Discussion around forward planning for the forthcoming municipal year
Minutes:
The committee convened to explore a range of emerging priorities and concerns within Children’s Services, with a particular emphasis on the intersection between health and education, SEND provision, and the voice of young people in shaping services.
Councillor Lancaster opened the discussion by highlighting the importance of strengthening the connection between Health and Children’s Services. She stressed the need for scrutiny to regularly engage with health-related issues, particularly those affecting children with SEND and sensory processing needs. She also raised the significance of maternity services, including prenatal care, and the broader concept of the “First 1000 Days” as a critical window for early development and intervention.
This led to a wider conversation about the potential benefits of holding a joint scrutiny meeting between the Health and Children’s Committees. Members agreed that such a meeting could help address overlapping areas of concern and foster a more integrated approach to service delivery.
Councillor Fitzgerald supported this direction and proposed the establishment of a Task and Finish Group to examine the interface between health and children’s services, with a particular focus on SEND. The group would aim to identify gaps, improve coordination, and ensure that scrutiny is aligned with the evolving landscape of provision.
Joanne Burns contributed insights around early identification, particularly in relation to mental health and emotional wellbeing. She emphasized the importance of timely access to CAMHS and the need for services to be responsive to the needs of children and families at the earliest possible stage.
Councillor Berry raised concerns about the quality assurance of special schools, noting that some placements come with disproportionately high costs. She questioned the rationale behind these expenses and called for greater transparency. She also highlighted issues around exclusions and suspensions, particularly during the winter months when transportation challenges can exacerbate attendance problems.
The committee then turned its attention to the curriculum and age appropriateness of learning activities. Members expressed concern that some aspects of the national curriculum may not be developmentally suitable for all children, and that more attention should be paid to how these are implemented locally. There was strong support for amplifying the voice of children and young people, with suggestions that video content could be used to hear directly from them about their experiences and ideas for improvement.
Councillor Bury emphasized the need for regular updates on persistent non-attendance, and requested reassurance around how attendance is being monitored and addressed. This tied into broader discussions about inclusion and the implementation of the Attendance and Inclusion Strategy, which several members felt should be revisited and strengthened.
Councillor Smith brought forward several key themes for future scrutiny, including the development of Family Hubs, school readiness, and the importance of embedding youth voice into all aspects of service design. She echoed earlier points about the First 1000 Days and suggested that this framework could be used to guide early years policy and investment.
The committee noted that the outcome of the upcoming Ofsted ILACS inspection would be presented at the next meeting. Members acknowledged that the resulting judgement would necessitate a robust Improvement Plan, and agreed that scrutiny should play a key role in monitoring its implementation.
Finally, there was a call for greater assurance around school standards, outcomes, and benchmarking. Members expressed a desire to understand how Bury compares to other areas and how performance is being tracked over time. There was also interest in exploring the Graduated Approach to SEND provision, with a request for a briefing or presentation to clarify its application and implications.