Agenda and minutes

A webcast of the meeting can be viewed here.

The minutes of the meeting held on 4 November 2025 were taken as read, confirmed and signed.

The Chief Executive reported that the following question had been received under Standing Order 34.

Question asked by Mrs Sue Whiting:

“Could the chair please state:

a)     How many care leavers 16-18 are not in education employment or training?

b)     How many care leavers 18-25 are not in education employment or training?

c)     What provisions are available for any care leavers who are not in education, employment or training?”

Response by the Chairman:

a)     There are currently 273 care experienced young people in Education, Employment and Training (EET) and 210 not in Education, Employment and Training (NEET).

b)     There are currently 18 care experienced young people in this age group, who choose to be in contact and have active involvement with the Service, who are EET and 24 who are NEET.

c)     The Department provides a post-16 Personal Education Plan (PEP) for all care leavers who are NEET and maintain a contact list for NEET care leaving young people, to offer options and encourage their return to education or employment. The virtual school works closely with personal advisers and social workers to stay connected with care leavers.

For 18+ care leavers not in employment, education or training, the Service links in with Leicestershire Cares who provide mentoring support to build confidence in returning to work, and for those young people coming out of custody along with the Probation service, this includes volunteering opportunities as well. Connect to Work is the DWP programme which as part of its priorities is to support care leavers into employment. The Service also works with Reed who support interview skills and CV work for care leavers to support them into work.

Mrs Sue Whiting asked the following Supplementary question:

“Thank you for a comprehensive answer to my question. For clarification is it possible to state:

a)     How many of the 24 NEET care experienced young people in the 18-25 age group have been in custody?

b)     Have their learning needs been fully assessed since leaving custody?”

Response to the supplementary question:

At the invitation of the Chairman, the Director of Children and Family Services indicated that this information would be provided to Mrs Whiting after the meeting.

The Chief Executive reported that two questions had been received under Standing Order 7(3) and 7(5).

Question asked by Mr Andrew Innes CC:

“A bid was recently put in by Discovery Trust to Loughborough College to use the existing Melton campus site (which includes the Theatre) as a venue for post 16 special educational needs provision. I understand that LCC has also been in similar discussions about the use of this site with other providers. We do not have adequate facilities in Leicestershire to accommodate post 16 requirements, and therefore we spend a large amount of money moving our residents around county or outside of county. To have such a provision, in a ready-made campus in Melton Mowbray, under these circumstances makes sense, not just commercially, but also to provide high quality services for some of our most vulnerable residents. I would also point out that this could also act as a catalyst to save the popular Melton Theatre that is in serious threat of closure due to Loughborough College withdrawing support, and their wish to sell the site. I would like to ask:

a)     What discussions have taken place, has there been any progress in these discussions?

b)     What is Leicestershire County Council’s view on commissioning post 16 provision?

c)     Should the Council be having serious talks with providers and Loughborough College about the future use of these facilities?

It is our duty to our residents to make sure we have good quality, easy accessible provision, for all of our residents, and I would advocate that we look into these proposals seriously.”

Reply by the Chairman:

a)     The Council continues to recognise the importance of robust and effective planning for post 16 education and training, particularly for young people with additional needs. Leicestershire has a diverse educational landscape, including school sixth forms, colleges, and specialist institutions, and our approach remains firmly aligned with national policy direction and the principle of mainstream inclusion wherever appropriate.

The Council has held discussions with officers and key stakeholders in relation to post 16 SEND provision in Melton, including consideration of the Discovery Trust’s proposal. This included analysis of current and projected demand, cost, long-term viability, accessibility, suitability and sustainability of the proposed venue and alignment with both national policy and local strategic direction for post 16 SEND places.

Following this evaluation, the Council concluded that the proposal could not be pursued, primarily due to the low and stable number of young people with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) within the Melton area, the existence of alternative provision options and concerns about the appropriateness and sustainability of the site for the proposed purpose.  The Discovery Trust has acknowledged that, whilst they accept the Council is unable to pursue a post 16 development, they indicated their intention to bring forward a revised proposal focusing on pre 16 specialist places. Officers will review any such proposal upon receipt and will ensure that stakeholders are kept informed.

b)     The Council remains firmly committed to improving post 16 pathways and outcomes for all young people, including those with SEND. This commitment includes ensuring the sufficiency of high quality, sustainable provision, supporting mainstream inclusion, consistent with national policy direction and strengthening transition pathways into an adulthood of independence, choice, and control. To support these aims, the Council has recently appointed a Post 16 Service Manager whose responsibilities are focussed on understanding and analysing local need, engaging with all post-16 providers, identifying any gaps in provision and leading the development of a county wide Post 16 strategy. 

c)     The Council is open to engaging with providers, including Loughborough College,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

There were no urgent items for consideration.

