Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence and temporary appointments.

D Apologies were received from co-optees Katie N and Peace Nnaji.

Apologies were also received from Lisa Lyons, Director of Children’s Services, who was expected to arrive late.

See guidance note on the back page.

There were none.

The Committee is recommended to APPROVE the minutes of the meeting held on 11 July 2025 and to receive information arising from them.

The Committee APPROVED the minutes of the meeting held on 11 July 2025 as a true and accurate record, subject to the following amendments:

• Duplication Error: It was noted that two paragraphs in the minutes were duplicated due to a copy and paste error.

• Unclear Paragraph: The first non-italicised paragraph on page 3 was described as unclear regarding who invited whom and clarification was requested.

Members of the public who wish to speak on a substantive item on the agenda at this meeting can attend the meeting in person or ‘virtually’ through an online connection.

Requests to speak must be submitted no later than 9.00 a.m. three working days before the meeting, i.e., Tuesday 23 September, 2025.

Requests should be submitted to the Scrutiny Officer at scrutiny@oxfordshire.gov.uk.

If you are speaking ‘virtually’, you may submit a written statement of your presentation to ensure that if the technology fails, then your views can still be taken into account. A written copy of your statement can be provided no later than 9.00 a.m. on the day of the meeting. Written submissions should be no longer than 1 A4 sheet.

Where there are a number of requests from persons wishing to present similar views on the same issue, the Chair may require that the views be put by a single spokesperson. It is expected that only in exceptional circumstances will a person (or organisation) be allowed to address more than one meeting on a particular issue in any period of six months.

The public is reminded that the Committee is not a decision-making body and that it cannot investigate individual complaints.  The Committee requests that no individual children are named when addressing the Committee.

There were none.

The Committee has requested to receive the annual report for 2024/25 of the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership.

Cllr Sean Gaul, Cabinet member for Children and Young People, Lisa Lyons, the Director of Children’s Services, Annette Perrington, Interim Deputy Director: Education, and Laura Gadjus, Business Manager, have been invited to present the report and to answer the Committee’s questions.

The Committee is asked to consider the report and raise any questions, and to AGREE any recommendations it wishes to make to Cabinet arising therefrom.

Cllr Sean Gaul, Cabinet member for Children and Young People, Lisa Lyons, Director of Children’s Services, Carol Douch, Assistant Director Safeguard Quality Assurance Partner, Annette Perrington, Interim Deputy Director: Education, Jessie Dobson, Service Manager: Adolescence and Prevention, and Delia Mann, Deputy Director Children’s Social Care, were invited to present the report and to answer the Committee’s questions.

The Cabinet Member introduced the annual report emphasising safeguarding’s complexity and the Partnership’s commitment to supporting all children, especially those at risk, with oversight from the Independent Scrutineer. The Partnership’s focus on driving meaningful action was highlighted. The Assistant Director Safeguard Quality Assurance Partner presented the finalised report, detailing the ‘working together’ arrangement, recent leadership changes for improved accountability, and strengthening governance. Priority actions included multi-agency work on exploitation and neglect, and preparing for Families First changes.

The Committee raised the following questions and comments:

·       New screening tools for identifying neglect had only recently been introduced, so evidence of improved outcomes was not yet available. The tools were more concise and covered a broader range of neglect indicators, including emotional, educational, and medical needs. Practitioners across social care, health visiting, and schools were trained in using the Graded Care Profile 2, with usage tracked through performance reports. A home conditions tool was also introduced to standardise assessments. Development involved input from paediatricians and schools, and effectiveness would be monitored over the next year using key performance indicators across agencies and referral points.

·       How the multi-agency safeguarding arrangements were being embedded consistently across all organisations within the partnership, with a particular focus on how the partnership was addressing the issue of child-on-child exploitation. The Assistant Director Safeguard Quality Assurance Partner stated that arrangements aligned with national guidance, prioritising performance and quality assurance through multi-agency audits. Schools also played a crucial role, with positive engagement across the system and a commitment to scrutinising concerns and good practice. The Partnership worked with community safety groups, reviewed national research, and had a structured approach to early identification of vulnerability, particularly for children missing education. While child-on-child exploitation was not a major issue in Oxfordshire, vigilance remained, with specialist teams and ongoing initiatives supporting a wider group of children.

