Children's services and safeguarding

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Across Reform-led county authorities the prevailing direction on early help has been to expand or continue the family hub model rather than cut it, anchored to the Department for Education's 'Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life' strategy of July 2025 and the national Families First reforms.[1][2][3] Reductions were the exception and were targeted rather than wholesale: a halving of children's centre funding in one council, the ceasing of individual non-statutory early-years and edge-of-care contracts in another, and surplus children's centres entering a property disposal pipeline in a third.[4][5][3][6] The sharper financial pressure recorded across these councils sits in children's social care, where the cost of looked-after-children placements — high-cost residential, secure and external care amid a national shortage of foster carers — drove in-year overspends in 2025/26.[7][8][9][10]

Key figures

4 councils whose 2025/26 children's social care overspend was driven by looked-after-children placement costs
Kent County Council
Kent's Quarter 1 2025/26 revenue budget monitoring report (Cabinet, 25 September 2025) forecast a small overspend in Children, Young People and Education, primarily linked to high-cost packages for looked-after children with disabilities, within an overall authority-wide forecast overspend of £27.9m (1.8% of budget, driven mainly by Adult Social Care and Health).
“A small overspend was also forecast in Children, Young People and Education, primarily linked to high-cost packages for looked- after children with disabilities.” source ↗
Leicestershire County Council
Leicestershire County Council's Medium Term Financial Strategy Monitoring Report for 2025/26 (period 10, reported to the Scrutiny Commission on 11 March 2026) recorded that demand-led budget pressure in children's social care was continuing to be driven by residential placement pressures and a sharp rise in looked-after children earlier in the year, even as the council's overall forecast position improved from an expected £2.9m overspend to a £700,000 underspend. A Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee discussion of the MTFS on 20 January 2026 recorded that the rise in children coming into care and in residential placement costs was attributed to a national shortage of foster carers and limited availability of family-based placements.
“For children’s social care, residential placement pressures and a sharp rise in looked -after children earlier in the year continued to be an issue.” source ↗
North Northamptonshire Council
In North Northamptonshire's own year-end 2025/26 budget monitoring report (9 June 2026), Councillor Graham Cheatley reported a General Fund overspend of £13.7m, of which children's social care alone carried a £13.89m pressure driven by higher placement costs, increased demand and income pressures.
“including £13.89m in children’s social care, which reflected higher placement costs, increased demand and income pressures” source ↗
Nottinghamshire County Council
At the 14 May 2026 County Council meeting, responding to a question from Councillor Richard Darrington on rising financial pressures from high-cost children's homes and external placements, the Cabinet Member for Children and Families, Councillor Rory Green, acknowledged that a placement breakdown could sharply increase costs but said the department had brought in a consultancy firm to strengthen decision-making and that it was not in deficit.
“sometimes these complex issues can lead to a breakdown, and then you have to have an emergency which rockets the cost” source ↗
Derived from an exhaustive search for “looked-after-children placement-cost overspend 2025/26”, counted against the corpus as of 2026-07-08.
6 Reform-led county authorities expanded or retained their family hub / Best Start early help provision
Derbyshire County Council
Derbyshire's Cabinet considered a Best Start in Life Local Plan with additional funding for Best Start Family Hubs implementation on 9 April 2026, establishing Chesterfield and Cotmanhay hubs before identifying suitable spoke sites.
“Establishing Chesterfield and Cotmanhay Hubs then identifying suitable spoke sites” source ↗
Kent County Council
Kent retained its family hub network. Officers told the Children, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee in January 2026 that KCC operated 53 family hubs with their operation secured for three years, and confirmed in March 2026 that there were no plans to close any family hubs.
“KCC operated 53 family hubs and that funding from Central Government for the Best Start in Life Programme along with the Public Health Grant had secured their operation for the next three years” source ↗
Lancashire County Council
Lancashire directed new investment into family hubs. Officers told the Children, Families and Skills Scrutiny Committee in January 2026 that new investment was being directed into Family Hubs to strengthen early years support, and in May 2026 that an early years redesign involved no reduction in staffing, with resources reallocated towards areas of highest need.
“new investment was being directed into Family Hubs to strengthen support for early years and the home learning environment.” source ↗
North Northamptonshire Council
North Northamptonshire's published minutes since 20 May 2025 record expansion, not cuts, of early help and Family Hub provision: by September 2025 the council had launched three Family Hub networks (Wellingborough, Kettering and East Northants) and was working to open a fourth, in Corby, by March 2026.
“North Northamptonshire Council had launched three Family Hub networks in Wellingborough, Kettering, and East Northants” source ↗
West Northamptonshire Council
West Northamptonshire expanded provision. Cabinet approved the adoption of the Family Help Strategy on 13 October 2025, with three central family hubs and teams to be developed in Northampton, Daventry and Towcester, and the March 2026 annual review of the Children's Trust contract recorded expansion of family hubs and enhanced early help.
“Three central hubs and teams will be developed in Northampton, Daventry and Towcester.” source ↗
Staffordshire County Council
Staffordshire added investment rather than cutting. The Cabinet Member for Education and SEND told Council in February 2026 that additional investment agreed by Cabinet would provide an extra £3 million in 2026/27, rising to £5.5 million from 2027, directly supporting the Families First reforms which emphasise early help and prevention.
“In 2026/27 this will provide an extra £3 million, rising to £5.5 million from 2027 onwards. This investment directly supports the Government’s Families First reforms, which emphasise early help, prevention” source ↗
Derived from an exhaustive search for “Best Start family hubs / early help expansion or retention”, counted against the corpus as of 2026-07-08.