The Chairman invited members who wished to do so to declare any interest in respect of items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations were made.

There were no declarations of the party whip.

The Chief Executive reported that no petitions had been received under Standing Order 35.

The Committee considered a joint report of the Director of Children and Family Services and the Director of Corporate Resources which provided information on the proposed 2026/27 – 2029/30 Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) as it related to the Children and Family Services department.  A copy of the report marked ‘Agenda Item 8’ is filed with these minutes.

The Chairman welcomed Mr. C. Pugsley CC, Lead Member for Children and Families, to the meeting for this item.

Arising from discussion, the following points were raised:

Plans to provide more SEND nursery places in local communities.

(i)        Concern was raised regarding an ongoing consultation relating to proposals to create more accessible and inclusive SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) nursery places within communities, with particular reference to the potential loss of dedicated provision. The Director explained that the proposals sought to build local capacity so that children’s needs could be met within their communities, and that proposed model would allow for expansion of specialist support through early years services. It was emphasised that the aim was to ensure equitable access to early years SEND provision across the county, as provision was often inconsistent.

(ii)       In relation to funding, the Director emphasised that the proposals were not intended as cost‑saving measures and that all existing funding would be reinvested into early years provision in order to improve equity and capacity across the system. Consideration would be given to inflationary pressures, although this would remain subject to national funding decisions.

(iii)      Concerns were raised regarding the ability of mainstream settings to train teachers and support staff adequately, particularly where significant numbers of children had SEND needs but did not have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). A question was asked regarding which providers were being engaged to accommodate additional children with SEND and whether those settings had confirmed capacity to meet all aspects of need, including facilities for activities, resources, and the availability of additional staff. The Director stated that no specific providers had yet been identified to expand or replace provision, as further engagement with providers would be required should the proposals progress.

(iv)      Members remained concerned about the potential loss of dedicated SEND provision and that some mainstream settings could struggle to meet complex needs. The Director acknowledged the concern and reiterated their commitment to high‑quality training, appropriate staffing ratios, and robust quality assurance. It was noted that whilst many children’s needs could be met locally in mainstream provision, some children would continue to require different or more specialist support, and this would be recognised within the system.

(v)       With regards to the potential for legal challenge from parents relating to the Council’s decisions with regards SEND provision, and whether this had been factored into the authority’s risk management, the Director advised that the Council had not been challenged legally to date, however, SEND tribunals did occur. The Department was undertaking work to reduce the need for tribunal proceedings, whilst ensuring that decisions remained focused on meeting children’s needs. Risk management would continue to form the development of any proposals.

(vi)      In response to a question regarding how growth in disabled children’s services aligned with proposals to close a specialist nursery provision for children with disabilities. The Director explained that the disparity was due to different funding streams. Disabled children’s services were funded from council resources, whereas specialist nurseries were funded from the High Needs/Early Years Blocks, which the Council was legally unable to supplement. Given increasing SEND demand and fixed resources, proposals aimed to utilise High Needs funding more effectively by moving to an alternative  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Children and Family Services the draft Leicestershire Children and Family Service Departmental Plan 2026 – 29. A copy of the report, marked ‘Agenda Item 9’, is filed with these minutes.

The Lead Member for Children and Families stated that the draft policy set out a clear and compelling vision for the Department to support children and families. He placed on record his thanks to officers who had been involved in developed the draft Policy and highlighted the extensive engagement that had been undertaken with children, young people and families.

Arising from discussion, the following points were raised:

(i)         In response to a question asked, the Director confirmed that all of the partners and stakeholders involved in the development of the draft Plan had confirmed that they were commitment to it.

(ii)        The Director outlined that the development of an accompanying action plan, which would be utilised to track progress against outcomes, was near completion. At the request of members, the Director agreed that an update on progress made against the Action Plan would be presented to the Committee at the meeting on 1 September 2026.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the draft Leicestershire Children and Family Service Departmental Plan 2026 – 29, be noted.

(b)       That the comments now made be forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration at its meeting on 3 February 2026.

(c)        That the Director of Children and Family Services be requested to provide the Committee with an update on progress made against an action plan relating to the Leicestershire Children and Family Service Departmental Plan 2026 – 29, at the meeting on 1 September 2026.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Children and Families which outlined the draft School Places Strategy 2026–2031. The Strategy set out how the Council would meet its statutory duties to ensure a sufficient high quality school places in Leicestershire, delivered in the right place, at the right time. A copy of the report, marked ‘Agenda Item 10’, is filed with these minutes.

The Lead Member for Children and Families thanking the officers for the depth of work which had gone into underpinning the Strategy. He emphasised that every child having access to a suitable local school place was one of the Council's most fundamental responsibilities. He stated that the strategy demonstrated clearly, and with an evidence-based approach, that the Council would be able to meet both the mainstream and the specialist. However, he recognised that the Department would face significant challenges in delivering against the Strategy.