·       Members raised concerns about online exploitation and mobile phone use among children. The Assistant Director for Safeguarding highlighted strong collaboration with schools, including data sharing on missing children and multi-agency panels involving school safeguarding leads. The vulnerability of children not attending school was discussed, with emphasis on early identification and graduated support. Concerns about parental awareness led to calls for a county-wide campaign to educate and empower families. The complexity of digital safeguarding was acknowledged, with rapid technological change requiring support for both parents and children.

On mobile phone bans, it was noted that some authorities had introduced restrictions in schools, which improved safeguarding on-site. However, children not in school remained more vulnerable. National evidence suggested smartphones should not be unsupervised before age 14, yet very young children were often seen with them. The Committee concluded that, while banning  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47/25

The Committee has requested to receive the Youth Justice Annual Plan.

The Committee has invited Cllr Sean Gaul, Cabinet member for Children and Young People, Lisa Lyons, Director of Children’s Services, Annette Perrington, Interim Deputy Director: Education, Jessie Dobson, Service Manager: Adolescence and Prevention, have been invited to present the report and to answer the Committee’s questions.

The Committee is asked to consider the report and raise any questions, and to AGREE any recommendations it wishes to make to Cabinet arising therefrom.

The Committee invited Cllr Sean Gaul, Cabinet member for Children and Young People, Lisa Lyons, Director of Children’s Services, Carol Douch, Assistant Director Safeguard Quality Assurance Partner, Annette Perrington, Interim Deputy Director: Education, Jessie Dobson, Service Manager: Adolescence and Prevention, and Delia Mann, Deputy Director Children’s Social Care, to present the report and to answer the Committee’s questions.

The Cabinet member presented the annual youth justice plan discussing challenges for youth at risk, and emphasising prevention and restorative justice, supported by a young person's account. The Deputy Director of Children’s Social Care described the plan as a multi-agency initiative, highlighted issues like first-time entrants, disproportionality, and education, explained the inspection framework's increased emphasis on victims, and stressed targeted interventions, partnership work, and data analysis.

The Committee raised the following questions and comments:

·       Regarding the increase in SEND numbers, the correlation with mental health concerns, and the role of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in supporting young people with these needs. The Deputy Director Children’s Social Care explained that early identification of needs was key to ensuring appropriate support, and that a speech and language officer had recently been recruited as part of a preventative approach. It was noted that previously there had not always been preventative support before children entered the criminal justice system, and that this approach now extended to mental health. Additionally, it was confirmed that a CAMHS clinician sat on the Youth Justice Board, providing both consultation and direct work with families, ensuring a strong connection between CAMHS and youth justice services.

·       How mental health concerns and difficulties were recognised and addressed for children at risk of entering the youth justice system. Officers outlined that Oxfordshire had developed a multi-agency early help and prevention strategy, involving CAMHS, health services, and youth support teams, to identify and support children early. It was highlighted that there was a continuum of prevention, including parenting groups, targeted youth support, and clinical psychological input, ensuring that mental health needs were addressed from early help through to more intensive interventions, with close collaboration between services to support children at each stage.

·       What the role of Oxford Health and other mental health organisations was in supporting children and young people, particularly those who might not be known to social care but were in the health system due to mental health concerns. It was explained that Oxfordshire was developing a network of family hubs, which would provide universal and targeted provision, including mental health support, through multidisciplinary teams and closer links with schools and community services. It was acknowledged that while the ideal system was not yet fully in place, there was ongoing work to design integrated early help and prevention strategies in partnership with health colleagues, aiming to expand capacity and ensure equitable input from mental health partners.

·       What factors contributed to historically elevated crime rates among individuals aged 18-21, the identified trend of criminal behaviour emerging at increasingly younger ages, and relevant prevention strategies and indicators of deprivation. The Service Manager  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48/25

The Committee has requested a report on attendance.

Cllr Sean Gaul, Cabinet member for Children and Young People, Lisa Lyons, Director of Children’s Services, Annette Perrington, Interim Deputy Director: Education, Kim Wilson, Assistant Director: Schools and Settings (Standards, Effectiveness and Performance), and Jaswinder Disially, Assistant Director: Schools and Settings (Sufficiency), have been invited to present the report and to answer the Committee’s questions.

