NORTH YORKSHIRE COUNCIL

18 MARCH 2026

STATEMENT OF CHAIR FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

Since the last Full Council, there have been two committee meetings.

Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee: 17 December 2025

Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee 17 December 2025

Public Statements

There were no public questions or statements.

Feedback from the Executive on 18 November 2025

I was unable to attend the meeting; however, prior to it, I met with the Young People’s Member Champion, and we agreed on the questions she would put to the Executive Members. Councillor Baker updated the committee on the issues she raised, and the responses provided.

North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (NYSCP) Annual Report 2024- 2025

The Chair of NYSCP and the Independent Scrutineer explained how the multi‑agency teams work together and receive frequent updates. Children provide regular feedback, primarily through the Growing Up in North Yorkshire Survey, which allows year-on-year comparisons and enables targeted work to address areas of concern.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Notice of Motion

The Motion to request that the Leader of the Council write to the Secretary of State to ask that the SEND review consider eradicating profits of equity backed private providers and provide strong financial oversight of providers was discussed. The Motion was not supported.

Approach to, and use of, Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Children's Services

We received a very informative overview of how the council is utilising various AI tools to assist officers. We heard how it reduces administration time, so that social workers can now spend more time supporting children and their families. Some members of the committee did express concern over data protection and GDPR but were informed that information is securely stored.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Inclusion Update

We heard how the council is working to ensure the best possible outcomes for SEND young people as they transition into adulthood. In some cases, there is a link between children with SEND and school suspensions and exclusions, and Children’s Services work with schools and parents to support children to remain in a school environment. We heard that Scarborough has been identified as an area of high SEND need and schools are being invited to apply to provide Targeted Mainstream Provision (TMP).

Child Death Overview Panel Annual Report

This report was noted.

Extraordinary Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee: 11 February 2026

Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee 11 February 2026

Public Statements

We received 5 public questions and statements.

Implementation of the Home to School Travel Policy

This extraordinary meeting was arranged at the request of 4 group leaders to address the distance measurements and mapping systems used to determine how home to school distances are calculated. There was also a request to explain the legal oversight and safeguards in place to ensure home to school transport appeals are run fairly.  

The Head of Democratic Services and the Assistant Director for Education and Inclusion gave a summary of their report, addressing the issues raised by group leaders. There then followed a debate where a number of proposals were put forward by the Committee and voted via show of hands. The committee carried the proposal to engage in the Post Implementation Review (PIR) and take no further action on the issues raised at this time.

COUNCILLOR BARBARA BRODIGAN

March 2026