Education and Children's Services Cabinet Portfolio

The Directorate is on an improvement journey, and we continue to strengthen services for children, young people and their families. Whilst there is more to do, we are confident in our understanding and knowledge of what needs to be done.

The recruitment and retention of a permanent stable workforce rightly remains the top priority in the local authority’s improvement plan. Recruitment continues to be one of the most significant challenges facing the service.

The service has shown high levels of resilience over the last 16 months and has continued to improve despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and significant demand led pressures.

However, the volume and nature of work in the system has reached unprecedented levels. Despite this being achieved to date, there is a risk this may not be sustained if demand continues to grow.

Another challenge is the continued rise in the number of children with an Education, Health and Care Plan.

Improvements are required in both social work practice and SEND.

Another challenge is improving the educational outcomes for disadvantaged children, especially those:

• in care
• eligible for free school meals
• with special educational needs
• from minority ethnic groups and traveller heritage