Issue

Children's Services

19 stories · discussed at 7 council meetings · 16 councils

Councils are addressing budget overspends and workforce challenges in children's services, with some achieving high performance.

Islington Council is expanding apprenticeships and staff support to address a children's workforce crisis, as reviewed by the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee in October 2026. This comes as Wandsworth's children's services received an 'outstanding' Ofsted rating in September 2026, with inspectors noting responsive social work and a committed workforce. However, Merton Council's children's services faced scrutiny in September 2026 over an increase in formal complaints and delayed responses during the 2025/26 financial year.

Several councils are reporting significant budget pressures in children's services. Hammersmith and Fulham Council faces a projected £14.3 million overspend for 2026/27, partly due to rising costs and demand, a report to Cabinet said in September 2026. Earlier in 2026, Bexley, Hillingdon, Richmond upon Thames, and Enfield Councils also reported projected overspends, driven by increased costs for children with disabilities, intensive home-based care, and placements.

Croydon's Scrutiny Children & Young People Sub-Committee reviewed significant demand pressures in July 2026, including high referral rates to social care and a rapid increase in Education, Health and Care Plans, for children's services which local authorities provide. To address this, Croydon Council is seeking a transformation partner for its 'Helping Families Thrive' programme, aiming for £12 million in savings, with £3.4 million projected for 2026/27, to enhance services and ensure long-term financial resilience.

Key facts

  1. Islington Council is expanding apprenticeships and staff support to address a children's workforce crisis. Source
  2. Wandsworth's children's services received an 'outstanding' Ofsted rating in all areas in September 2026. Source
  3. Hammersmith and Fulham Council faces a projected £14.3 million overspend for 2026/27, partly due to children's services. Source
  4. Merton Council's children's services logged 44 formal stage 1 complaints in 2025/26, up from 29 the previous year. Source
  5. Croydon Council's 'Helping Families Thrive' programme aims for £12 million in savings, with £3.4 million projected for 2026/27. Source
About this summary

This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 3 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.

Stories, page 2

  1. Bexley Children's Services Faces £2.2m Overspend Due to Increased Support Costs Bexley's Children's Services is facing a projected overspend of £2.234 million, primarily driven by increased costs associated with supporting children with disabilities and... Bexley 26 March 2026
  2. Hillingdon Council Faces £36.3 Million Budget Overspend Driven by Social Care and Housing Pressures Hillingdon Council is facing a significant budget overspend of £36.3 million for the current financial year, primarily driven by increased demand in children's services, adult... Hillingdon 23 March 2026
  3. Richmond Children's Services Face £1.4m Overspend Driven by Placement Costs Richmond Council's children's services are facing a projected overspend of £1.4 million, primarily driven by the rising costs of placing children in care. This financial... Richmond upon Thames 1 February 2026
  4. H&F Council Proposes £17.9m Savings and Council Tax Hike Amidst Financial Pressures Hammersmith and Fulham Council is planning to make savings of £17.9 million for the 2026/27 financial year as part of its Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS). The proposals... Hammersmith and Fulham 30 January 2026
  5. Hammersmith and Fulham Council Proposes Nearly 3% Council Tax Increase for 2026/27 Budget Hammersmith and Fulham Council is proposing to increase Council Tax by nearly 3% for residents as part of its budget for the 2026/27 financial year. The increase, which includes... Hammersmith and Fulham 30 January 2026
  6. Croydon Council seeks transformation partner for CYPE Directorate's 'Helping Families Thrive' program Croydon Council is seeking a strategic transformation partner to drive forward significant changes within its Children, Young People and Education (CYPE) Directorate, aiming to... Croydon 22 January 2026
  7. H&F Faces £2.16M Overspend Amid Social Care Pressures, Temporary Housing Costs, and Children's Services Hammersmith and Fulham Council is facing a projected £2.16 million overspend in its General Fund, primarily due to rising pressures in adult social care, temporary... Hammersmith and Fulham 10 December 2025
  8. Bexley Council Faces £2.37M Overspend, Adult Social Care Hit Hardest Bexley Council is facing a £2.37 million overspend, primarily driven by challenges in Adult Social Care, according to the latest budget monitoring report. The Public Cabinet... Bexley 1 December 2025