Together for Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee - 4 March 2026

The meeting began with the formal approval of the previous committee’s minutes. Councillor Gow moved, and Councillor Line seconded, that the minutes of the Together for Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 14 January 2026 were correctly recorded and would be signed by the Chair. No public questions were raised.

The Cabinet Member provided an update on the Government’s Schools White Paper and the accompanying SEND Reform documents published on 23 February 2026. Key points included the introduction of a new “Individual Support Plan” for children whose needs can be met without an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), the continuation of EHCPs for children with complex needs, and the requirement that the Council submit a SEND Reform Plan by June 2026 (with a draft due by mid‑May) in order to access a proposed 90 % write‑off of the High Needs Block. The allocation for early‑identification funding to Cornwall had not yet been confirmed, with further detail expected on 16 March 2026. The Committee asked for clarification on funding, the relationship of the 90 % write‑off to the plan, and how scrutiny input could be incorporated given the six‑to‑seven‑week preparation window; officers responded that the quality of the plan would determine funding eligibility and that informal sessions may be needed to gather input before the end of the municipal year.

The Service Director for Children’s Services outlined the Council’s response to the national Families First Partnership reforms. The report highlighted the reorganisation of over 200 staff into multi‑disciplinary Family Help Teams, the introduction of domestic‑abuse specialists in each team, and the development of a pilot health‑safeguarding team scheduled to go live in April. Progress also included a specialist assessment team using the Parent Assess framework and stronger multi‑agency collaboration. The Director noted that these changes align with Cornwall’s existing culture and were intended to provide earlier, community‑led support to prevent escalation of needs.

The Senior Education Effectiveness Officer presented provisional Key Stage 4 attainment data for the 2024/25 academic year. Cornwall’s Attainment 8 score rose to 45.1 from 43.8 in 2024, and the proportion of pupils achieving a strong pass (Grade 5 +) increased to 43.1 % from 39.7 % the previous year, narrowing the gap with the national average to 2.1 percentage points. While overall performance improved, the disadvantage gap remained static and pupils with SEND support were slightly below national averages, although those with EHCPs matched national outcomes. The Committee discussed the persistence of the disadvantage gap and the distribution of performance between academies and locally maintained schools.

Finally, members Cornwall Youth Council presented a report on strengthening collaboration with the Together for Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The Youth Council recommended formalising two‑way communication, aligning work with Article 12 of the UNCRC, and adopting a phased approach to joint activities. The Committee expressed strong agreement with these recommendations, pledged to support a graduated implementation plan, and discussed practical steps such as holding evening meetings and involving youth representatives in other scrutiny committees. The Chair emphasized the broader impact of council decisions on young people and affirmed the importance of ongoing engagement.