Together for Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee - 16 July 2025

The meeting opened with a declaration that no members had any interests to disclose. Councillor Ball moved, and Councillor Moore seconded, that the minutes of the Together for Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 25 June 2025 were correctly recorded and should be signed by the Chairman. No questions were raised by the public.

The Democratic and Governance Officer reported that each overview and scrutiny committee had completed an informal work‑programming session on 25 June 2025 and presented the draft Together for Families work programme for approval. During the discussion the Committee noted several specific items to be added or scheduled for later consideration: a formal work‑programme suggestion form for kinship care (to be slated for November 2025); children’s dental health, which falls under the remit of the Health and Adults’ Overview and Scrutiny Committee; SEND home‑to‑school transport, school accessibility (including dropped curbs), the “Best Start in Life” early‑years agenda, exclusions and suspensions, and the Belonging Framework. The Committee resolved, on motion by Councillor Ball and seconded by Councillor Chopak, to approve the draft work programme subject to these additions and to follow the Overview and Scrutiny Protocol for any amendments prior to the mid‑year review in November 2025, with changes to be coordinated by the Chairman, Vice‑Chairman, Senior Responsible Officer and Democratic Services Lead.

The Service Director for Education and Community Health presented the Cornwall Joint SEND Commissioning Strategy and the Cornwall SEND Strategic Plan, outlining their legal context, differences, challenges and strategic priorities. Committee members sought clarification on several points: the processes for identifying SEND needs; the causes of long waiting times for ADHD and dyslexia support; the proportion of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) completed within the statutory 20‑week period (57 % in Cornwall, compared with a 50 % national average); interim support for children awaiting assessments; monitoring of home‑educated and excluded pupils; geographic disparities, particularly in North and East Cornwall; transport accessibility; the impact of a £25 million overspend on the Dedicated Schools Grant; funding for new buildings and facilities; and strategies to keep more SEND pupils in mainstream schools. The Director noted ongoing efforts to reduce waiting times, the “waiting well” support framework, upcoming government legislation that may affect home‑education registration, and that the White Paper on inclusive education would inform future direction.

The meeting concluded with remarks from the Cabinet Member for Together for Families, who thanked the team for its professionalism and highlighted the Article 12 Celebration Day and the Lundy Model as examples of youth participation. She invited Committee members to attend a Youth Council meeting to hear young people’s views directly. The Chairman of the Health and Adult’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee welcomed the Together for Families Committee’s attendance, emphasizing the importance of collaboration on health issues affecting children and young people.