The Children, Families and Education Select Committee met on Wednesday 07 January 2026 to discuss the council's budget and spending for the upcoming financial year, as well as performance reports and proposed changes to school admissions. The committee also reviewed updates on the Family First Partnership reforms and the council's fostering strategy.

Budget and Spending

The committee received an update on the 2025/26 budget monitoring position, noting a pressure of £6.0m within Children, Families & Education services. This pressure was attributed to increased demand for care and a reduction in the use of flexible capital receipts for transformation costs within Education. The Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) was forecasting an in-year deficit of £10.6m, an improvement from the previous financial year, primarily driven by High Needs placements which are significantly underfunded by the Department for Education (DfE). The report indicated that £4.276m of the £4.549m savings requirement for 2025/26 were on track for delivery.

The committee also considered the Cabinet budget proposals for 2026/27. Services within the committee's remit were projected to see a net budget change of £9.3m for 2026/27, rising to £10.0m by 2028/29. This was driven by savings proposals of £2.9m and growth proposals of £12.1m. Key savings proposals included a review of semi-independent and shared accommodation, and a review of the operating model for the new care offer. Growth proposals included significant investment in placements, support for children with disabilities, and funding for the expansion of the Family Hubs initiative.

Performance Monitoring

The committee reviewed the six-month performance report for 2025/26, which monitors expenditure against key performance indicators. Hillingdon was noted to have the 4th lowest net expenditure in London per 100,000 residents. Children's Services was highlighted for its 'Outstanding' Ofsted rating, despite having the 3rd lowest net expenditure for children's social care in London. However, placement sufficiency remained a priority, with a lower percentage of children in foster care compared to the London average, leading to a reliance on residential placements. The Youth Justice Service had the 4th lowest rate of first-time entrants compared to statistical neighbours, but a higher reoffending rate. For education and early years, Hillingdon had the 4th lowest net expenditure, reflected in lower rates of children on Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans and EHC Needs Assessment requests.

Family First Partnership Reforms

An update was provided on the significant transformation underway in Hillingdon's Children's Services in response to the Family First Partnership (FFP) reforms and the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill 2024. This included the launch of a new locality-based Family Help Service, integrating Early Help and First Response teams. The New Beginnings service was also introduced to offer trauma-informed support to expectant mothers. Plans were also progressing for a Multi-Agency Child Protection Team and a revised Stronger Families Hub, moving away from the traditional MASH model. The report detailed the mandatory requirement for Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) at the pre-proceedings stage and outlined plans to strengthen the role of education in safeguarding arrangements. The development of a Kinship Local Offer was also underway, with a publication date set for March 2026.

Fostering Review

The committee received draft findings, conclusions, and recommendations from the Fostering Review. The review aimed to assess the effectiveness of the new fostering offer, focusing on recruitment, retention, support for foster carers, and outcomes for children in care. Witness sessions had been held with officers, children in care, care experienced young people, and foster carers to gather evidence. The review's terms of reference included understanding the needs and experiences of children in foster care, evaluating recruitment and retention strategies, identifying barriers to fostering, and formulating recommendations to strengthen Hillingdon's fostering provision.

School Admissions

The committee considered proposed changes to the Published Admissions Number (PAN) for Field End Infant School, from 90 to 60, effective from September 2027. This reduction was proposed due to declining pupil numbers and to ensure fair placements for local children. The distance priority radius would also be reduced from 1,000 metres to 750 metres. The committee also noted proposals from non-community schools, including Field End Junior School, St Martin's Church of England Primary School, and Park Academy West London, to reduce their PANs.

Lowering the Age Range of Whiteheath Infant and Nursery School

A proposal to change the age range of Whiteheath Infant and Nursery School from 3-11 to 2-11 was presented, allowing the school to offer places for eligible two-year-old children from September 2026. This was in response to increased demand for funded childcare for two-year-olds, particularly in the Ruislip area. Consultation responses indicated strong support from parents at the school, but concerns were raised by existing early years providers regarding the impact on their businesses and the suitability of a school environment for two-year-olds.

Corporate Parenting Panel Minutes

The committee reviewed the minutes from the Corporate Parenting Panel meeting held on 28 October 2025. Key discussions included feedback from the Kids in Care Awards (KICA) event, which had seen a significant increase in nominations, and a trip to Snowdonia funded by the Domestic Violence Reduction Unit. The Independent Reviewing Officer's (IRO) Annual Report for 2024-25 was also noted, highlighting the role of IROs in advocating for young people and the importance of consistent professional relationships. The panel also discussed the annual report on Cared For Children & Fostering and Adoption for 2024-25, noting a decrease in the number of cared for children and care experienced young people, and an increase in Special Guardianship Orders. Updates on the pan-London Family Business Model and accommodation for young people were also discussed.

Cabinet Forward Plan

The committee reviewed the Cabinet's latest Forward Plan, which outlines key decisions to be taken by the Cabinet and Cabinet Members over the coming year. The committee was asked to provide comments on items within its remit and to identify any forthcoming reports that might warrant a decision review at a later stage. Items of interest to the committee included the Biannual Performance Report, Cabinet budget proposals for 2026/27, the Care Strategy for Children and Care Experienced Young People, and proposed changes to the Published Admissions Number of Field End Infant School.

Work Programme

The committee considered its work programme for the current municipal year, noting forthcoming meeting dates and potential witness sessions. Items scheduled for future meetings included updates on the Fostering Review, the Care Strategy for Children and Care Experienced Young People, and the Stronger Families/Family Help Strategy. The committee also discussed adding an update on accommodation and the pan-London family business model to its work programme.