The Education and Local Economy Scrutiny Commission met on Wednesday 3 December 2025 to discuss the Southwark Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP) Annual Report for 2024/25, the Connect to Work Programme, and the commission's work programme for 2025-2026. The meeting was also scheduled to include an interview with Councillor Jasmine Ali, Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Refugees.

Cabinet Member Interview - Children, Education and Refugees

Councillor Jasmine Ali, Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Refugees, was scheduled to be interviewed, giving a holistic overview of key strategies and projects under the cabinet member portfolio including Breakfast Clubs in Schools .

Southwark Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP)

Alasdair Smith, Director of Children's Services, was expected to present the SSCP Annual Report for 2024/25. The report pack indicated that the presentation would cover:

• Major changes, including the Children's well-being and schools bill in parliament, scrutiny of safe-guarding work, core child protection activity and reduction of children in child protection plan.
• SSCP transformation and roles.

Connect to Work Programme

Danny Edwards, Head of Economy, and Nick Wollf, Employment and Skills Manager, were scheduled to provide an update on employment support for those facing health and disability barriers to work, delivered through the Connect to Work programme.

Work Programme 2025 - 2026

The Education and Local Economy Scrutiny Commission was to consider its work programme for the 2025 – 2026 year. The report pack included the work programme as of 3 December 2025 as an appendix.

The commission was invited to consider the addition of new items or the allocation of previously identified items to specific meeting dates.

The work programme included a review of pupil place planning in primary schools and its impact on secondary school admissions under the Keeping Education Strong (KES) Strategy¹. Also listed was a discussion with traders from East Street Market, to hear their views on any improvements that have been made and/or in progress and any areas of concern/issues that the council could help with.

The work programme also included the following items for upcoming meetings:

• Cabinet Member Interviews

• Youth Offer

  • SEND- Post 16 Offers (jobs)
  • Care leavers – Job opportunities
  • Engagement with representatives of schools
  • Youth Offending Services
  • Work Experience and employment opportunities
  • Southwark works and youth employment - employer engagement functions, Good People Partnership
  • Apprenticeships

• Keeping Education Strong (KES) strategy update

  • Falling schools rolls and schools closures
  • Secondary school pupil numbers

• Skills Delivery Plan runs from 202 3 -25 under Economic Strategy

• Southwark Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP)

• Blue Youth Club - Bermondsey closed 5 years

• Southwark 2030 Goals and having a strong economy

• Long term unemployment and getting people back to work

• Southwark Works and Youth Employment Challenges

• Connectivity between local businesses, schools and colleges for youth employment

• Big developers and social values (Local Jobs)

• Graduate jobs down by two -thirds

• Training jobs for young people as available jobs require 2 -3 years of experience.