The Family and Children's Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Northumberland Council met on Thursday, 5 March 2026, to discuss the Early Help Annual Report 2025, the Annual Representations Report 2024/25, and the School Organisation Plan 2025-2030. The committee also reviewed its forward plan and work programme.

Early Help Annual Report 2025

The committee was scheduled to receive a summary of the work undertaken by Northumberland's Early Help partnership. This partnership aims to support children, young people, and their families to reach their potential and lead healthier lives. The report was expected to detail how these services work alongside partner agencies, including universal services, the Family Hub network, and the voluntary and community sector. The report was also to cover the governance and strategy of Early Help, including the Early Help Partnership Board and its thematic subgroups, as well as the Early Help and Prevention Strategy 2025–2028. Key achievements in 2025 were to be highlighted, such as national recognition for engaging fathers and SUDI prevention, the accreditation of the UNICEF Level 3 Infant Feeding, and the integration of services within Family Hubs. The report was also to outline support for families with SEND, the work of Family Help teams, the transition of the Early Help Assessment Team into the Prevention & Early Help Support Team, and the realignment of services within Targeted Young People's Support (TYPS).

Annual Representations Report 2024/25

This report was scheduled to be presented in line with Regulation 13(3) of The Children Act 1989 Representations Procedure (England) Regulations 2006, which requires local authorities to submit an annual report on the operation of their complaints procedure. The report was intended to provide feedback from complaints, compliments, and general enquiries submitted to Children's Services, as well as those referred to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. The aim was to identify lessons learned and areas for service improvement. The report was to cover how feedback is recorded and processed, statistical information from 2024/25, learning arising from feedback, and decisions made by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman regarding Children's Services.

School Organisation Plan

The committee was asked to note the third version of the School Organisation Plan for Northumberland, covering the period 2025-2030. This plan, which will be updated annually, outlines the availability of school places in the county, the context of population changes, and data on school partnerships with student forecasts up to 2032/33. It also details the methodology for school place planning, management of surplus places, schools' capital development, and non-mainstream provision, including SEND, post-16, and Early Years. The report was to highlight changes since the 2021-2024 plan, including an increase in surplus places to 23%, an increase in the number of schools, and a significant rise in the number of children with Education and Healthcare Plans (EHCPs). Feedback from committee members was sought prior to the plan being circulated to schools and academies for their input before its publication.

Reports of the Scrutiny Officer

The committee was scheduled to receive updates on the Forward Plan of Cabinet decisions and the Family and Children's Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee's work programme for 2025/26. This would allow members to note decisions taken by Cabinet since the previous meeting and consider any further changes to the Forward Plan.