The Children, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 12 May 2026. The meeting's agenda includes discussions on proposals for increasing student numbers at Laleham Gap School and establishing a new primary school in Paddock Wood. The committee will also review performance monitoring data and consider revisions to rates and charges for children's social care services.

Proposal to Increase Student Numbers at Laleham Gap School

The committee is set to consider a proposal to permanently increase the formal designated number of students at Laleham Gap School from 188 to 208, effective from September 2026. This would involve a statutory process, including a public notice and consultation, as it represents a significant change to the school's capacity. Laleham Gap School, which caters to pupils aged 4-18 with communication and interaction needs associated with autism and speech, language, and communication difficulties, is already exceeding its current designated number. The increase in places would be facilitated by repurposing rooms previously used by the Specialist Teaching and Learning Service, which is transitioning to Kent County Council (KCC) from autumn 2025.

The report indicates that an informal public consultation was held from 9 February to 13 March 2026, receiving five responses: two supportive, two against, and one undecided. Supportive comments highlighted the need for additional specialist places, while objections raised concerns about increased class sizes, strain on staff and resources, and the sustainability of additional pupil numbers. The proposal is presented as a way for KCC to fulfil its statutory duty to ensure sufficient high-quality school places are available for learners with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Proposed New Paddock Wood Primary School

A significant item on the agenda is the proposal for a new primary school in Paddock Wood. This is driven by substantial housing development in the area, which has led to a forecast deficit in primary school places from 2028-29 onwards. The plan is to establish a new primary school to open in September 2028, designed to accommodate one Form of Entry (1FE) with core facilities for future expansion to 2FE. The school would also include a 26-place nursery and a 14-place Specialist Resource Provision (SRP).

The report details the significant housing growth in Paddock Wood, with 464 homes already built and occupied in the last five years, and a further 249 under construction. The Borough's Local Plan identifies an additional 2,450 dwellings. KCC's forecasting methodology indicates a consistent deficit in Reception places within the Paddock Wood planning group throughout the Commissioning Plan for Education Provision in Kent 2026-30 period.

The proposal seeks approval for the allocation of £1,409,507 from the Children, Young People and Education Services Basic Need Capital Budget to complete pre-construction design activities and to initiate the free school presumption process. This process is required for establishing new schools in England, which must be opened as Free Schools run by Multi-Academy Trusts. The timeline for this process includes community consultation, a competition for a sponsoring trust, and aims for the new school to open in September 2028.

The report acknowledges concerns raised during an informal consultation, including the impact on existing local schools, the robustness of demand data, and the timing of delivery. It also notes alternative proposals from Leigh Academies Trust (LAT), such as using land at Mascalls Academy or extending Leigh Academy Mascalls to an all-through model. However, officers believe the current proposal aligns best with KCC's commissioning principles and the statutory process for establishing new schools.

Performance Monitoring

The committee will receive a report on performance monitoring, which will likely include an update on various indicators related to children's services and education. The provided documents include detailed scorecards for the Children, Young People and Education Directorate, covering areas such as Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) indicators, Children's Social Care KPIs, and various education metrics including attendance, exclusions, and early years development. These scorecards provide RAG ratings (Red, Amber, Green) against targets and direction of travel for numerous indicators.

Revisions to Children's Social Care Service Rates and Charges

A proposal to revise the rates payable and charges levied by Kent County Council for children's social care services in 2026-27 is scheduled for discussion. This would cover services such as foster care allowances, special guardianship payments, and payments for Kent Supported Homes. The report indicates that most rates are proposed to increase in line with the 4.1% CPIH index, with some national framework-linked rates having slightly lower uplifts. Certain fixed charges will remain unchanged and be reviewed periodically.

Commissioning of a New Contract for Young Carers

The committee is also set to consider the commissioning of a new contract to provide activities and support for young carers across Kent. It is estimated that there are over 9,000 young carers in Kent, and support for them is a statutory duty. The existing contract expires in April 2027, necessitating a new commissioning exercise. The proposed contract would have an initial four-year term with two optional two-year extensions and would include provisions for co-designing the service model with young carers to ensure it meets current needs and maximises budget impact.

Contract Register and Risk Management

The committee will review the Contract Register, which lists contracts and agreements within the Directorate carrying financial or legal obligations. This includes an overview of the Council's contract tiering tool and oversight of gold-tier contracts. Additionally, a report on Risk Management for Children, Young People and Education will be presented, outlining corporate risks relevant to the directorate and directorate-level risks, with a focus on key issues and dynamic risks associated with SEND reforms and delivery of the Safety Valve agreement.

SACRE Annual Report and Work Programme

Finally, the committee will receive the Standing Advisory Committee for Religious Education (SACRE) Annual Report for 2024-2025 for information. The committee will also note the Work Programme for future meetings.