Early help and family hubs: expansion outpaces retrenchment

Councils framed their family hub investment as flowing from national policy and new central funding: Staffordshire's phased investment was tied explicitly to the Families First reforms' emphasis on early help and prevention, and Kent reported that Best Start in Life Programme funding together with the Public Health Grant had secured its hub network for three years.[2][11] Elsewhere, minutes record new hub networks being stood up and spoke sites identified, with investment repeatedly presented as strengthening early intervention rather than reducing it, and an early-years redesign explicitly involving no reduction in staffing.[12][13][14][15][16] Warwickshire is the sharpest counter-current: the same authority authorised its first Best Start Family Hub in Nuneaton while its 2026/27 budget halved children's centre funding, a reduction an opposition member argued was inconsistent with the council's own objective of cutting health inequalities and which the Leader said mobile centres would mitigate for the most deprived areas.[1][4] Opposition members also recorded that the Reform administration's proposals would cut youth services and children's centre maintenance and that it had not reinstated youth grant funding or children's centre resources.[17] Lincolnshire ended two non-statutory services — the £129,536 Best Start Inclusion Service, an early-years service for ethnic-minority children, and the standalone Edge of Care contract with Safe Families — arguing that universal family-hub and children's-centre provision and a strengthened, centralised family-help model had made them redundant.[5][3] Kent, while confirming no plans to close any of its 53 family hubs, reported a growing number of surplus children's centres entering its property disposal pipeline following service changes — a reconfiguration of the estate rather than of the hub offer.[11][6] In County Durham, an Ofsted inspection reported to the Health and Wellbeing Board found early intervention through the family hubs was accessible and successfully reducing the need for statutory intervention for many families.[18]

