The Children and Young People's Scrutiny Panel of Haringey Council met on Thursday, 15 January 2026, to review several key reports concerning educational attainment, school finances, childcare provision, and the outcomes for children in care. The meeting's agenda included updates on the Virtual School's activities and the council's work programme.

Haringey Educational Attainment & Schools Financial Update 2024-25

The panel was scheduled to receive an update on the educational attainment of Haringey schools for the 2024-25 academic year, comparing outcomes with London and national averages. The report indicated that Haringey's overall educational outcomes were positive, with performance at or above the London average across most key stages. However, it highlighted a setback in the attainment of Black Caribbean and Mixed White and Black Caribbean pupils at Key Stage 2, attributed to exceptional Special Educational Needs (SEND) requirements. The report also detailed a finance update for Haringey schools for the same period, outlining the financial health of different school types. Primary schools, secondary schools, and special schools were all reported to be in deficit, with nursery schools showing an overall surplus. The report detailed the council's planned actions to support schools facing financial challenges, including recovery plans and budget monitoring.

Childcare Sufficiency Annual Report November 2023-December 2024

This report was presented to outline how the council is meeting its statutory duty to secure sufficient childcare for working parents and those in training. It detailed childcare supply and demand progress, identifying key findings from 2024. The report noted that 96% of childcare providers in Haringey are rated as good or outstanding by Ofsted, with 447 settings providing education and learning for children aged 9 months to 11 years. The report also covered changes in the childcare market, including the introduction of new government funding for early education and wraparound care, and highlighted a national trend in the decline of childminders. It provided an overview of out-of-school provision in schools and by private, voluntary, independent providers and childminders, as well as detailing the cost of childcare and quality of provision. The report also addressed support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and outlined next steps for ensuring childcare sufficiency.

Virtual School Annual Report 2024-25

The panel was scheduled to receive an annual report from the Virtual School Team, which works to improve the educational attainment and attendance of children and young people in care. The report summarised the team's activities in 2024-25, including data on attendance, suspensions, exclusions, and attainment for children in care. It noted a decrease in the number of children in care in Haringey since 2021, although there had been a recent increase aligning with national trends. The report detailed the age distribution, ethnicity, and reasons for children entering care, as well as the extended duties of the Virtual School, including support for post-16 students and higher education progression. The report also presented attendance data for children on child protection plans and looked-after children, alongside information on suspensions and exclusions, and the distribution and impact of the Pupil Premium Grant.

Work Programme Update

The panel was also scheduled to review and potentially amend its work programme for the upcoming period. This included noting planned scrutiny review projects and one-off items to be addressed at scheduled meetings. Topics identified for future discussion included provision for under 1s, cabinet member questions, updates on the Haringey Youth Justice Plan, SEND inspection outcomes, housing and children's issues, budget scrutiny, and the Haringey Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report. Future agenda items also included updates on children's mental health, children's social care performance, and the implementation of the council's Autism Strategy, SEND Strategy, and Healthy Weight Strategy.