The Children's Services and Education Scrutiny Board met to discuss the Adoption@Heart Annual Report, the Sandwell Children's Trust Annual Report and Performance Update, and the Elective Home Education Improvement Plan. The board also approved its work programme for 2025/26 and agreed to establish a working group to review transition to adulthood services for young people in care and care leavers.

Elective Home Education Improvement Plan

The board considered the Elective Home Education (EHE) Improvement Plan, which aims to address the increasing numbers of children being educated at home in Sandwell. Elective home education, also known as 'education otherwise than at school', is when parents choose to educate their children at home instead of sending them to school full-time.

According to the report, the number of children in EHE has risen significantly both locally and nationally since the Covid pandemic. As of autumn 2024, councils reported 111,700 children in EHE, up from an estimated 92,000 the previous autumn. In Sandwell, there has been a 162% increase in EHE from 2019/20 to 2024/25.

While parents have the right to home educate, this is conditional on them providing their child with an 'efficient' and 'suitable' education. The improvement plan seeks to address the rising numbers of children in EHE, encourage and support children to return to school, and prevent home education when it is not in the child's best interests.

Key data from the report included:

• 1,356 children had been electively home educated at some point during the 2024/25 academic year
• 231 families had declined support from the council
• 78 children had an education, health and care plan (EHCP), a legal document that describes a child or young person’s special educational, health and social care needs
• 334 children had special educational needs but no EHCP
• 195 children had had safeguarding concerns, including domestic abuse, in the last 12 months

Compared to Sandwell's statistical neighbours, the council had 840 children in EHE, while Bradford had 1,100, Coventry had 510, Stoke on Trent had 530, and Wolverhampton had 580.

The report outlined several challenges, including:

• An exponential increase in the number of parents removing their children from school to home educate, without always being clear on the implications
• Overstretched EHE team
• Lack of dedicated administrative support
• Lack of a clear line of sight to all children in EHE
• Difficulties engaging with families who decline support

The improvement plan sets out several key priorities, including:

• Clearly identifying children who are electively home educated and ensuring that safeguarding partners receive regular data
• Ensuring that children's vulnerabilities and safeguarding needs are understood when they are removed from school rolls
• Taking proactive action to reduce the number of children in EHE when it is not in their best interest and supporting timely reintegration back into school
• Ensuring that children's voices, needs and perspectives are considered in the decision to home educate

The board was asked to consider and comment on the EHE improvement plan to ensure legal obligations were being met and that all learners of statutory school age received a suitable and full-time education either at school or otherwise. They were also asked to maintain oversight of ongoing changes to the expectations and obligations placed on the council regarding EHE learners.

Sandwell Children's Trust Annual Report and Performance Update

The board reviewed the Sandwell Children's Trust (SCT) Annual Report 2024/25, which outlined progress across key service areas, including safeguarding, fostering and adoption. The report noted that Ofsted inspections had indicated a positive trajectory of improvement.

The Trust's performance is monitored through governance structures, including monthly and quarterly partnership boards, as well as internal governance systems. Improvements in service delivery have led to a reduction in strategic risk ratings and enhanced outcomes for children and families in Sandwell.

Key points from the report included:

• As of August 2025, SCT met 10 key performance indicator (KPI) targets, with a further five within the contract tolerance.
• Updates have been made to KPI 9 tolerance levels for children in care for 2.5 years or more, aligning with national standard target levels.
• SCT has adopted a new outcomes-based approach that aligns with the National Framework for Local Authority children's social care.
• As of August 2025, there are 34 registered children's homes operating in Sandwell, with 12 registered in the past 12 months.
• Sandwell was notified that its bid for capital funding for the development of two two-bed homes was successful, with up to £650,000 awarded in match funding from the Department for Education (DfE).
• In 2024/25, the agreed contract sum was £80.8 million. The council continues to provide financial support outside of the contract, including £550,000 through the Sandwell Deal and £250,000 in mainstreamed funding for the emotional wellbeing service for children we care for, and care experienced young people.

The board was asked to consider and comment on the Sandwell Children's Trust performance update.

Adoption@Heart Annual Report

The board considered the Adoption@Heart Annual Report, which presented the sixth annual report since the regional adoption agency¹ commenced operations. Adoption@Heart delivers adoption services on behalf of Sandwell Council working through Sandwell Children's Trust, as well as the other Black Country local authorities.

The report highlighted that Adoption@Heart had achieved its highest number of adopter approvals to date, alongside reduced assessment times for prospective adopters, despite national challenges in adopter recruitment and rising complexity in children's needs. There was an increase in the number of Sandwell children placed with adopters in 2024/25, compared to the previous year.

Key findings from the report included:

• There was an overall increase in the number of children placed with adopters.
• There was a reduction in the number of inter-agency adopters used, meaning more children were placed with adopters approved by Adoption@Heart.
• 23 Sandwell Children were adopted in 2024/25 compared to 17 in 2023/24.
• 28 Sandwell children were placed with adopters in 2024/25.
• 77 adopters were approved in 2024/25 compared to 69 in 203/24.
• Sandwell's budget contribution for 2024/25 was set at £1.418,811 million, an increase of £89,000 on 2023/24.

The board was asked to consider and comment on the information presented within the Adoption@Heart Annual Report 2024/25 and determine whether it wished to make any recommendations to the executive.

Children's Services and Education Scrutiny Board Work Programme 2025/26

The board approved its work programme for 2025/26, which sets out the items the board will consider during the year. The board also agreed to establish a working group to undertake a scrutiny review into the transition to adulthood services for young people who are looked after and those who are care experienced.