The Education, SEND & Inclusion Cabinet Panel met on Thursday 11 September 2025 to discuss the relocation and expansion of Breakspear School, review SEND performance, and consider admission arrangements and childcare programmes. A motion regarding the delays to the Breakspear School project was ultimately defeated, while updates on SEND performance, childcare expansion, and admission arrangements were presented and discussed.

Motion on the Relocation and Expansion of Breakspear School

The panel debated a motion concerning the delays to the relocation and expansion of Breakspear School, a special school for children and young people with severe learning difficulties. Ralph Muncer, the proposer of the motion, highlighted significant delays of over two years and expressed concern about the impact on 113 families who would benefit from the additional places. He questioned the costs associated with these delays and sought assurance that the school would open by summer 2028. Paula Hiscocks, the seconder, acknowledged the engineering challenges posed by chalk-related ground issues at the site but questioned the necessity of a two-year delay, citing other local developments built on similar geological features.

Officers, including Kate Leahy and Jackie Aldridge, confirmed that additional funds had been approved to ensure the project could proceed at pace and that all necessary ground remediation works would be undertaken. They assured the panel that the proposed timeline was reasonable and that the council had to ensure the building would be safe and fit for purpose.

During the debate, Councillor Chris Lloyd, the local member for Croxley Green, provided historical context regarding site access issues and praised the current administration's commitment to the project. Councillor Penelope Hill suggested that scrutiny of past delays could be undertaken through the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Councillor Mark Watkin, Executive Member for Education, SEND and Inclusion, reassured members that the new administration had made this project a top priority and thanked officers for their work.

Ultimately, the motion was defeated by a vote of 5 to 4.

SEND & Inclusion Performance Quarter 1 2025/26 Report

David Butcher, Strategic Lead for Intelligence and Insight, presented an update on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Inclusion performance for the first quarter of the 2025/26 academic year. Key points included:

• Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs): There has been a significant increase in the overall number of children and young people supported with EHCPs, with a 13% rise compared to the same point last year. While the completion of assessments within the statutory 20-week timeframe was initially impacted by efforts to clear backlogs, performance has shown marked improvement, with 67% completed in July and 77% in August. Parental satisfaction with the assessment process has also increased to 68%.
• Annual Reviews: Review teams are completing significantly more annual review decisions, and more than half of families are now receiving amended plans within the 12-week statutory expectation.
• Pupils with Additional Needs: Hertfordshire schools have around 42,000 pupils with identified special educational needs, representing nearly one in five pupils.
• Permanent Exclusions: There have been significant reductions in permanent exclusions, both in overall numbers and rates. Furthermore, the proportion of cases where an alternative pathway is found to permanent exclusion has increased.

Members raised questions about managing greater needs within the increasing demand, staff recruitment and retention, and the financial capacity of schools to implement aspirations for SEND support. Officers provided reassurance on staff turnover reduction and the SEND Academy's role in professional development.

Councillor Tony Bhartwas inquired about reduced timetables, and it was clarified that this is a temporary measure, with a new pathway implemented to support reintegration into full-time education. Councillor Paula Hiscocks raised concerns about children missing education, home education, and the need for a stronger children's voice. Officers detailed efforts to address children missing education by moving responsibility to the Virtual School and reconfiguring services. The elective home education responsibility has also been moved to the Virtual School for better support and monitoring.

Kirsty Taylor-Moran requested data broken down by DSPL areas, particularly for pages 30-32 of the report, to aid in understanding potential impacts of local government reorganisation. Officers confirmed they are mapping this data across various LGR models.

Ralph Muncer sought information on educational outcomes and qualifications for home-educated children, and officers agreed to take this away for further consideration. He also requested a report on GCSE, A-level, and T-level results, and data on specialist provision capacity.

Tina Bhartwas questioned the interpretation of findings regarding implementation support officers and their effectiveness in identifying needs earlier. Officers explained that the focus has shifted towards earlier support.

Beth Kelly expressed interest in the graph showing permanent exclusions by age group and requested further investigation into why exclusions ramp up from Year 7 to Year 10. She also sought clarification on the difference between DSPL areas and district areas.

Jan Maddern suggested a training day for councillors on the SEND process, which officers agreed to explore.

Hertfordshire County Council's Admission Arrangements for 2027-28

Jane Abery, Deputy Head of Admissions, presented proposals for changes to admission arrangements for 2027-28, focusing on reducing Published Admission Numbers (PANs) at four primary schools: Kimpton Primary School, St Mary's Junior School (Baldock), Leavesden Green Primary School (Watford), and Little Green Junior School (Croxley Green). These reductions are proposed due to declining pupil numbers and to ensure the financial viability of these schools.

