The Education and Youth Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on 15 September 2025, to discuss mental health and wellbeing support for learners, and to review the year end performance for 2024-25. The committee approved the minutes from their meeting held on 3 July 2025, and also approved their forward work programme.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Support for Learners

The committee received a report on mental health and wellbeing support for learners in Bridgend schools. The report provided detail on how the Education, Early Years and Young People Directorate is working with partners and stakeholders to support learners' mental health and wellbeing.

Key points covered in the report:

• The Welsh Government's framework on embedding a whole-school approach to emotional and mental wellbeing provides statutory guidance for all schools in Wales[^1]. [^1]: The framework supports schools to create positive, inclusive environments through leadership, curriculum, staff wellbeing, partnerships and pupil voice.
• Schools complete self-assessments, identify needs and analyse data to improve and develop support systems.
• The Shine Project, a school in-reach service, partners with schools to implement a whole-school approach to emotional and mental health.
• Counselling is embedded in a network of safeguarding, early help, education, youth support and youth justice services.
• A Single Point of Access for Children's Emotional (SPACE) Wellbeing panel approach will allow multi-agencies to discuss and plan support for children, young people and families.
• Bridgend Music Service supports pupils' wellbeing and ability to express themselves.

The report noted that a council approved budget reduction of £50,000 for 2025-2026 within the counselling services for children and young people budget had occurred. However, due to the increase in demand for counselling services in the school year 2024-2025, the directorate has utilised grants differently to maintain and increase counselling resources for children and young people for the school year 2025-2026.

The committee was asked to consider the contents of the report and provide feedback.

Quarter 4 / Year End Performance 2024-25

The committee received the Quarter 4 / Year End Performance 2024-25 report, which had been presented to the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee (COSC) on 24 July 2025. The report provided an overview of performance against the wellbeing objectives in the Corporate Plan 2023-28, and an analysis of performance on the commitments and performance indicators in the Corporate Plan Delivery Plan (CPDP) 2024-25. It also included an update on performance against current regulator recommendations.

The report included the Corporate Performance Dashboard for Year End 2024-25, which uses a simple scale to score performance:

• Complete (Blue)
• Excellent (Green)
• Good (Yellow)
• Adequate (Amber)
• Unsatisfactory (Red)

Of the 80 corporate commitments, 14 were complete, 27 were excellent, 23 were good, 11 were adequate, and 5 were unsatisfactory.

The report also included the Regulatory Tracker updated for Quarter 4 2024-25.

The committee was asked to note the content of the report, the Corporate Performance Dashboard and the Regulatory Tracker.

Forward Work Programme Update

The committee considered and approved the Forward Work Programme. The committee also noted the Recommendations Monitoring Action Sheet to track responses to the committee's recommendations made at previous meetings. The committee's Forward Work Programme will be reported to the next meeting of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee for information.

Declarations of Interest

Councillor Heather Griffiths, Mayor declared a personal interest as Chair of Governors at Coleg Cymunedol Y Dderwen.

Councillor Huw David, Deputy Mayor declared a personal interest as some of the references in the report touched on decisions made during his time as Leader.

Councillor Jon-Paul Blundell, Chairperson of Communities, Environment and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee declared a personal interest as some of the references in the report touched on decisions made during his time as Cabinet Member.

Approval of Minutes

The committee approved the minutes of the meeting of the Subject Overview and Scrutiny Committee 1 held on 8 May 2025, as a true and accurate record.