The Committee is asked to consider the report and raise any questions, and to AGREE any recommendations it wishes to make to Cabinet arising therefrom.

Cllr Sean Gaul, Cabinet member for Children and Young People, Lisa Lyons, Director of Children’s Services, Annette Perrington, Interim Deputy Director: Education, and Jaswinder Disially, Assistant Director: Schools and Settings (Sufficiency), were invited to present the report and to answer the Committee’s questions.

The Cabinet Member invited the Committee to provide advice or recommendations that could be supported with political backing.

The Assistant Director: Schools and Settings (Sufficiency) summarised the attendance team's structure, main functions, and operations. She outlined four focus areas: attendance improvement, licensing and compliance, elective home education support, and children missing education. The Assistant Director described their responsibilities, noted recent policy updates, and discussed monitoring strategies and collaboration with schools and parents.

The Committee raised the following questions and comments:

·       Availability of data comparing urban and rural attendance in Oxfordshire, and development of targeted strategies to improve attendance in each area. The Assistant Director: Schools and Settings (Sufficiency) agreed that presenting such data would be useful and stated that this matter would be included in future presentations, highlighting consideration of the distinct challenges found in urban and rural areas.  

·       The Assistant Director: Schools and Settings (Sufficiency) explained that she was particularly interested in the transition period for parents and acknowledged the value of collecting parental feedback. The Assistant Director agreed it would be beneficial to capture this information and consider expanding the approach if it proved effective.

·       The discussion included whether there were any schools with notably good attendance and what practices contributed to their results for possible implementation elsewhere. The Assistant Director: Schools and Settings (Sufficiency) responded that current efforts had focused primarily on schools with low attendance but acknowledged the importance of also identifying and learning from schools with high attendance. It was noted that some schools, within and outside the county, were recognised for strong attendance, and that hubs were being established to facilitate sharing of best practices.

·       The Interim Deputy Director: Education explained that attendance related to wider issues like exploitation, exclusion, and youth justice involvement. She noted that new post-pandemic guidance emphasised multi-agency work and increased local authority responsibility for tracking attendance. Improved data helped to identify students with persistent absences, but challenges remained, especially regarding mental health and parental choices.

The Committee is recommended to AGREE its work programme for forthcoming meetings, having heard any changes from previous iterations, and taking account of the Cabinet Forward Plan and of the Budget Management Monitoring Report, as well as of the report submitted at item 6 to the Performance & Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny  Committee on Friday 12 September 2025, https://mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=1172&MId=7845

The Cabinet Forward Plan can be found here: https://mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk/mgListPlanItems.aspx?PlanId=448&RP=115

The most recent BMMR, submitted to Cabinet in March 2025, can be found here: https://mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=115&MId=7477&Ver=4

The Committee AGREED to the forward work plan.

The Director of Children’s Services suggested including the virtual school annual report and a provisional attainment update in the November forward plan, as final exam data will not be available until February.

The SEND Area inspection monitoring visit was taking place from 15 September 2025-2 October 2025.  The resulting report was unlikely to be available before Christmas but the Director would discuss with the Scrutiny Officer when it would be possible to report to the Committee.

A "lessons learned review" of Woodeaton Manor School was proposed and agreed to by the Committee.  The terms of reference for the review group would be drafted and presented for the Committee’s approval at its November meeting.

The Committee is recommended to NOTE the progress of previous recommendations and actions arising from previous meetings, having raised any questions on the contents.

The Committee NOTED the action and recommendation tracker.

Attached are the Cabinet responses to the Education and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee reports on:

·       The Children’s Homes Update

·       The Education Other Than At School policy

·       S.19 of the Education Act: Response To The Report Of The Local Government And Social Care Ombudsman

·       Home to School Transport Policy

The Committee is asked to NOTE the response.

The Committee NOTED the Cabinet responses to Education and Young People Overview and Scrutiny recommendations on:

·       The Children’s Homes Update

·       The Education Other Than At School policy

·       S.19 of the Education Act: Response To The Report Of The Local Government And Social Care Ombudsman

·       Home to School Transport Policy

The timing of the EOTAS guidance briefing would be coordinated between the Director of Children’s Services and Scrutiny Officer.