The Children and Young People Select Committee met to discuss the implementation of a new strategic youth offer, consider a report on elective home education, and review the committee's work programme. The committee approved recommendations for the youth offer and elective home education reports.

Youth Offer

The committee reviewed a report on the implementation of a new strategic youth offer and a five-year youth strategy. The report provided an update on the work undertaken to insource the commissioned youth provision from Youth First back into the council from 1 April 2025, and redesign it to align with the new strategic youth offer by November 2025.

Key aspects of the new youth offer include:

• Youth Alliance: A collaboration between the council, voluntary, community, and faith sectors to enhance youth provision.
• Area-based integrated model: Delivery through task and finish groups covering areas such as all access, digital offer, specialist offer, apprenticeships, youth voice, health and wellbeing, and open and adventure play.
• Extension of services to age 21: Extending youth services to young people up to age 21, and up to 25 for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
• Jobs, skills and progression: Introducing level 3 apprenticeships as part of the workforce development plan.
• Adventure Playgrounds: Enhancing core provision by increasing open days and play sessions, and collaborating with community groups.
• Youth Voice, Action and Participation (YVAP): Consolidating youth participation groups and initiatives into a single, integrated team.

The committee heard from Sara Rahman, the Director of Families Quality and Commissioning, and other officers, as well as young advisors who presented their perspectives on the youth offer.

Councillor Luke Sorba raised concerns about the lack of services in Downham and the gender gap in access to youth services. Officers responded that a detached youth work team would address the needs in Downham, and a specialist offer task group would focus on the gaps for young women and girls, LGBTQIA+ young people, and black and dual heritage young men.

Councillor Ayesha Lahai-Taylor questioned the timeline for the redesign of the youth offer and the redundancies that had taken place. Officers explained that the timeline had been adjusted due to other projects and to allow for more meaningful engagement with staff. They also stated that the total number of staff in the new youth service would be more than in the previous arrangement.

Councillor Rudi Schmidt suggested incorporating digital jobs and skills training, retrofit skills, and food growing opportunities into the youth offer. He also asked about the nutritional value of food served in adventure playgrounds and youth centres. Officers responded that they were exploring apprenticeships and social enterprises, and would consider the suggestions around food and nutrition.

Councillor Laura Cunningham asked about life skills training and the naming of the Strategic Youth Alliance Board. Officers responded that curriculum for life would include practical skills, and they would clarify the naming of the board.

Sabir Rubel raised the issue of prayer rooms and ensuring equal opportunities for marginalised groups. Officers responded that they were working towards developing a performance framework to capture data on equality and diversity, and would welcome support in identifying spaces for religious practice.

Councillor Hilary Moore was unable to attend the meeting, but Councillor Laura Cunningham suggested that she be consulted on the economic opportunities item due to her links with Lewisham College.

The committee approved the report, with recommendations to:

• Explore how healthy eating and food growing might be integrated into the future youth offer.
• Consider the naming and nomenclature of the various boards related to the youth offer to avoid confusion.
• Review the timing of youth offer sessions in accordance with seasonal changes.

Elective Home Education

The committee discussed a report on elective home education (EHE) in Lewisham. The report set out the context, legal framework, and position in relation to EHE in Lewisham, and provided an analysis of performance indicators and actions taken by the local authority and education providers.

Angela Scattergood, the Director of Education Services, and Ruth Griffiths, the Head of Access, Inclusion and Participation, presented the report and responded to questions from the committee.

Key points from the report included:

• The number of children and young people (CYP) registered for EHE was 586 at the end of the 2024-25 academic year, an increase of 46 from the previous year.
• The main reasons for EHE were mental health concerns and unmet special educational needs (SEN).
• The council has limited powers to monitor and support families who elect to home educate their children.
• The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill may introduce new powers for local authorities to monitor and support EHE families.
• Lewisham College offers a GCSE programme for EHE students.

Monsignor Nicholas Rothon raised concerns about families losing control of their children as they get older. Officers responded that safeguarding concerns were rare, and that year 11 students often choose EHE to access a more formal curriculum and social life.

Councillor Ayesha Lahai-Taylor asked whether the data showed a higher uptake of EHE due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Officers responded that most transitions since COVID had involved more robust transition processes.

Councillor Luke Sorba expressed scepticism about EHE and raised concerns about social interaction. Officers responded that there is a whole EHE community, but acknowledged the increase in mental health concerns and the need to know more about the experiences of young adults who were electively home educated as children.

Sabrina Dixon suggested working with community groups to provide support and information to parents before they choose EHE. Officers responded that they try to reach out to community groups, but they often see the local authority as corporate and are reluctant to engage.

Councillor Laura Cunningham suggested that there is no shame in taking a child out of a school where it doesn't work and trying somewhere else. Officers responded that they spend most of their time having those conversations with parents and encouraging them to come back to school.

The committee approved a recommendation to note the effective and compassionate practice within Lewisham Council in the work programme to support children and young people who elect to home educate.

Select Committee Work Programme

The committee reviewed its work programme and discussed items for the next meeting.

Councillor Ayesha Lahai-Taylor asked for clarification on the timings of upcoming visits to the family hubs, autism hub, and Radio Lewisham. Officers confirmed the timings and transport arrangements.

Monsignor Nicholas Rothon suggested that the family hubs visit should be linked to the next meeting's items. Officers responded that the visit would help to check whether recommendations had been implemented and whether there had been improvements.

Councillor Rudi Schmidt suggested including information on the link between skills and growth sectors in Lewisham and London in the skills report.

Councillor Luke Sorba mentioned that exclusions and attendance would be included in the tackling race inequality in schools section.

Councillor Ayesha Lahai-Taylor asked whether apprenticeships would be covered in the skills segment and why the managed transfers item was included in the agenda pack. Officers responded that apprenticeships would be included and that the managed transfers item was included because it was supposed to be published in the last meeting.

Councillor Laura Cunningham suggested having a separate conversation with Councillor Hilary Moore about how the skills item might be shaped.

The committee agreed to include economic development and the role of young people within that across the borough as part of the economic opportunities item.

The committee agreed to the agenda for the next meeting on 8 January.