Minutes:
a. Mrs Fordham outlined activity since the previous meeting. She described a programme of visits and engagement across education, skills and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services, explaining that this work was helping to inform strategic priorities and provide assurance regarding service delivery.
b. Recent visits included a maintained nursery school, mainstream and specialist colleges, and a range of internal services. In particular, Mrs Fordham highlighted the role of the maintained nursery school in delivering high?quality early years provision and supporting the sharing of good practice across the sector.
c. A further visit was undertaken to Oak Specialist College, which Mrs Fordham explained had provided a clearer understanding of the college’s operating model and specialist offer following its opening.
d. Mrs Fordham also referred to a visit to the Lower Thames Crossing Skills Hub, where the focus had been on how education and training providers were working together to align skills provision with future employment opportunities arising from major infrastructure projects.
e. Mrs Fordham attended at an event recognising North Kent College as a Construction Technical Excellence College was also highlighted, with Mrs Fordham noting the collaborative approach taken by Kent colleges to support skills development across the county.
f. An update was provided on the Partnership for Inclusion and Neurodiversity (PINS) pilot, which Mrs Fordham advised had been successful, with work underway to consider wider rollout in preparation for forthcoming SEND reforms.
g. Mrs Fordham reported on a visit to the SEND Hub, describing it as an important source of information, advice and signposting for families, and drew attention to the volume of enquiries being managed by the service.
h. Mrs Fordham met with the in?year admissions team and outlined the work underway to improve data collection and streamline processes in order to better support families moving into the county during the academic year.
i. In addition, Mrs Fordham advised that she continued to engage with national briefings on SEND reform and the White Paper and confirmed that further updates would be provided to Members as national policy and funding arrangements became clearer.
a. Mrs Fordham confirmed that specialist colleges had raised concerns regarding post?16 home to school transport and that engagement with the transport service was underway to ensure providers and families understood the process.
b. Mr Chapman, Interim Deputy Director of Education, explained that engagement with the Specialist Teaching and Learning Service (STLS) workforce had continued throughout the period of industrial action. He advised that officers had been working with staff and trade unions to ensure clarity around the universal offer and consistency of service delivery across the county.
c. Mr Adams, Interim Deputy Director of Education, outlined the role of the maintained nursery school as a recognised stronger practice hub, supporting professional development and inclusion across the region. He explained that while the provision supported early identification and inclusive practice, its direct impact was limited to early years due to age range.
a. The statement outlined the induction activity Mr Webb had taken part in since his appointment, including visits to frontline services and engagement with partners.
b. Mrs Williams highlighted the passage of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, describing it as a significant reform package affecting safeguarding, education and children’s social care. She outlined key provisions relating to family group decision?making, information sharing, multi?agency safeguarding, regulation of children’s homes, care market reform and changes to education policy, including breakfast clubs, uniform requirements and elective home education.
c. Mrs Williams advised that work was progressing locally on the design of the Families First Children’s Practice Model, which would be considered by the Committee at a future meeting. She also drew Members’ attention to forthcoming corporate parenting refresher training, explaining that the session would be delivered in a hybrid format and cover a range of services supporting children in care and care leavers.
a. Mr Kasaven, Director of Children’s Countywide Services, explained that opportunities already existed through the Corporate Parenting Panel for Members to meet and hear directly from children in care and care?experienced young people, and that further opportunities could be explored.
b. Ms Crisan, Director of Operational Integrated Children’s Services, outlined the statutory role of the Youth Justice Service, explaining how risk assessment, restorative justice and multi?agency intervention were used to reduce reoffending and support positive outcomes.
c. Mr Chapman explained the Council’s responsibilities in relation to elective home education, including quality assurance activity and forthcoming legislative changes intended to strengthen early engagement and safeguarding.
RESOLVED that the verbal updates were noted.