The Panel will consider a verbal update on the performance highlights from the latest Children’s Services data report covering period ending 31st October 2025.
Contact: Jo-Anne Sanders, Service Director
Vicky Metheringham, Service Director
Minutes:
Vicky Metheringham, Service Director – Child Protection & Family Support gave an update on performance data in response to questions from the Panel:
· Child Protection Review (CPR) Conferences - There had been a decline of 5% in performance from August to October around timescales for CPR Conferences, with October’s data showing 92% compliance. The service conducted 75 CPR Conferences in July 2025, as some were brought forward from August to ensure that enough agencies attended, and that meetings would be quorate. 18 CPR Conferences were held in August 2025, and 54 in October 2025. 4 of the 54 cases were out of timescales in October 2025. These were rescheduled either due to the lack of availability of partners, an interpreter or because parents needed an alternative date. CPR reviews were scheduled at initial or repeat Child Protection Conferences to maximise the possibility of attendance but on rare occasions availability of participants caused delays in timeliness.
· Care Leavers – 56% of Care Leavers were engaged in education, training and employment (rising to 63% if those not engaging due to illness or caring responsibilities were not included in the figures). These percentages were above national averages and statistical neighbours but ambitions remained high for care leavers in Kirklees. Opportunities were being maximised through apprenticeships, high rates of keeping in touch (96.8%) and the support being provided at Number 11 and Number 12.
· Children at Risk of Exploitation – 142 children were at risk of sexual or criminal exploitation, down from 159 the previous month, and 8 assessments were overdue. The average length of overdue assessments was 25 days, with the longest being overdue by two months. All the children at risk had an allocated worker who saw them regularly and frequently and there was good oversight of all the children through weekly performance meetings with service managers and heads of service, daily risk, exploitation and missing meetings, and a monthly exploitation screening panel.
Jo-Anne Sanders presented highlights on November data and answered questions from the Panel:
· EHCP compliance - At the end of October this was 57.4% and last year's national average was 45.9%. There were spikes in requests to assess in June and July again this year, just before the summer holidays for schools and ways of managing this next year were being considered, as it was likely to impact on timeliness compliance in early 2026.
· There were issues with the data regarding information on exclusions, elective home education, and part-time timetables as a result of glitches in the system, however they were all being monitored closely.
· Exclusions - these were monitored on a fortnightly basis by SLT and work was ongoing in putting support around excluded young people. At the end of November there had been 46 notifications of permanent exclusions, of which five were withdrawn, so the total number of excluded youngsters was 41, an increase compared to the same period last year.
· Analysis was being undertaken to see what could be put in place, particularly with regard to day six provision, to ensure that children had their educational needs met from the 6th day of exclusion. Work would be undertaken with headteachers across Yorkshire and the Humber on sector led improvement in association with the University of Oxford to look at a range of solution-focused strategies for inclusion in schools.
· Elective Home Education - The number of children electively home-educated at some point in the academic year 2024/2025 was 1320. On 10th December there were 920, as many had returned to education or moved out of the area. Some children and families were being supported by the Child Missing in Education team to try and secure a school place, this was actively monitored in line with statutory duties.
· Part-time Timetables/Reduced Timetables – These were used by schools to facilitate the reintegration of pupils after a period of absence, and schools were now required to record these, allowing benchmarking locally and nationally. 171 notifications were received in October 2025, compared to 175 in October 2024, so there had been no large increases and checks were made with schools to ensure these were put in place appropriately.
· When electively home educated students moved area they were followed up by the Child Missing in Education team at Kirklees to ensure that they were handed across appropriately. There were reciprocal arrangements with other local authorities.
RESOLVED –
That the verbal reports be noted and officers thanked for their contributions.