Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence and temporary appointments.

Apologies were received from Katie N.

See guidance note on the back page.

Cllr Markham declared a non-pecuniary interest, in relation to the Fostering item.

The Committee is recommended to APPROVE the minutes of the meeting held on 26 September 2025 and to receive information arising from them.

The Committee APPROVED the minutes of the meeting held on 26 September 2025, as a true and accurate record.

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

Requests to speak must be submitted no later than 9 a.m. three working days before the meeting, i.e., 18 November 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 9am 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 a report on attainment including attainment gaps.

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 Kim Wilson, Assistant Director: Schools and Settings – Standards, Effectiveness, and Performance , 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.

Report to follow

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 Kim Wilson, Assistant Director: Schools and Settings – Standards, Effectiveness, and Performance (ADSS), were invited to present the report and to answer the Committee’s questions.

The Assistant Director presented provisional, unvalidated attainment data, explaining that, whilst Oxfordshire’s attainment score of 46.2 was marginally above the national average (45.9), progress could not be measured owing to pandemic-related exam cancellations. She noted that white British children in Oxfordshire achieved at or above national levels across key metrics; however, disadvantaged children, particularly disadvantaged white British children, continued to lag behind, widening the attainment gap. The Assistant Director stressed that schools account for only around 20% of children’s outcomes, with wider factors such as family health and deprivation having significant effects.

Members engaged in a wide-ranging discussion about the interventions available to support schools with attainment challenges. The Council’s approach involved categorising schools by need, with improvement advisers working across more than 130 maintained schools. Those requiring strategic support benefited from tailored interventions, such as lead reviews and strategy meetings, while all schools have access to a school improvement partner. Intensive help was provided for those with greater needs, especially in leadership and governance, and new headteachers received mentoring. Finance and Special Educational Needs (SEN) teams also contributed to the support package. The Committee noted a strong emphasis on early years reading and writing, with ambitious targets to narrow the disadvantage gap, and initiatives like free book distribution to encourage reading.

Collaboration with external organisations was highlighted, particularly the Council’s work with the Dolly Parton Foundation and the Welcome project, which addressed both literacy and child health. The conversation reflected on the importance of foundational skills in early reading and writing, recognising that development in these areas extended beyond formal instruction. Some Members voiced concerns about the risks of starting formal literacy too early, especially compared to international practices. The upcoming 2025 curriculum and assessment review was seen as an opportunity to modernise the curriculum, with a renewed focus on the arts.

Creativity and the arts were recognised as vital for child development, and Members considered how multi-agency interventions might reflect the growing emphasis on these areas. Schools would need to adapt to curriculum changes, and collaboration between safeguarding, education, and virtual school teams was seen as essential. The new inspection framework was identified as a key driver for schools to respond to evolving educational priorities.

Ambitious targets for good levels of development among children were discussed, with Oxfordshire aiming for 77.8%, surpassing the national average. The Cabinet Member drew attention to significant inequalities, particularly for children eligible for free school meals, whose development rates lagged behind their peers. He stressed the importance of closing this gap and described ongoing efforts to address disparities through strategic planning and collaboration within the Children’s Trust Board.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on attainment scores and progress measurement was another focus.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57/25

The Committee has requested a report on the Virtual School.

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 Clare Pike, Head of the Virtual School, 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.

Report to follow

Cllr Sean Gaul, Cabinet member for Children and Young People, Lisa Lyons, the Director of Children’s Services, Charlotte Davey, Assistant Director, and Annette Perrington, Interim Deputy Director: Education, were invited to present the report and to answer the Committee’s questions.

The Interim Deputy Director presented a retrospective report on the virtual school, reviewing the 2024/25 academic year with a focus on the progress and attainment of children in care and care leavers. She explained that, while the virtual school’s remit had expanded to include support for children with social workers and those in kinship care, the report concentrated on its core statutory responsibilities. The main priorities identified were ensuring suitable school placements, improving attendance and reducing absences, supporting educational progress, and encouraging participation in cultural activities.

The Interim Deputy Director highlighted notable improvements, such as a reduction in the time children spent out of school following placement moves and an increase in the number of care leavers progressing to higher education. She reported that attendance rates in both primary and secondary phases were either above or improving on national averages, and that there had been a decrease in persistent absences and suspensions, with only one permanent exclusion recorded during the year.

The Interim Deputy Director emphasised the significance of trauma-informed practice and the ongoing training of designated teachers. While acknowledging the positive direction of travel, she concluded that the identified priorities would remain for the coming year due to persistent challenges.

During the discussion, Members sought clarification on the effectiveness of partnerships supporting the virtual school, requesting examples and information on how their impact was monitored. In response, the Interim Deputy Director explained that the strength of partnerships varied, particularly between in-county and out-of-county placements. She cited strong regional collaboration through the National Association of Virtual School Heads (NAVSH), which had proved instrumental in overcoming barriers for children placed outside Oxfordshire, and also referenced close working relationships with health professionals and the Corporate Parenting Board. The Director added that the virtual school maintained robust links with the Youth Offending Partnership Board and provided integrated support, including in-house psychological services, to ensure effective collaboration for vulnerable children.

