Croydon's Children, Young People and Education (CYPE) Directorate is undergoing a significant transformation to address rising demand for services, particularly in the area of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The council is grappling with a rapid increase in Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), which has placed considerable pressure on resources and contributed to a structural deficit.
During a recent Scrutiny Children & Young People Sub-Committee meeting on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, councillors received an update on the directorate's transformation efforts. A key development is the appointment of Newton as a Strategic Transformation Partner to support a comprehensive redesign of services. This partnership is part of the 'Helping Families Thrive' programme, aimed at creating a more integrated, preventative, and family-led model of service delivery. The programme aims to deliver a sustainable, high-quality model of services that improves outcomes for children and families, while addressing increasing demand and financial pressures,
and operate effectively within the Council's future funding envelope, though specific deficit reduction goals are not explicitly stated.
Councillor Andy Stranack, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, highlighted the significant demand pressures, including the growing number of EHCPs. The transformation aims to move beyond service-level improvements towards a genuinely integrated system, with closer alignment between education, social care, and partner agencies. Emerging themes from the initial phase of the transformation include the need for relational and trauma-informed practice, simpler pathway models, and improved data utilisation.
A key theme emerging from the transformation work is the need to embed relational practice as the foundation of all service delivery, supported by systemic approaches and trauma-informed principles.
The report also mentions that universal trauma-informed training
is being invested in for schools as part of tackling disproportionality in exclusions. 
Regarding SEND reforms, the council is working to create a more inclusive system, with a tiered support model and the introduction of Individual Support Plans (ISPs) from 2029/30. Croydon is investing in early intervention teams, speech and language therapy, and educational psychology services to strengthen mainstream inclusion, despite the challenge of a growing number of EHCPs. The number of children with EHCPs has risen significantly, reaching over 6,300 in 2025/26, with a substantial increase in placements in independent and non-maintained special schools.
The Scrutiny Children & Young People Sub-Committee also reviewed performance data for Education, noting concern over the percentage of EHCPs issued within the 20-week timeframe, which stood at 50% due to challenges including staff sickness, vacancies, and delays in professional reports.
The Scrutiny Children & Young People Sub-Committee also discussed its work programme for 2026-27, with topics such as SEND provision identified for future scrutiny. The full public reports pack for the meeting can be found here. 
