The Children's and Culture Scrutiny Committee of Lincolnshire Council met on Friday, 24 April 2026, to discuss proposals for developing mainstream Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) hubs across several schools, review the Edge of Care Service, and consider rebuilding projects at Ancaster Church of England Primary School and Spalding Academy Secondary School. The committee also reviewed its work programme.

Proposal to Develop Mainstream Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Hubs

The committee was scheduled to consider proposals for the development of mainstream SEND hubs at five schools:

• Butterwick Pinchbeck's Endowed Church of England Primary School: The proposal was to establish two SEND hubs at this school. Consultation responses indicated strong support, with key themes including the benefits for children with SEND, the school's suitability, and praise for staff. Concerns raised included the increase in pupils and travel issues, though the council's Better Belonging Lincolnshire Strategy acknowledges the importance of both special schools and inclusive mainstream provision.
• Church Lane Primary School & Nursery, Sleaford: This school already has an approved SEND hub, and the proposal was to develop a further hub. Consultation responses were largely in favour, with themes of benefits for children with SEND, location, and reduced travel times. One concern was raised regarding safeguarding.
• Hawthorn Tree School, Boston: The proposal was to establish one SEND hub. Consultation responses were predominantly supportive, with praise for the school and the anticipated support for pupils. Concerns were raised about disruption and the suggestion to expand special schools instead. The council noted that while special school places have been expanded, this provision differs and supports children whose needs are best met in a mainstream setting with enhanced support.
• Sir Francis Hill Community Primary School, Lincoln: The proposal was to establish two SEND hubs. Consultation responses were mixed, with significant concerns raised by some teachers and parents regarding the school's preparedness to support children with complex needs, its Ofsted rating, and potential impacts on existing pupils and staff. Supporters highlighted the benefits for children with SEND and the school community. The council outlined ongoing work with the school to improve SEND provision.
• The Edward Richardson Primary School, Tetford: The proposal was to establish one SEND hub. Consultation responses were largely supportive, with themes of benefits for children with SEND and the hub being well-located. Concerns were raised about the impact on a small rural school and the increase in pupils, though the council stated that funding and space were adequate and that the wider impact would be positive. Questions were also raised about secondary provision and the need for more hubs.

The report indicated that these proposals were part of the council's Better Belonging Lincolnshire: SEND and Alternative Provision Sufficiency Strategy and aimed to provide children with SEND access to education in a mainstream school designed and resourced to meet their needs, keeping them within their local communities. Each hub would have capacity for up to 10 places commissioned by the Local Authority, with an additional 3 places per hub available for the host school. Funding for staffing and capital works was outlined, with the council covering all capital costs.

Edge of Care Service

The committee was scheduled to consider a report on the Edge of Care Service, commissioned from Safe Families for Children UK. The current contract, valued at £133,380 annually, is due to expire on 30 June 2026. The service provides volunteer support for families where children are at risk of entering care.

A review, informed by public and stakeholder consultation, recommended that the service would no longer be commissioned from 1 July 2026. The report highlighted that since the service's inception, Lincolnshire has strengthened its Family Help and Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) offer, aligning with national social care reforms. This strengthened offer provides more targeted, multi-disciplinary support, making the standalone volunteer-led Edge of Care Service duplicative. Consultation responses showed strong support for the service to continue, with 95.1% of public respondents and 100% of stakeholders favouring its continuation. However, the report noted that only a small percentage of families supported by the service had children genuinely at risk of entering care, and unsupported referrals had risen due to increasing complexity of need. The recommendation to cease the service was based on it no longer being the best use of resources, with alternative support available through integrated Family Help teams and other preventative services. Mitigations for ending the service included continued access to Family Help, financial assistance under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989, strengthened community-based support, the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme, Targeted Positive Activities, and short break accommodation.

Ancaster Church of England Primary School – Two Classroom Block Rebuild

Consideration was scheduled for a report on the proposed rebuild of a two-classroom block at Ancaster Church of England Primary School. The original modular building, installed in 2015, had deteriorated due to persistent water ingress, mould, and building fabric damage, leading to its closure in May 2024. Temporary classrooms and toilets were installed in September 2024, incurring ongoing hire costs. The recommendation was to approve a permanent rebuild using traditional construction methods, which offers longevity, compliance with modern standards, and better value for money over its lifecycle compared to modular construction or remedial works. The new building would incorporate energy-efficient measures, including solar panels. The project is funded by the Department for Education's School Condition Allocation (SCA).

Spalding Academy Secondary School – Basic Need Capacity Extension (Drama Studios)

The committee was due to consider a report on a proposal to construct a new standalone drama facility at Spalding Academy Secondary School. This development is intended to support an increase in the school's net capacity, providing an additional 110 school places by increasing the Published Admission Number (PAN) from 300 to 322. The proposed building will include two drama studios and associated areas, ensuring the school has adequate specialist accommodation for the drama curriculum. The report highlighted that the existing temporary drama provision does not meet Department for Education standards and restricts general teaching space. The scheme is funded through a combination of Department for Education Basic Need capital funding and Section 106 developer contributions.

Children's and Culture Scrutiny Committee Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to review and comment on its work programme to ensure scrutiny activity is focused and beneficial. Items for the current meeting included the SEND hubs, Edge of Care Service, and the two school rebuilding projects. Planned future items included reports on the Donington Thomas Cowley single class extension, the Children and Young People's Online Counselling Support Service, the Early Years Offer, the Best Start in Life Strategy, the Attendance in Schools Annual Report, the Young Carers Scrutiny Review Action Plan, the performance of the Library Service contract, the Holiday Activities and Food Programme Annual Report, the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report, Education Provision Planning, and the Outreach Services Commissioning Review. Items suggested for future programming included Lincolnshire Archives Development, the conclusion of the Lincoln Museum Development, and a report on 16-18 year olds Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) across Lincolnshire.