The Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Leicestershire County Council is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 3 November 2026. The meeting's agenda includes discussions on the Leicestershire SEND Reform Plan, early years inclusion and childcare support for children with additional needs, and updates from the Education Effectiveness Service. Other topics scheduled for consideration are the Leicester Adoption Agency Statutory Report, the Fostering Annual Report 2025-26, and the Annual Report of the Virtual School 2025-26.

Leicestershire SEND Reform Plan

A significant item on the agenda is the Leicestershire SEND Reform Plan. This plan, which was submitted to the Department for Education on 19 June 2026 and approved by them on 2 October 2026, aims to create a more inclusive, confident, and financially sustainable system for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) aged 0-25. The plan is structured around two main delivery strands: Experts at Hand, a locality-based model providing access to expertise and workforce development, and SEND Sufficiency and Inclusion Bases, focusing on expanding and improving local specialist provision. The report will update the committee on the plan's implementation arrangements and how future progress, impact, risk, and financial performance will be reported. The plan runs until March 2029 and has been positively received by the Department for Education, though areas for further strengthening, particularly regarding post-16 reform and preparation for adulthood, have been identified.

Early Years Inclusion and Childcare Support for Children with Additional Needs

The committee is also scheduled to receive an update on the council's current offer and future strategic approach to early years inclusion and childcare for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). This report will detail how the service will work with partners to provide high-quality support for children with SEND, responding to increasing demand and changes in the childcare sector. The existing support includes the Early Years Inclusion and Childcare Service (EYICS), which comprises Portage practitioners, Inclusion practitioners, and Early Years SEND Inclusion Advisors. The report will also cover the role of mainstream nurseries and childcare providers, specialist nurseries, and the transition process into primary school. Challenges such as increasing demand, school-aged childcare inclusion, funding, and workforce capacity will be discussed, alongside the implementation of national and local reform programmes.

Education Effectiveness Service Update

An update on the work of the Education Effectiveness Service between March and October 2026 is also on the agenda. This service brings together teams responsible for statutory assurance, school improvement, governance development, and safeguarding and anti-bullying support across Leicestershire's education sector. The report will outline the service's statutory functions, progress against its priorities, key achievements, emerging challenges, and planned developments. Key priorities for the service include maintaining safeguarding assurance, strengthening anti-bullying practices, supporting governance capability, sustaining school improvement, and promoting sector leadership.

Leicestershire Adoption Agency Statutory Report

The committee will consider the Annual Report for Leicestershire's Adoption Agency for the period March 2025 to March 2026. This report is a statutory requirement and provides information on the agency's activities and achievements. Leicestershire County Council is part of the regional partnership Family Adoption Links (FAL), which aims to share best practice, pool resources, and develop a strategic approach to adoption services. The report will present performance data across key indicators such as the average time between a child entering care and moving in with their adoptive family, and the time taken between a local authority receiving a Placement Order and deciding on a match. Recruitment activity, family finding for children awaiting adoption, and support services for adoptive families and special guardians will also be detailed.

Fostering Annual Report 2025-26

The Fostering Annual Report for 2025-26 will be presented, outlining the activities of the Fostering Service. This report details key achievements, including the approval of mainstream and specialist foster carers, supported lodgings hosts, and independent visitors. It also addresses service delivery, staff retention, communication with carers, and placement stability. The report highlights the national challenge of declining foster carer recruitment and retention, while noting Leicestershire's strong conversion rate from inquiry to approval. Future priorities for 2026/27 include intensive recruitment campaigns, developing trauma-informed practice, expanding the Independent Visitors Scheme, and preparing for the Ofsted inspection of the Supported Lodgings Scheme.

Annual Report of the Virtual School 2025-26

Finally, the committee will review the Annual Report of the Virtual School for the academic year 2025-2026. The Virtual School has a statutory duty to promote the educational achievement of children looked after by the Local Authority, as well as previously looked-after children. The report will highlight the team's work in raising aspirations, narrowing attainment gaps, and improving stakeholders' understanding of the educational needs of these children. It will also cover the importance of ensuring the views of children and young people are heard and inform educational decisions. The report will present data on attainment, attendance, and suspensions, as well as detailing participation in wider curriculum activities and future plans for training and support. The report also notes the increasing number of Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) and the challenges in securing college places for them.