The Education and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Oxfordshire County Council met on Tuesday 22 September 2026 to discuss safeguarding, youth justice, apprenticeships, and supported transport. Key outcomes included recommendations to ensure sufficient resources for the Best Start in Life Plan, a focus on embedding consistent Risk Outside the Home pathways, and the noting of the Youth Justice Service Annual Plan 2026-2029. The committee also agreed to consider a possible update on SEND reforms at a future meeting and requested further information regarding apprenticeship opportunities, particularly for young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report 2025-2026

The committee received the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (OSCP) Annual Report for 2025-2026, which detailed the effectiveness of multi-agency safeguarding arrangements. The report highlighted progress in areas such as child neglect, harm outside the home, and the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) partnership. Key themes emerging from reviews included the importance of early identification, effective information sharing, and a focus on the child's lived experience. The committee agreed to make recommendations to Cabinet that the Council should ensure sufficient resources are available to deliver the Best Start in Life Plan's ambitions and support the achievement of Oxfordshire's local targets for children eligible for free school meals. This recommendation applied to both the Best Start in Life Plan and the Best Start Family Hubs in Oxfordshire.

Harm Outside the Home and Child Sex Exploitation

A report on the council's and its partners' response to harm outside the home and child sexual exploitation was presented. The integrated Adolescence and Prevention Service has seen a reduction in first-time entrants to the criminal justice system and has engaged with over 2,000 children. The committee was informed about the development of a Risk Outside the Home (ROTH) pathway to strengthen the response to extra-familial harm. The report detailed the impact of the Targeted Youth Support Service, with 2,194 young people engaged in 2025, and highlighted the work of the Harm Reduction Unit in tackling drug supply and county lines. The committee requested further information on data from the Cherwell district.

Oxfordshire Youth Justice Service Annual Plan 2026-2029

The committee considered the Oxfordshire Youth Justice Service (YJS) Annual Plan for 2026-2029. The plan outlines a child-centred, preventative, and evidence-led approach to youth justice, aiming to reduce first-time entrants, reoffending, and the use of custody, while also addressing disproportionality and improving support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The plan is governed by the Youth Justice Management Board, which includes representatives from the local authority, police, health, probation, and the voluntary and community sector. The committee noted the plan and its strategic priorities and welcomed the plan and the evidence of integrated working around the needs of individual children.

Apprenticeships

A report on apprenticeship opportunities for young people aged 16 to 18 in Oxfordshire, with a focus on those with SEND, was discussed. While employers are generally willing to recruit younger apprentices and those with SEND, barriers such as work readiness, employer capacity for supervision, and access to specialist support were identified. The report highlighted the need for improved careers education, employability skills, work experience, and better local data on apprenticeship participation for young people with SEND. The committee requested further information on entry-level apprenticeship availability, oversubscribed and undersubscribed apprenticeship sectors, apprenticeship dropout/retention figures after six months, and further engagement with Enterprise Oxfordshire on careers and apprenticeship pathways.

Committee Forward Work Plan

The committee discussed its forward work plan. An oral update on supported transport arrangements was provided, indicating that most applications had been processed, with ongoing efforts to address backlogs. A lessons learned exercise will be undertaken. The work programme was updated to include consideration of supported transport at the November meeting, attainment at the January meeting, a possible update on the SEND reform plan at the November meeting, a future session on apprenticeships with Enterprise Oxfordshire, and consideration of elective home education. The committee agreed to arrange an informal briefing for all members on supported transport. Councillor Markham was noted as stepping down from the Wood Eaton Manor working group. The committee also agreed to note the action and recommendation tracker and noted the Cabinet responses to scrutiny recommendations.