Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence and temporary appointments.

Apologies were received from Cllr Heritage, with Cllr Fletcher substituting. Apologies were also received from the co-opted members Katie N and Peace Nnaji.

Cllr John Shiri attended online as a guest of the Chair.

See guidance note on the back page.

There were none.

The Committee is recommended to APPROVE the minutes of the meeting held on 28^th March 2025, and, 20^th May 2025, and to receive information arising from them.

The minutes for the meetings on 28 March 2025 and 20 May 2025 were APPROVED as true and accurate records.

Members of the public who wish to speak on an 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 10 June, 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.

Cllr Phillips, as the member for Barton, Sandhills & Risinghurst, addressed concerns about reduction of bus services for children attending Wheatley Park School, and concerns about the safety of their children who would need to cross the dual carriageway without a pedestrian crossing. Cllr Phillips also raised concerns over the safety of the cycle path.

Kimberly Morgan highlighted systemic failings by Oxfordshire County Council in supporting SEND children, referencing 13 cases upheld by the Local Government Ombudsman. She emphasised the need for a fit-for-purpose action plan and trauma-informed approaches, urging the Committee to ensure the proposed policies genuinely meet the needs of SEND children.

Anita Steptoe shared her experience as a mother of a child with autism and developmental delays, detailing the failures in handling her son's EHCP and the distress caused by inadequate support. She called for an apology from the Council and urged the Committee to ensure no other parent endures similar hardships.

Claire Brenner, speaking on behalf of the Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS) working group, discussed the need for detailed, comprehensive guidance on EOTAS, expressing concerns about the current draught policy and its lack of clarity. She emphasised the importance of trauma-informed approaches and urged the Committee to ensure the policy and guidance are co-produced with parents and reflect their needs.

Neil Barry, speaking as a parent of a former Woodeaton student, described the decline of Woodeaton Manor School, attributing it to the exodus of over fifty staff members and the failure of the interim governing board. He referred to early visits by the Chief Executive of the Propeller Academy Trust and alleged conflicts of interest among governors.

Melody Drinkwater addressed the Committee on behalf of Oxfordshire SEND Parent Action and set out the group’s concerns about the Council's response to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) directive for section 19. She emphasised the trauma experienced by the SEND community and called for measures to mitigate harm and address unmet needs. Ms Drinkwater expressed disappointment with the lack of co-production in the latest plan and urged the Committee to consider an extraordinary meeting with stakeholders before the next Cabinet meeting in July.

Katie Squires described her son's experience at Woodeaton Manor School. Initially supportive, the school faced issues when the headteacher took leave, leading to staffing problems and reduced timetables. High staff turnover caused disruption, triggering her son's anxiety and self-harm. Essential therapies ceased, and parent communication declined. Ms Squires withdrew her son, who lacked alternative provision for seven months. She called for accountability and highlighted the impact of this situation.

Nadine Haigh shared her experience as a full-time caregiver to two teenagers needing EOTAS packages. She requested a short-term deferral of the draft EOTAS policy for genuine consultation with parents.

D/Cllr Sally Whiteman explained that she had sat on the Committee until the May 2025 election and expressed concerns about the lack of communication from Woodeaton about future plans and lack of transparency over the dealings of Woodeaton.  She encouraged the Committee to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26/25

The Ombudsman has required the Council to report to the Committee presenting its review outcome and action plan so that the Committee can decide how progress against the plan should be monitored.

The Leader of the Council, Cllr Liz Leffman, will present the report and be accompanied by Lisa Lyons, Director of Children’s Services, and Kate Reynolds, Deputy Director of Education and Inclusion.

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 Leader of the Council, Cllr Liz Leffman, attended to present the Council’s response to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s (LGSCO) report and was accompanied by Lisa Lyons, Director of Children’s Services, Kate Reynolds, Deputy Director of Education and Inclusion, and Deborah Smit, Assistant Director of SEND and Inclusion.  The report set out learning from complaints to the Council relating to s.19 provision and the process of developing the Council’s s.19 approach and Pathway of Action to manage applications for provision following 15 days of school absence.