The panel discussed the impact of mixed-year group classes, the potential for future PAN increases if local populations grow, and measures to improve the viability of rural primary schools through resource sharing. The proposals for PAN reductions were agreed to proceed to consultation.

Additionally, proposals to increase the PAN at Widford and Hunsdon Primary Schools by one place each were presented, linked to a federation between the schools. These increases were agreed as consultation is not required for PAN increases.

The panel recommended to Cabinet that consultation be undertaken on the proposed PAN reductions and that existing admission arrangements be retained for 2027-28.

Wraparound Childcare Programme

Melany Knowles and Pablo Benvenutto provided an update on the Wraparound Childcare Programme, a DfE-funded initiative to expand childcare provision for primary school-aged children. Key points included:

• Progress: Over 2,000 places have been delivered, exceeding initial targets. The programme has engaged with 352 mainstream primary schools, with 39 having provision that meets local needs but not the full DfE definition. Five schools currently have no wraparound provision, but officers are continuing to work with them.
• Support: Free business support and training programmes, including safeguarding training, are available to providers to ensure long-term sustainability.
• Inclusivity: An inclusivity statement, drafted with Herts Parent Carer Involvement (HPCI), details what inclusive provision should look like, and SEND-specific training modules are offered.
• Funding: The programme is DfE grant-funded and aims to be sustainable post-March 2026. Funding cannot be used to subsidise the cost of places.
• Challenges: Concerns were raised about the lack of specific SEND funding for wraparound care and the challenges of providing specialist transport for children attending special schools. Officers acknowledged these issues and confirmed ongoing lobbying efforts with the DfE.

The panel noted the report, with discussions focusing on take-up figures, SEND funding, and the sustainability of the programme.

Childcare Expansion Programme Update

Jamie Leavy presented an update on the Childcare Expansion Programme, which offers up to 30 hours of free childcare to eligible working parents of children aged nine months to school age.

• Delivery: Phases 1 and 2 have seen high uptake rates, and Phase 3 is on track for September 2025. Over 900 daycare places have been created through capital grants, and a further 660 through Section 106 developer contributions.
• Funding: An additional £1.9 million expansion grant was received in August 2025 to support providers with costs such as resources, training, and building works.
• Market Stability: The childcare market in Hertfordshire remains stable, with high parent satisfaction (82%) and provider confidence (88%). 42% of parents reported increasing their work hours due to childcare availability.
• SEND Support: Inclusion funding, targeted SEN funding, and the Disability Access Fund are available to support children with SEND. A Childcare Inclusion Officer has been recruited to assist parents of children with SEND.
• Term-Time Provision: A key concern raised was the lack of term-time provision, which poses challenges for full-time working parents during school holidays. While the programme focuses on under-fives, holiday play schemes are a separate issue not currently prioritised for expansion by the government.

The panel discussed the sustainability of the scheme, the financial struggles of some private nurseries, and the need for term-time provision. The report was noted.

Children Services Annual Complaints and Compliments Report 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025

Kamaljit Bhangal, Complaints Manager, presented the annual report on compliments and complaints for Children's Services.

• Compliments: There was a significant 74% increase in compliments received, totalling 1,178, with 945 relating to Education services and 233 to Social Care.
• Representations: Total representations increased by 5% to 1,184. Stage 1 complaints rose by 8% to 849.
• SEND Complaints: While SEND complaints decreased in quarters 2, 3, and 4, an increase in Q1 was offset by a 53% rise in complaints in that quarter. The ratio of complaints to EHCPs has decreased due to a rise in the number of EHCPs.
• Timescales: Acknowledgement timescales were met at 100%, but response timescales declined, with only 68% met within the statutory period and 36% within 10 working days.
• Ombudsman Complaints: Complaints to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman increased by 17% to 81, with fault identified in 37 cases. Compensation awarded totalled £91,386, primarily related to SEND provision delays and failures.
• Learning Points: The report detailed learning points from themes such as delays in responding, communication issues, and dissatisfaction with care plans/assessments. Actions taken include investment in the SEND workforce, the establishment of a SEND Resolution and Reconciliation team, and improved communication protocols.

The panel noted the report, with discussions focusing on the decline in response timescales, staff support, and the breakdown of complaints by service area. The positive trend of decreasing complaints in SEND services was acknowledged, despite an increase in the overall number of EHCPs.