The Scrutiny Children & Young People Sub-Committee of Croydon Council met on Tuesday 10 March 2026 to discuss the transformation of public health nursing services, education standards, and youth engagement services. Key discussions included improvements in health visiting performance, the impact of the pandemic on educational outcomes, and the restructuring of youth engagement services to better support vulnerable young people.

Public Health Nursing Transformation

The committee received an update on the transformation of the 0-19 Public Health Nursing Service, with a particular focus on health visiting. Presentations highlighted significant improvements in performance for both New Birth Visits and 2-2.5-year reviews, with increased productivity and reliability attributed to a new service delivery model and enhanced collaboration with administrative teams and partners. The enhanced offer for vulnerable families, which includes intensive home visiting programmes, was detailed, with criteria such as safeguarding history, parental mental health, and teenage pregnancies being considered. While national targets for new birth visits (95%) and 2-2.5-year reviews (80%) are aspirational, the committee noted the progress made and agreed to review progress towards these targets in a future meeting. Recruitment and retention strategies have also seen success, with vacancy rates decreasing significantly.

Education Standards 2025

The committee reviewed the education performance and outcomes for children and young people in Croydon schools for the academic year 2024/25. Despite the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on learning, attendance, and behaviour, several areas showed strong performance. Early Years Foundation Stage outcomes improved at a faster rate than the national average, and Key Stage 2 pupils were performing above national averages in reading, writing, and maths. Ofsted judgements for the majority of schools remained good or better. However, areas requiring continued focus include Key Stage 4 English and Maths outcomes, persistent absence, and rising exclusions. The report also highlighted the significant increase in children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), with the council strengthening its capacity to manage this growth through a SEND restructure and enhanced early intervention services. Discussions also addressed the disproportionate exclusion rates for Black African and Caribbean pupils, with targeted actions and training being implemented to address systemic issues and promote trauma-informed practices. The committee also discussed the challenges of NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) rates, which remain comparable to national averages, and the ongoing efforts to improve careers education and business partnerships for young people.

Youth Engagement Services Update

The committee reviewed the changes to the operating model for Youth Engagement Services, following the disbandment of the previous Youth Engagement Team (YET) in September 2025. The new model aims to provide a broader and more coordinated offer through partnerships with voluntary and community sector organisations, as well as enhanced services at the Samuel Coleridge Taylor Family Hub. Services such as Million Hours and Starz & Sisterz have continued, with increased attendance and engagement. The Play Place initiative has established junior youth hubs in Shrublands and New Addington, supported by Public Health funding. The Croydon Youth Assembly is also being strengthened through a new procurement process to improve representation and coordination. The committee was assured that while the YET was disbanded, targeted interventions for vulnerable young people and universal provision have continued and, in some cases, improved through a more collaborative approach. Funding of over £4 million is being invested into the voluntary and community sector to support early help, mental health, and youth engagement.

Early Help, Children's Social Care and Education Dashboard

The committee received the Early Help, Children's Social Care and Education Dashboard for December 2025. While the dashboard indicated positive progress in several areas, including a reduction in the number of children subject to Child Protection Plans lasting two years or more, and a stable rate of care leavers in employment, education, or training, some indicators remained red. These included the percentage of contacts to children's services actioned within one working day, which was impacted by IT infrastructure issues, and the timeliness of EHCP issuance. Stuart Collins, Corporate Director for Children, Young People and Education, acknowledged the high caseloads within children's social care, stating that efforts were underway to reduce demand and improve efficiency. The committee noted the positive feedback from Ofsted regarding the quality of assessments and risk management, despite the high caseloads.

Work Programme

The committee reviewed its work programme for 2025-26 and considered items for inclusion in the 2026-27 programme. It was agreed to add SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) as a separate agenda item for future discussion. The committee also expressed interest in reviewing the outcomes of the Metropolitan Police review into child sexual exploitation cases, should any Croydon children be identified within that cohort.

What Difference has this Meeting made to Croydon's Children

Councillor Maria Gatland was recognised for her significant contributions to children's services in Croydon over more than 20 years, including her championing of corporate parenting. Her commitment was acknowledged as having made a tangible difference to the lives of children in the borough.