on children's social care.