Open Council Network - Croydon - Scrutiny Children & Young People Sub-Committee

The Scrutiny Children & Young People Sub-Committee meeting on 20 January 2026 focused on the Children, Young People and Education (CYPE) Directorate's budget and transformation efforts. Key discussions included the appointment of a new strategic transformation partner to build on the 'Helping Families Thrive' programme, the challenges and strategies related to school place planning and SEND provision, and the budget proposals for 2026/27, with a particular focus on demographic growth and market cost pressures.

CYPE Directorate Transformation Update

The committee received an update on the ongoing transformation work within the Children, Young People and Education (CYPE) Directorate, with a significant focus on appointing a new Strategic Transformation Partner. This partner will be tasked with accelerating and amplifying the 'Helping Families Thrive' programme, which aims to deliver over £12 million in savings and improve service delivery. The partner will work in two phases: an initial analysis and design phase, followed by a trial and implementation phase. A crucial element of this process is a go-no-go decision point after the first phase, where the partner must present a clear plan with projected savings and costs. If the project proceeds, the partner will be paid on a results basis, with a minimum four-to-one return on investment expected. Concerns were raised about the potential for time to be wasted on a new partner learning processes, but officers assured the committee that the new partner would be required to build upon existing work and that lessons learned from previous transformation efforts would be embedded. The tender process had closed on 7 January 2026, and while specific details about the number of bids or the scoring process could not be disclosed due to commercial sensitivities, it was indicated that a contract was expected to be signed within approximately one month. The timeline for phase one of the transformation, starting in February and concluding in June 2026, was acknowledged as ambitious but considered achievable due to prior experience and dedicated resources.

Budget Scrutiny Challenge

The Sub-Committee reviewed the CYPE Directorate's budget proposals for 2026/27, examining the basis of these proposals, assumptions made, identifiable risks, and the route to delivery. The 'Helping Families Thrive' programme was highlighted as a key area for savings, with a projected £3.4 million in savings for 2026/27. These savings are derived from a combination of ongoing transformation efforts, such as managing the placement market and reducing the number of children in care, and longer-term preventative work like early intervention and the Families First Partnership.

Significant budget growth was noted for SEND and Home-to-School Transport, with an estimated £1.638 million increase due to demographic growth and market price pressures. This growth is attributed to an increase in passengers and rising costs, with the rate of increase in transport costs being lower than the rate of increase for Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans.

Risks associated with Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) costs were also discussed, with a forecast overspend of £1.6 million due to inadequate funding models and rising numbers of care-experienced young people. Mitigation strategies include maximizing claimable funding, escalating concerns with the Home Office, and aligning with the Children and Young People's accommodation strategy.

A potential £400,000 slippage in savings related to Health (Continuing Healthcare) financial contributions was noted, stemming from the lack of a new joint-funding agreement with the Integrated Care Board (ICB). Negotiations are ongoing at a senior level.

The committee also discussed the potential financial and service capacity implications arising from the Metropolitan Police's review of over 9,000 child sexual exploitation cases. While the exact impact is unknown until the review's findings are released, officers confirmed that the council has services in place to support affected young people and that resources could be refocused within existing budgets if necessary. The committee agreed to add a review of the Metropolitan Police's findings and their impact on Croydon to its work programme.

Education Estates Strategy

The Sub-Committee reviewed the proposed Education Estates Strategy for 2025–2028, which aims to ensure the Council meets its statutory duty to provide sufficient, high-quality education and childcare places. A key focus of the strategy is addressing the declining birth rate, which has led to falling pupil rolls and an oversupply of places in mainstream schools, particularly at primary level. This surplus capacity is being strategically repurposed to create additional Enhanced Learning Provision (ELP) spaces for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), where demand is increasing. This approach aims to maximise the use of existing school buildings, improve financial sustainability for schools, and reduce reliance on costly out-of-borough placements.

The strategy also addresses the expansion of early years and wraparound childcare provision to support working families, with the aim of this provision being self-financing by September 2026. The Childcare Sufficiency Assessment for 2025 indicates that Croydon currently has sufficient childcare provision across the borough for all age groups, with new places exceeding the Department for Education's targets.

The proposed Schools' Maintenance Plan outlines significant investment in maintaining and improving school buildings, with a budget of £3.9 million for 2026/27 and £2.2 million for 2027/28. The strategy also details the proposed Education Capital Budget.

Concerns were raised about the potential for estate rationalisation to impact children with EHCPs or trauma-related vulnerabilities, and the committee sought reassurance that no children would be required to change schools as a direct result of these changes. Officers clarified that any decisions regarding school moves for children with EHCPs would be made through the statutory annual review process, focusing on meeting the child's needs.

Early Help, Children's Social Care and Education Dashboard

The Sub-Committee received the Early Help, Children's Social Care and Education Dashboard for October 2025 and Health Visiting KPIs for Q2 2025/26. The dashboard highlighted improvements in reducing children on child protection plans, which was noted as a positive development. However, an increased demand in children in need was identified as an area requiring significant focus, with visits for children on assessment or child in need plans not taking place within desired timeframes.