Arising from discussion, the following points were raised:

(i)        A question was raised regarding whether Section 106 funds could be used in order to support SEND schools and dedicated SEND places. The Director stated that a new planning obligations policy was being developed in order to ensure that Section 106 agreements reflected construction cost, including inflation, and allowed greater flexibility in utilising funds alternatively, as demographic demands changed. Increasing flexibility would support the utilisation of funds for SEND provision, including in mainstream settings.

(ii)       With regards to the approach to strategic planning of school places in relation to housing growth, a member asked how the Council planned for demand and whether the Authority, or developers, typically initiated proposals for new schools. The Director outlined that the Department continued to undertake planning by analysing live births, GP registrations, migration data, and ten‑year secondary projections. The fundings of such analysis were then aligned with local plans which allowed for an early assessment of likely future school capacity needs. Whilst developers often favoured new schools, the Council’s priority was to avoid destabilising existing provision, expanding existing schools where appropriate, and focussing on the importance of viable school size. Members noted that it was the Councils strategy that primary schools should not be built below two forms of entry, except where phased, and that secondary schools should be planned for a minimum of 900 places.

(iii)      Concerns raised regarding the sustainability of rural schools with particular focus on any potential closures and the impact on local communities. The Director provided assurance that a School Reorganisation Project was being established in order to assess sustainability across all schools, over a three-year period. It was anticipated that without action, deficits potentially totalling £45m–£50m could occur across vulnerable schools. It was anticipated that the equivalent of approximately 13 schools’ worth of primary school capacity would need to be removed over time. However, no specific schools had been proposed for closure at this stage. Members noted that possible mitigation solutions included amalgamations, expansion or reconfiguration, linking infant and junior schools, and brokerage involving Multi‑Academy Trusts. The Director agreed to provide the Committee with an update on the School Reorganisation Project, at a future meeting.

(iv)      Concern was also raised regarding secondary school capacity shortfall. It had been reported that around 2,000 additional places would be required within two years. The Director stated that mitigation included schools expanding without capital works, existing capital projects, and new builds where required. Additional capital funding had been agreed by the Council to support these capacity requirements. The Director agreed to provide members with information relating to mitigation plans.

RESOLVED:

(a)      That the draft School Places Strategy 2026–2031, which set out how  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Children and Family Services which provided an update on the Children and Family Services Department’s performance for the period July to September 2025 (Quarter 2). A copy of the report, marked ‘Agenda Item 11’, is filed with these minutes.

The Lead Member for Children and Families states that the report presented a balanced picture of both a service which was operating under unprecedented financial pressure whilst also continuing to provide for the children and families. He wished to place on record his thanks to all of the staff across the Service for both their hard work and their continued dedication. 

Arising from discussion, the following points were raised:

(i)        Members were pleased with clear improvements which had been demonstrated across the service, whilst acknowledging that further progress could still be made. A member stated that improved outcomes were particularly positive step given ongoing financial pressures and the nature of issues affecting some children and families.

(ii)       Concern was raised regarding Elective Home Education (EHE) as the number of children being electively home educated continued to rise. Particular concerns were raised regarding safeguarding, as home educated children could be less visible to services. The Director acknowledged that EHE remained an area of significant concern. While recognising that many families chose home education for positive reasons, others disengaged from the school system for more complex causes. Covid‑19 was still having an impact for some children who had struggled to re-engage with schools. Members noted that increasing levels of need in classrooms nationally and locally presented challenges for schools. Initiatives such as Universal Design for Learning, which encouraged flexible teaching approaches which anticipate diverse learner needs, would go towards addressing this issue. The Director outlined that a new Education Belonging Strategy would form an overarching framework relating to education improvement strategies. The Strategy aimed to ensure that children felt a sense of belonging within their school and the community. Work completed to date included a planned belonging conference in March 2026 and wider efforts in order to help schools meet a broader range of additional needs.

(iii)      A question was asked regarding the take-up of early years places, in relation to the extent of joint working with health professionals such as GPs and health visitors, who were often the first point of contact for new parents. The Director stated that health services had a duty to notify the authority where a child may have, or may develop, special educational needs, and strong working relationships existed between the Service and health visitors. Work was being undertaken in order to strengthen early years support further, including potential changes to the Service model in order to increase capacity, improve early engagement with families, and promote the benefits of early education.

RESOLVED:

That the update providing relating to the Children and Family Services Department’s performance for the period July to September 2025 (Quarter 2), be noted.

The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled to take place on 3 March 2026 at 14:00.

RESOLVED:

It was noted that the next meeting of the Committee would be held on 3 March at 14:00.