Further points were raised regarding persistent absences among children supported by the virtual school, with particular interest in the actions that had contributed to reducing these rates and how the Council might further improve to meet the national average. The Interim Deputy Director explained that attendance had been a central focus, with each child’s attendance discussed at personal education plan meetings to identify and address barriers. She stressed the importance of targeted, individual interventions, reasonable adjustments, and multi-professional collaboration. The Director and Assistant Director added that social care teams closely monitored absences on a weekly basis, worked directly with families and carers, and utilised support services to encourage attendance, attributing improvements to this detailed, hands-on approach.

The Committee also explored how the system supported the Council as corporate parent in fulfilling informal parental duties, such as attending parents’ evenings and engaging at the school  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58/25

The Committee has requested a report on the fostering service. 

Cllr Sean Gaul, Cabinet member for Children and Young People, Lisa Lyons, Director of Children’s Services, Delia Mann, Deputy Director of Children’s Social Care, Charlotte Davey, Assistant Director, and Julie McNally, Service Manager: Fostering, 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, Charlotte Davey, Assistant Director, and Julie McNally, Service Manager: Fostering, were invited to present the report and to answer the Committee’s questions. 

The Assistant Director outlined the fostering service’s scope, covering mainstream fostering, kinship care, relief carers, and special guardianship assessments. Kinship carers, often relatives or friends, commonly took on care roles unexpectedly. The service saw a reduction in registered foster carers in 2024/25, mainly due to retirements and adoptions. In response, a Fostering Improvement Board was formed to address standards. Persistent challenges remained in recruiting carers for adolescents, sibling groups, and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. Recruitment, training, and support had been prioritised, with successes including bringing children formerly placed out of county back to Oxfordshire families.

The Director addressed the specific difficulties faced by the Council in fostering, noting that the county, like others nationally, had experienced a decline in foster carers. Only children with complex needs were entering care, necessitating careful matching. The Council was found to have fewer fostering and residential beds compared to other areas, a situation partly attributed to higher property costs, which made it more difficult to attract independent providers. Nevertheless, the service’s offer was described as highly competitive, with remuneration and support packages comparable to those in London, alongside a robust training programme. Additional options included fostering-friendly policies, flexible and respite care, and enhanced support for kinship carers and those under special guardianship orders.

Concerns were raised regarding the fact that nearly twice as many foster carers were leaving the Oxfordshire system as were joining, and the implications this held for future recruitment. The 2024/25 report indicated a high proportion of carers over the age of 50, with many departing for personal reasons such as retirement and financial pressures. Efforts to attract younger carers had been undertaken, including locality campaigns, word-of-mouth referrals, and financial incentives. The appointment of a marketing officer aimed to address the recruitment gap and the shortfall in provision for specific groups.

It was clarified that kinship carers had always existed, but recent government recognition highlighted that their support had been lacking nationally. The Council had responded by establishing a dedicated team for kinship carers, offering bespoke support and matching fostering allowances for those transitioning to permanent arrangements. This initiative had led to a significant increase in special guardianships.

It was explained that “personal circumstances” as a reason for foster carers leaving the service encompassed a wide range of factors, not limited to kinship carers. These included retirement, adoption, and other individual situations. While conversions from kinship to permanent arrangements had not significantly contributed to deregistrations in 2024/25, it was anticipated that this trend might become more apparent in future years as more carers transitioned to permanent roles.

Further clarification was provided regarding the meaning of “standards of care” in relation to foster carer deregistrations. It was emphasised that this term covered various scenarios, such as carers developing health issues, experiencing increased stress, or  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59/25

The Committee has received a report updating it on co-opted membership.  The Committee is recommended to: -

1.1  NOTE the update on activity undertaken to fill the Committee’s vacant co-optee post for a parent governor;

1.2  AGREE to terminate Hana G’s appointed as a co-opted young person members; and, if agreed,

1.3  AGREE to begin a recruitment process for the subsequently vacant post.

The Committee received a report updating them on the co-opted membership. The Committee NOTED recommendation 1.1 and AGREED to recommendations 1.2 and 1.3.

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.

After initially discussing holding an additional meeting in December 2025, the Committee resolved to add an additional meeting in January 2026 to consider the SEND Local Area Partnership report and the refreshed Priority Action Plan.  The Committee agreed that the EOTAS Guidance could also be considered at that meeting.

The Committee also decided that the Oxfordshire Education Inclusion Partnership strategy and related items, such as safeguarding in schools and the curriculum review, could be scheduled for February and March, with flexibility to adjust timings as needed. The policy review was suggested for the summer.

The Committee agreed that the Scrutiny Officer and the Director should discuss practicalities of timings, in consultation with the Chair.

The Committee AGREED its forward work programme.

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 School Catering Services and Corporate Cleaning Services, and the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children’s Partnership Annual Report. The Committee is asked to NOTE the responses.

The Committee NOTED the cabinet responses to the Education and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee reports on School Catering Services and Corporate Cleaning Services, and the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children’s Partnership Annual Report.