A significant issue discussed was the impact of Wi-Fi and VPN problems on the ability of children's social care staff to access their case management system. While improvements have been made to the Wi-Fi infrastructure, the committee sought reassurance that lessons had been learned regarding system resilience.

Caseloads for caseworkers were also a concern, with the peak caseload size noted as 29.6. The committee expressed concern for the well-being of caseworkers dealing with complex cases and inquired about efforts to increase the number of social workers. Officers explained that the focus is on a whole-systems intervention and enforcing a performance culture, with plans to introduce alternatively qualified staff to undertake assessments to broaden the workforce.

The committee also discussed the 'Helping Families Thrive' programme and its impact on reducing statutory demand, with evidence suggesting that increased investment in early help has led to a reduction in child protection plans and children in care. The Family Hubs model was praised for its integrated approach and partnership working.

Cabinet Response to Scrutiny Recommendations

The Sub-Committee noted the Cabinet's response to scrutiny recommendations, including an agreement from the Police to contribute an additional £5,000 to the Croydon Safeguarding Children Partnership for 2025/26.

Work Programme

The Sub-Committee noted the draft work programme for 2025-26 and considered potential changes.

What Difference has this Meeting made to Croydon's Children

The committee discussed the impact of the meeting on Croydon's children, with a particular focus on ensuring the voice of parents and carers is incorporated alongside the voice of children in departmental work. The idea of visiting a family hub was suggested as a potential way to engage with families and gather feedback.

Councillor Andrew Price, Chair of the Scrutiny Children & Young People Sub-Committee, presided over the meeting.

Councillor Maddie Henson, Vice-Chair, actively participated in discussions.

Councillor Patsy Cummings raised concerns about caseworker caseloads and the well-being of social workers.

Councillor Mark Johnson inquired about the decrease in on-time applications for schools.

Councillor Dr Manju Shahul-Hameed asked about the breakdown of savings within the 'Helping Families Thrive' programme.

Councillor Adele Benson asked questions regarding the procurement process for the Strategic Transformation Partner.

Councillor Danielle Denton and Councillor Tamar Barrett also contributed to the discussions.

Elaine Jones and Paul O'Donnell, co-opted members, were noted as having apologies for absence. Nicole Williams, a non-voting teacher representative, was present.

Tom Downs, Committee Clerk, facilitated the meeting.

Shelley Davies, Director of Education, and Ristardh Hare, Director of Children's Social Care, provided key information and answered questions throughout the meeting. Denise Boucher, Head of Service, Early Years, School Place Planning and Admissions, presented on the Education Estates Strategy. Simon Townend, Head of Business Improvement & Performance, and David Fry, Head of Homefinding & Sufficiency, also contributed to discussions. Julie Daley, Head of Service, Families First Development & Implementation, was also mentioned.

Councillor Maria Gatland, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, was present and engaged in the discussions.

Councillor Joseph Lee, Deputy Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, was also in attendance.

Stuart Collins, Corporate Director of Children, Young People, and Education, provided significant input on budget and transformation matters.

Allister Bannin, Director of Finance, contributed to the budget scrutiny discussions.

The meeting also referenced the work of the Metropolitan Police in their review of child sexual exploitation cases.

The Department for Education (DfE) and the Greater London Authority (GLA) were mentioned in relation to funding and data provision.

The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (OFSTED) was discussed in relation to the registration of Precious House and the South Norwood Home.

The National Transfer Scheme (NTS) was mentioned in the context of UASC costs.

The Integrated Care Board (ICB) was referenced in relation to health financial contributions.

The 'Helping Families Thrive' programme was a central theme, with discussions on its aims, workstreams, and projected savings.

The 'Families First Partnership' was highlighted as a key initiative for early intervention and demand management.

The 'SHiFT' project was mentioned as a specific intervention model for children at risk of criminal activity.

The 'Childcare Sufficiency Assessment' for 2025 was presented, detailing demand and supply of childcare in Croydon.

The Education Estates Strategy was reviewed, focusing on managing surplus school places and developing SEND provision.

The Early Help, Children's Social Care and Education Dashboard provided an overview of key performance indicators.

The Pan-London Co-ordinated Admissions System was discussed in relation to school admissions for Reception, Junior, Year 7, and Year 10.

The 'Precious House' and 'South Norwood Home' were discussed in relation to OFSTED registration delays and associated costs.

The 'Childcare Act 2006' and the 'School Admissions Code 2021' were referenced as statutory frameworks.

The 'Public Sector Equality Duty' and the Council's commitment to anti-racism were considered in the context of the Education Estates Strategy.

The 'National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG)' was mentioned in relation to distance measurements for school admissions.

The 'Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)', 'Equality Act 2010', and 'SEN Code of Practice (2015)' were referenced in relation to childcare provision for children with SEND.

The 'Household Support Fund' was mentioned as a source of support for low-income families.

The 'National Transfer Scheme (NTS)' was discussed in relation to UASC costs.

The 'Integrated Care Board (ICB)' was referenced in relation to health financial contributions.