Children, Families and Education Committee update
The Children, Families and Education Committee for Wirral Council met at Wallasey Town Hall on Wednesday 5 March 2025.
The full agenda for this committee meeting is available on the council website - the meeting was also live webcast and can be watched back online via the link on the agenda.
Items on the agenda included:
Children's Services Performance Report
Full details can be found in the committee report
This report provides the latest performance information for the Children’s, Families and Education Directorate.
Committee members noted the content of the performance report and discussed any areas requiring further clarification or action.
Summary of Standards - Outcomes for Early Years, Phonics, Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 4
Full details can be found in the committee report
This report includes a detailed analysis of pupil outcomes and analyses the outcomes geographically across Wirral. The contents will be linked to a refresh of the priorities in relation to the borough’s school improvement strategy.
Members noted the report and advised their support of the service priorities to support the school improvement strategy.
2024/25 Budget Monitoring Report for Quarter 3
Full details can be found in the committee report
This report sets out the financial monitoring information for the Children, Families and Education Committee as at Quarter 3 (31 December) of 2024/25. The report provides members with an overview of budget performance, including progress on the delivery of the 2024/25 saving programme and a summary of reserves and balances.
At the end of Quarter 3, there is a forecast adverse position of £9.657m on the revenue budget of Children, Families and Education revised net revenue budget of £97.297m. Members noted the contents of the report and discussed the urgent need to examine all available options to address the position.
The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill Overview Report
Full details can be found in the committee report
This report provides an overview of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill 2024-25. The aim of this report is to raise awareness of the bill, associated timescales, and next steps for Wirral. The bill stems from the Government’s ‘Plan for Change’, under the mission ‘Break Down Barriers to Opportunity’.
The committee noted the overview and agreed to receive further updates, as the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill 2024 progresses to Royal Assent and implementation.
Care Programme
Full details can be found in the committee report
This report gives an overview of activity undertaken as part of the Care Programme, a scheme aiming to safely reduce the reliance on residential care placements by, wherever possible, enabling children and young people to be raised by their families, within their family network, or in a family environment. The Committee noted and endorsed the progress to date of the Care Programme
Additional Flexibilities (Technical Qualifications) for Adult Education Functions in the Liverpool City Region
Full details can be found in the committee report
This report outlines how the Department for Education is seeking agreement to enable combined authorities to fund new, high quality, technical qualifications to adult learners, alongside others that are already available to them.
The committee agreed with the recommendations set out in the report.
SEND Improvement
Full details can be found in the committee report
This report provided an update on the improvement programme for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) for the Local Area in Wirral. The report covered the period from mid-January 2025.
The committee noted the progress of the Local Area SEND Partnership Board in tackling system improvement as required by the Department for Education’s (DfE) Improvement Notice.
Children, Families and Education Committee work programme update
Full details can be found in the committee report
The Children, Young People and Education Committee is responsible for proposing and delivering an annual committee work programme. This work programme should align with the corporate priorities of the Council, in particular the delivery of the key decisions which are within the remit of the committee. This report allows the committee the opportunity to plan and regularly review its work across the municipal year
Members discussed the proposed Children, Young People and Education Committee work programme for the remainder of the 2024/25 municipal year.