The Leader of the Council acknowledged the importance of addressing the issues raised by the Ombudsman's report on Section 19. She thanked all those who had addressed the Committee for their feedback on all items and stressed the importance of getting all the policies under consideration right.

The Director of Children’s Services explained the requirement to comply with the Ombudsman's directives and the challenges faced in meeting the 15-day timeframe for alternative education provision. She acknowledged difficulties in either returning children to school or providing alternative provision within the specified period and highlighted the need for staff training to address these issues.

The Committee sought assurance that those whose complaints had been upheld had received an apology and was advised that an apology and remedy were issued within the process of responding to the Ombudsman’s process, often before the formal upholding of complaints. The discussion highlighted that the cases spanned the last five years, during which a pattern of not taking having taken decisive legal action was identified.

Members sought clarification about the requirement to provide alternative provision (AP) within 15 days, and raised concerns that starting legal action against the family would be counterproductive. The Deputy Director acknowledged this concern and explained that the legislation required either the child to return to school or alternative provision to be arranged within 15 days. If neither was achieved, the Council must prosecute the parents for non-attendance, which had been a difficult position for staff who aimed to prioritise the child's needs.

Members raised concerns about the action plan's lack of Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART) outcomes. The Deputy Director stated that the current plan met the Ombudsman’s requirements, with detailed targets to follow in a forthcoming policy. Whilst outlining necessary actions, it lacked specific metrics. Members also asked about the process flowchart's users and its scope.

The Deputy Director explained it was for officers dealing with children not attending school due to varied reasons like medical issues or exclusions. The flowchart aimed to clarify processes for legal compliance. The Council initially drafted it and would consult schools for agreement.  It was complex but that was because the process was complex.  It was intended for officers to use rather than being intended for the public.

A question was raised about making policy effective and measurable, and whether there was an element of co-design to keep children in education. The Deputy Director explained that the alternative education provision working group was working  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27/25

Cabinet will be asked to approve the revised Home to School Transport Policy on 17 June 2025.  The Committee had asked to consider the report before it was submitted to Cabinet.  The Committee has therefore been provided with the report and annexes which Cabinet is expected to consider.

The Leader of the Council, Cllr Liz Leffman, will attend accompanied by Lisa Lyons, Director of Children’s Services, Kate Reynolds, Deputy Director of Education and Inclusion, and Stephen Good, Home to School Transport Programme Manager.

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 Leader of the Council, Cllr Liz Leffman, attended accompanied by Lisa Lyons, Director of Children’s Services, Kate Reynolds, Deputy Director of Education and Inclusion, and Stephen Good, Home to School Transport Programme Manager, to present the Home to School Transport Policy before it was to be submitted to Cabinet for its approval on 17 June 2025.

The Leader highlighted that this was the first consultation on the policy in ten years  and reminded the Committee that, whilst a financial contribution from families for post-16 travel had been consulted on, it had been decided not to pursue this proposal.

The Programme Manager's presentation on Home to School Transport highlighted the public consultation undertaken between January and March 2025, addressing four key areas. The goal was to align the policy with the Department for Education’s guidelines and to make it user-friendly for officers, parents, and schools. Out of 649 responses, many supported wording changes and improvements. However, there were objections to contribution charges due to the cost-of-living crisis, limited SEND resources, and potential educational barriers. The policy refresh aimed to simplify aspects without altering service eligibility or provision.

Members expressed concerns about the seeming rigidity of the home-to-school transport system, sharing experiences of using different transport methods for one family. They suggested that a more flexible and individual approach could save money. The Programme Manager agreed and said that the Council was considering personal transport budgets to provide flexibility. He also noted that offering budgets for parents to take their children to school could reduce transport costs and improve family integration.

