The Thriving Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel were scheduled to discuss family hubs, educational performance in the borough, children's social care complaints, and school attendance and exclusion rates. The panel was also expected to review and note the panel's work programme for the upcoming year, and the dates of future meetings.

Education Borough Profile

The panel were scheduled to receive an annual education performance report, offering an analysis of the 2025 attainment outcomes for children and young people in the borough.

The report, authored by Lucy Nutt, Head of Schools EY Improvement Service, was expected to cover analysis from early years foundation stage to key stage 4. It was noted that the key stage 4 and 5 results were based on the latest data available until the validated data was available.

The report highlighted several key points:

• 100% of schools in the borough were rated as good or better in all four main Ofsted inspection areas.
• Suspension rates declined in both primary and secondary schools in 2023/24, and were below the national average.
• There were no permanent exclusions in the primary phase in 2023/24, and the permanent exclusion rate declined in secondary schools.
• Overall absence rates in primary schools had declined year-on-year since 2022/23.
• Enfield had a higher proportion of Education Health Care Plans (EHCPs) issued within 20 weeks compared to London and England for the last three years.
• The number of pupils in the early years foundation stage reaching a good level of development outcome continued to rise.
• All achievement metrics in key stage 2 were securely above the national average, with some in line with the London average.
• The percentage of pupils achieving grades 5-9 in English and mathematics, progress 8, attainment 8 and English Baccalaureate points were all above national but below London.
• Outcomes for pupils with EHCP showed girls perform better than boys.
• Black Caribbean girls perform much better than Black Caribbean boys.
• Outcomes for Turkish pupils were usually above national but below London in the primary phase.

The report also included several appendices, including data on Black Caribbean pupil outcomes, Turkish pupil outcomes, Gypsy/Roma/Traveller pupil outcomes and SEN support pupil outcomes.

Family Hubs and Start for Life Services

The panel were scheduled to receive a report providing a progress update on Family Hubs and Start for Life services, and the positive impact that the hubs and services delivered from the hubs were having in relation to Enfield's parents and carers, children and young people.

The report, authored by Helen Finnemore, Head of Family Hubs & Start for Life Transformation, and Joseph Fitzgerald, Head of Prevention & Family Hubs, noted that Enfield's Family Hubs and Start for Life funding allocation was £5,854,825 for the period 2022–2025. The funding envelope for 2025/26 is £1,533,400.

The report also noted that the current Government has set out its Plan for Change which includes that 75 per cent of children aged 5 will achieve a Good Level of Development (GLD) by 2028, and that Enfield's targets have been set at a higher level at 77%.

The report stated that Enfield's Family Hubs have successfully brought together a diverse and comprehensive range of services for children, young people, and families, making it easier for families to access the support that they need under one roof.

The report also highlighted a number of achievements and impacts, including:

• Improved access and outcomes
• Providing support for vulnerable and under-represented families
• Digital offer
• Start for Life services

The report included a number of case studies to illustrate the positive impact of the Family Hubs and Start for Life services.

The report concluded that Enfield's Family Hubs and Start for Life services are delivering a transformative, integrated approach to early help, improving access, outcomes, and equity for families across the borough.

Children's Social Care Annual Statutory Complaints Report 2024/25

The panel were scheduled to receive the Children's Social Care Annual Statutory Complaints Report 2024/25. The report provided information about all statutory complaints made during the twelve-month period between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025.

The report, authored by Lee Shelsher, Head of Customer Solutions, noted that during the reporting period, Children's Social Care received 10 stage 1 statutory complaints. One stage 2 complaint was completed, and the complaint was partially upheld. No stage 3 panels took place during the reporting year.

12 Ombudsman referrals were made during this period. 7 were closed after initial enquiries and 5 were referred back to the Council to complete the complaints process. No complaints were investigated.

The report noted that the complaint volumes decreased from the previous year figure of 18 stage 1 complaints, and that the main reasons for stage 1 complaints were social worker interactions, and quality of service delivered.

The report also noted that 38 compliments were received by Children's Social Care, which is approximately four times more than there were complaints.

The report set out a number of improvement actions, including:

• Improving stage 1 timelines
• Better communication
• Feedback

School Attendance and Exclusions

The panel were scheduled to receive an update on the borough's attendance and exclusion rates from Ian Hewison, Head of Access, Inclusion and Traded Service.

The report noted that in Term 1 2024/25, Enfield had better data than National in the 6 areas compared against, and was closing the gap on the 4 areas in London where it was lower.

However, the report also noted that when looking at the term 2 data, attendance dropped both across London and Nationally, and that Enfield's attendance dropped, and persistent absence increased more than the others.

The report stated that the drop in secondary attendance was quite worrying, as two schools were below 90% and 15 of the 21 schools were below the London Average.

The report also noted that Enfield had the 2nd lowest permanent exclusion rate in London for 2023/24, and ranked 4th out of the local authorities in England for the lowest permanent exclusion rate.

The report stated that for more than a decade, Enfield has had zero primary permanent exclusions.

The report noted that the suspension data was slightly above the London average, due to schools following the advice from the LA, by suspending pupils whilst the LA and schools work together to find a solution to a permanent exclusion.

Work Programme 2025/26

The panel were scheduled to note the Thriving Children & Young People Scrutiny Panel Work Programme for 2025/26. The Draft Work Programme 2025-26 included the following topics:

• Safeguarding Children's Partnership Annual Report 2024/25
• Annual Children's Statutory Complaints Report 2024/25
• Schools in Deficit
• Speech & Language Therapy
• SEND – demand on provision and performance
• School standards (to include information on attendance & exclusion)
• Family Hubs and Start for Life Services
• Youth Justice Service
• Children's Services Reform
• CAMHS update
• Falling School Rolls
• Children In Care
• North Central London Child Death Overview Panel Annual Report 2024/25

Dates of Future Meetings

The panel were scheduled to note the dates of future meetings as follows:

• Tuesday 3 February 2026
• Monday 9 March 2026