Children's social care: placement costs drive the overspend

The cost driver is consistent: a rise in children entering care combined with high-cost residential, secure, external and parent-and-baby placements, attributed to a national shortage of foster carers and limited availability of family-based placements.[7][19][20] The scale is clearest in the Northamptonshire Children's Trust, shared by North and West Northamptonshire: placement costs alone accounted for a £16.1m overspend variance by Period 6, and the Trust's forecast net pressure to the two councils rose through the year to £27.5m by Period 11.[21][19] In North Northamptonshire's own year-end position, children's social care carried a £13.89m pressure within a £13.7m General Fund overspend, driven by higher placement costs and demand.[8] Kent's looked-after-children pressure sat within a wider authority-wide overspend that grew from £27.9m at Quarter 1 to £46.5m at Quarter 2, though there the dominant driver was adult social care and the children's overspend was described as comparatively small and partly offset by home-to-school transport underspends.[10][22] Leicestershire shows the pressure need not translate into a net overspend: despite continuing residential placement pressures, its overall children's position improved over the year from a forecast £2.9m overspend to a £700,000 underspend.[7] In Nottinghamshire, the Cabinet Member for Children and Families acknowledged that a placement breakdown could sharply increase costs but said the department was not in deficit and had brought in a consultancy firm to strengthen decision-making.[9]