Members raised concerns about the perceived unfairness in the county-wide policy and asked if officers were aware of where issues remain unresolved, as well as how often the policy was reviewed. The Programme Manager acknowledged recurring issues such as spare seats, split villages, and communication about transport changes. He mentioned ongoing efforts to address these through business-as-usual operations and closer collaboration with schools. The Deputy Director clarified that the policy was reviewed annually, unless changes in legislation necessitated earlier updates.

Members questioned the impact of transport policies on rural areas in Oxfordshire, highlighting the high cost of school buses and the removal of the spare seats scheme, which exacerbated inequalities and challenges for families in isolated villages. The Programme Manager acknowledged the challenges faced by rural communities and the need for broader integration across transport policies to ensure these areas were not isolated.

The Programme Manager mentioned that while the home-to-school transport policy covered statutory provisions, there was a need for wider community support and better communication to mitigate the impact of changes. The Programme Manager also noted that the removal of the spare seats scheme had been a recurring issue, and efforts were being made to address it responsibly and ensure families were informed and supported during transitions.

Members inquired about the rising costs of the home-to-school transport service and the potential need for difficult decisions in the future. Members also requested information on the demographics of people using  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28/25

The Committee considered a draft Education Otherwise Than At School policy at its meeting on 22 November 2024.  In accordance with the Committee’s recommendation, the draft policy has been revised.  The Committee had requested that it review the draft policy before it is submitted to Cabinet.  The policy is currently expected to be considered by Cabinet at its meeting on 15 July 2025.

The Leader of the Council, Cllr Liz Leffman, will attend accompanied by Lisa Lyons, Director of Children’s Services, and Kate Reynolds, Deputy Director of Education and Inclusion.

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 Leader of the Council, Cllr Liz Leffman, accompanied by Lisa Lyons, Director of Children’s Services, Kate Reynolds, Deputy Director of Education and Inclusion, and Deborah Smit, Assistant Director of SEND and Inclusion, presented the latest Draft Education Other Than At School (EOTAS) policy.

The Leader acknowledged the feedback from the working group and emphasised the importance of having a policy in place for EOTAS. She stressed the need to get the policy right and mentioned that while feedback was welcome, it was crucial to resolve the policy in a timely fashion. The Leader noted that the work on this policy has been ongoing for a year and expressed the desire to finalise it quickly.

The Deputy Director presented the draft policy and the draft parents’ guide for EOTAS, noting that the parents’ guide was still being worked on. She emphasised the importance of having a framework for officers, parents, families, and children to understand what EOTAS was and what it entailed. The policy aimed to ensure fairness and transparency. The Deputy Director mentioned that the policy was modelled on good practices from other local authorities and recommended agreeing to the policy while accepting that it may need adjustments once implemented. She highlighted the urgency of having a policy to be compliant, as the lack of an EOTAS policy was noted in the 2023 SEND inspection.

Members inquired about the timeline for finalising the draft parents’ guide and whether the Committee would have the opportunity to review the guide prior to its submission to the Cabinet. They also questioned the extent of co-production involved in developing the guide. The Deputy Director clarified that they were collaborating with the Oxfordshire Parent Carer Forum (OxPCF) to organise working sessions, with the goal of completing a final draft by the end of June. The Deputy Director further elaborated on the collaborative efforts with parents and carers, noting that the policy and guidance were being co-produced through approximately 10 meetings with various groups, including the EOTAS Support Group and OxPCF. Additionally, a listening event was held last September, and both health colleagues and an external lawyer had contributed to the process.

The Committee also sought clarification on which other Councils' practices were looked at when developing the EOTAS policy. The Deputy Director specifically cited, the modelled good practices of, Camden and Islington as examples.

The Committee discussed whether guidance should be written and presented at the same time as the policy or, alternatively, if the policy was required before guidance could be provided on the policy. The Committee discussed the importance of having the policy in place promptly to ensure compliance and transparency. It was agreed that the policy should be finalised quickly while allowing time for parent carers to provide input on the guidance.

