The Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Panel of Worcestershire Council met on Monday 19 January 2026 to discuss progress on the SEND Local Area Partnership's Priority Action and Improvement Plan, review the draft budget for 2026/27, and consider the panel's work programme.

Progress Against the SEND Local Area Partnership Priority Action and Improvement Plan

The panel was scheduled to receive an update on the progress made against the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Local Area Partnership's Priority Action and Improvement Plan. This plan was developed following a joint inspection by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in April 2024, which resulted in a level 3 outcome, indicating significant concerns. The report detailed actions being taken to address long waiting times for community paediatrics, neurodevelopmental assessments, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy. It also outlined efforts to improve support for children while they wait for these services.

Specific initiatives mentioned included the creation of While You Wait materials and workshops, demand and capacity planning for therapies, and outsourcing to independent sector providers. The report highlighted that while the total number of children waiting for health appointments had risen since September 2024, there were some improvements, particularly in occupational therapy. The plan also focused on developing genuine co-production with children and young people with SEND, with a vision statement and a Co-production Commitment being developed. The panel was to be updated on the progress of various improvement areas, including ensuring accurate data collection, rigorous attendance tracking, reducing waiting times for specialist places, and improving the timeliness and quality of Education, Health, and Care (EHC) plans. Additionally, the report detailed efforts to address long waiting times for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), including the recruitment of new staff and the introduction of new services like Melo.

Budget Scrutiny 2026/27

The panel was scheduled to scrutinise the draft budget for 2026/27 for services relating to children and families. The report provided an overview of the council's overall corporate financial position, highlighting significant budget pressures and the reliance on reserves and Exceptional Financial Support (EFS). The Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) position was also a key concern, with a substantial cumulative deficit projected.

The report indicated that the Provisional Local Government Settlement for 2026/27 was less than anticipated, exacerbating the financial challenges. The panel was to consider the impact of the proposed Council Tax increase and explore potential further savings opportunities. Specific financial data for Children's Services was presented, showing a projected net overspend of £10.3 million for 2025/26, largely due to increased costs in children's placements, particularly secure and agency residential placements. The draft budget for 2026/27 for Children's Services indicated a total additional budget increase of £25 million, encompassing growth, inflation, and investment in children's prevention and holiday activities. The report also noted that savings directly related to Children's Services were limited, with a significant portion of identified savings coming from Home to School Transport.

Work Programme

The panel was to review and consider amendments to its 2026 Work Programme. This programme outlines the key areas of scrutiny for the panel, which include Children's Social Care and Families, Public Health relating to Families, and Education and Skills. The report listed scheduled future meetings and potential items for future discussion, such as educational outcomes, updates on Ofsted monitoring inspections, performance and budget monitoring, and the overview of EHC plan tribunals, complaints, and ombudsman outcomes. Other potential future items included updates on CAMHS, SEND co-production, reducing SEND waiting lists, social care reform, and support for children and young people exhibiting challenging behaviour.