References

1. Alongside the funding reduction, Cabinet on 27 January 2026 authorised Hatters Space in Nuneaton as the location of Warwickshire's first Best Start Family Hub, under the Department for Education's Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life strategy published in July 2025.
“authorises Hatters Space in Nuneaton as the preferred location for Warwickshire’s first Best Start Family Hub (BSFH)” Minutes, 27 January 2026 ↗
“He referred to the Department for Education’s (DfE) ‘Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life’ strategy which was published in July 2025” Minutes, 27 January 2026 ↗
2. Staffordshire added investment rather than cutting. The Cabinet Member for Education and SEND told Council in February 2026 that additional investment agreed by Cabinet would provide an extra £3 million in 2026/27, rising to £5.5 million from 2027, directly supporting the Families First reforms which emphasise early help and prevention.
“The additional investment agreed by Cabinet will be phased in over the next two years. In 2026/27 this will provide an extra £3 million, rising to £5.5 million from 2027 onwards. This investment directly supports the Government’s Families First reforms, which emphasise early help, prevention, and a child centred approach.” Minutes, 12 February 2026 ↗
3. Lincolnshire also moved to end the standalone Edge of Care Service contract with Safe Families on 30 June 2026. The Children's and Culture Scrutiny Committee heard on 24 April 2026 that national reforms, particularly the Families First for Children Pathfinder and family hubs, had produced a strengthened, centralised family help model which had reduced the need for a standalone service.
“the Edge of Care Service was currently delivered by Safe Families, with the contract due to end on 30 June 2026” Minutes, 24 April 2026 ↗
“national reforms to children’s social care, particularly the Families First for Children Pathfinder and family hubs, had aided the development of a strengthened, centralised family help model which had reduced the need for a standalone service” Minutes, 24 April 2026 ↗
4. Warwickshire's 2026/27 budget halved funding for children's centres. At Cabinet on 5 March 2026, Councillor Sarah Boad stated that the 50% reduction in children's centre funding was not consistent with the draft Council Plan objective of reducing health inequalities; Council Leader Councillor Finch responded that proposed mobile centres could be deployed at accessible locations to support residents experiencing the highest levels of deprivation.
“He noted that the proposed mobile centres could be deployed at accessible locations to provide localised support, particularly for residents experiencing the highest levels of social deprivation.” Minutes, 5 March 2026 ↗
“She stated that the 50% reduction in funding for children’s centres in the 2026/27 Budget was not consistent with this objective.” Minutes, 5 March 2026 ↗
5. Lincolnshire proposed ceasing the Best Start Lincolnshire: Inclusion Service, a non-statutory early years inclusion service for ethnic minority children commissioned in April 2023, at the end of its contract on 31 August 2026. Officers told the Children's and Culture Scrutiny Committee on 6 March 2026 that the contract's £129,536 value would not be ring-fenced for another service, while universal services through family hubs and children's centres remained available to all children.
“the report proposed that the service was ceased at the end of the contract on 31 August 2026” Minutes, 6 March 2026 ↗
“The Head of Service – Children’s Strategic Commissioning confirmed universal services through family hubs and children’s centres were available to all children” Minutes, 6 March 2026 ↗
“the monies would not be ring-fenced for another service, but would be considered within the County Council’s overall funding priorities.” Minutes, 6 March 2026 ↗
6. Kent's property disposal pipeline included a growing number of surplus children's centres. Officers reported to the Scrutiny Committee in September 2025 that higher numbers of properties in the disposal pipeline included an increased number of surplus children's centres following decisions for service changes.
“Recent changes were also outlined to explain higher numbers of properties in the pipeline for disposal including an increased number of surplus children’s centres following decisions for service changes.” Minutes, 17 September 2025 ↗
7. Leicestershire County Council's Medium Term Financial Strategy Monitoring Report for 2025/26 (period 10, reported to the Scrutiny Commission on 11 March 2026) recorded that demand-led budget pressure in children's social care was continuing to be driven by residential placement pressures and a sharp rise in looked-after children earlier in the year, even as the council's overall forecast position improved from an expected £2.9m overspend to a £700,000 underspend. A Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee discussion of the MTFS on 20 January 2026 recorded that the rise in children coming into care and in residential placement costs was attributed to a national shortage of foster carers and limited availability of family-based placements.
“An underspend of £700,000 had now been forecast compared to an expected £2.9m overspend at period 6.” Minutes, 11 March 2026 ↗
“For children’s social care, residential placement pressures and a sharp rise in looked -after children earlier in the year continued to be an issue.” Minutes, 11 March 2026 ↗
“The Director acknowledged that the number of children coming into care had increased, alongside rising residential costs driven largely by a national shortage of foster carers and limited availability of suitable family -based placements.” Minutes, 20 January 2026 ↗
8. In North Northamptonshire's own year-end 2025/26 budget monitoring report (9 June 2026), Councillor Graham Cheatley reported a General Fund overspend of £13.7m, of which children's social care alone carried a £13.89m pressure driven by higher placement costs, increased demand and income pressures.
“we were reporting a General Fund overspend of £13.7m” Minutes, 9 June 2026 ↗
“we had a total pressure of £13.5m, including £13.89m in children’s social care, which reflected higher placement costs, increased demand and income pressures” Minutes, 9 June 2026 ↗