Members raised concerns about the substantial increase in the number of children receiving EOTAS over the last few years and the high cost associated with it. The Deputy Director clarified that there were, at the time, 60 children and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29/25

The Committee has requested an update on Woodeaton Manor School.

The Leader of the Council, Cllr Liz Leffman, will attend and be accompanied by Lisa Lyons, Director of Children’s Services, and Kate Reynolds, Deputy Director of Education and Inclusion.

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 Leader of the Council, Cllr Liz Leffman, presented an update on Woodeaton Manor School. The Leader was accompanied by Lisa Lyons, Director of Children’s Services, Kate Reynolds, Deputy Director of Education and Inclusion, and Deborah Smit, Assistant Director of SEND and Inclusion.

The Deputy Director presented a comprehensive report on resolving the outstanding issues at Woodeaton Manor School, covering autumn 2023 to May 2025.  However, she warned that the departure of several officers during 2023 affected the report's robustness. Initial concerns about student safety and the school's leadership were identified in summer 2023 by school improvement partners and communicated to the administration. The Grade II* listed building posed safeguarding challenges due to insufficient investments. An Ofsted inspection rated the school as inadequate, leading to its mandated academisation by the year's end. In January 2025, the Council formed a service level agreement with Propeller Academy Trust for effective management. A monitoring visit in March 2025 showed significant operational improvements.

The Committee inquired about the current pupil outcomes at Woodeaton and what transitional support had been offered to the students. The Deputy Director responded that the leadership and management at the school, along with Propeller Academy Trust, have been providing significant support to the students. It was also mentioned that Ofsted noted substantial improvements in the school's operations.

The Committee inquired about accusations against Woodeaton's governing board, such as lack of investment and conflicts of interest. The Deputy Director stated that, following the foundation governing board's resignation in autumn 2023 and the school's forced academisation, an interim executive board was monitored monthly. In January 2025, a service level agreement with Propeller Academy Trust was established to enhance board capacity and support. Immediate actions were taken to address governance issues and ensure strong leadership. The Director confirmed ongoing Council efforts to monitor and support the school's leadership.

The Committee was concerned that the BBC had learned about Woodeaton’s plans to move site before parents. The Deputy Director explained that the BBC's article had picked up the information when the agenda was published for this Committee. After learning about the article, the Council informed Propeller Academy Trust and the Interim Transition Board, who then updated parents and the community. The Deputy Director confirmed that the Council always aimed to keep parents, and the community, informed about important developments, including delays in academisation due to site issues.

The Committee discussed the high staff turnover at Woodeaton, including the headteacher's departure, and asked about measures to prevent future staff losses impacting timetables. The Deputy Director stated that monthly meetings with the Interim Transition Board or headteacher and chair of governance ensured prompt issue resolution. She highlighted Woodeaton's unique complexity as the last foundation school in a listed building. The Assistant Director of SEND and Inclusion added that extra support such as speech therapy, educational psychology, and staff supervision aimed to stabilise the school and maintain pupils' education despite staff turnover.

The Deputy Director explained that the current site was not fit for purpose. The Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30/25

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.

The Cabinet Forward Plan can be found here: https://mycouncil.oxfordshire.gov.uk/mgListPlanItems.aspx?PlanId=433&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 NOTE the forward plan and discuss fully the work programme at a subsequent meeting. The Director of Children Services encouraged the Committee to engage in the wide range of children’s services, especially in the legislative changes in children’s services, adoption and corporate parenting.

The Chair also warned the Committee of a short item for the July meeting on School meals and services, led by Lorna Baxter, Executive Director of Resources and Section 151 Officer. The Committee AGREED to receive the item in July.

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.

Cabinet is expected to approve the attached draft response to the Committee’s recommendations at its meeting on 17^th June 2025.

The Committee NOTED the draft Cabinet response on the Local Area Partnership SEND update.