9. At the 14 May 2026 County Council meeting, responding to a question from Councillor Richard Darrington on rising financial pressures from high-cost children's homes and external placements, the Cabinet Member for Children and Families, Councillor Rory Green, acknowledged that a placement breakdown could sharply increase costs but said the department had brought in a consultancy firm to strengthen decision-making and that it was not in deficit.
“sometimes these complex issues can lead to a breakdown, and then you have to have an emergency which rockets the cost” Minutes, 9 July 2026 ↗
“we’re making best use of the value of the money, so we’re not in deficit from that.” Minutes, 9 July 2026 ↗
“How is this Council responding to increasing financial pressures associated with high cost children’s homes and external placements?” Minutes, 9 July 2026 ↗
10. Kent's Quarter 1 2025/26 revenue budget monitoring report (Cabinet, 25 September 2025) forecast a small overspend in Children, Young People and Education, primarily linked to high-cost packages for looked-after children with disabilities, within an overall authority-wide forecast overspend of £27.9m (1.8% of budget, driven mainly by Adult Social Care and Health).
“A forecast outturn variance of £27.9 million overspend was reported, representing 1.8% of the overall budget. The most significant pressure was within Adult Social Care and Health, due to unachievable savings due to be met in-year and wider service-related challenges. A small overspend was also forecast in Children, Young People and Education, primarily linked to high-cost packages for looked- after children with disabilities.” Minutes, 19 November 2025 ↗
11. Kent retained its family hub network. Officers told the Children, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee in January 2026 that KCC operated 53 family hubs with their operation secured for three years, and confirmed in March 2026 that there were no plans to close any family hubs.
“Ms Crisan, Director for Operational Integrated Children's Services, added that KCC operated 53 family hubs and that funding from Central Government for the Best Start in Life Programme along with the Public Health Grant had secured their operation for the next three years.” Minutes, 20 January 2026 ↗
“Ms Crisan, Director for Operational Integrated Children's Services, confirmed that there were no plans to close any family hubs.” Minutes, 17 March 2026 ↗
12. Derbyshire's Cabinet considered a Best Start in Life Local Plan with additional funding for Best Start Family Hubs implementation on 9 April 2026, establishing Chesterfield and Cotmanhay hubs before identifying suitable spoke sites.
“Best Start in Life Local Plan and Additional Funding for Best Start Family Hubs Implementation” Minutes, 9 April 2026 ↗
“Establishing Chesterfield and Cotmanhay Hubs then identifying suitable spoke sites” Minutes, 9 April 2026 ↗
13. Presenting the 2026/27 General Fund budget in February 2026, Executive Member for Finance Councillor Graham Cheatley said investment into children's services would strengthen early intervention rather than reduce it, alongside a proposed 4.99% council tax increase.
“Investment into adult social care and children’s services would strengthen early intervention.” Minutes, 10 February 2026 ↗
14. West Northamptonshire expanded provision. Cabinet approved the adoption of the Family Help Strategy on 13 October 2025, with three central family hubs and teams to be developed in Northampton, Daventry and Towcester, and the March 2026 annual review of the Children's Trust contract recorded expansion of family hubs and enhanced early help.
“Cabinet considered the Family Help Strategy and approved its adoption and implementation.” Decisions, 13 October 2025 ↗
“Three central hubs and teams will be developed in Northampton, Daventry and Towcester.” Minutes, 10 June 2025 ↗
“expansion of family hubs, enhanced early help, and increased practical support for families” Minutes, 26 March 2026 ↗
15. Lancashire directed new investment into family hubs. Officers told the Children, Families and Skills Scrutiny Committee in January 2026 that new investment was being directed into Family Hubs to strengthen early years support, and in May 2026 that an early years redesign involved no reduction in staffing, with resources reallocated towards areas of highest need.
“new investment was being directed into Family Hubs to strengthen support for early years and the home learning environment.” Minutes, 14 January 2026 ↗
“Officers clarified that there would be no reduction in staffing, but that resources would be reallocated towards areas of highest need to maximise impact.” Minutes, 14 May 2026 ↗
16. North Northamptonshire's published minutes since 20 May 2025 record expansion, not cuts, of early help and Family Hub provision: by September 2025 the council had launched three Family Hub networks (Wellingborough, Kettering and East Northants) and was working to open a fourth, in Corby, by March 2026.
“the programme was now focused on opening the Corby Family Hub Network by March 2026” Minutes, 8 September 2025 ↗
“North Northamptonshire Council had launched three Family Hub networks in Wellingborough, Kettering, and East Northants” Minutes, 8 September 2025 ↗
17. During the February 2026 budget debate, opposition members recorded that the Reform UK proposals would cut youth services and reduce children's centre maintenance, and that the administration had not reinstated youth grant funding or children's centre resources.
“he stated that the Reform UK proposals would cut youth services and reduce children’s centre maintenance, negatively affecting vulnerable families.” Minutes, 5 February 2026 ↗
“She expressed concern that the administration had not reinstated youth grant funding or children’s centre resources and noted that cumulative funding reductions since 2010 had significantly impacted service capacity.” Minutes, 17 February 2026 ↗
18. County Durham's early help offer was externally endorsed rather than reduced. The Health and Wellbeing Board in September 2025 recorded the Ofsted inspection finding that early intervention and support offered via the family hubs was accessible and successfully reducing the need for statutory intervention for many families.
“the early intervention and support offered via the family hubs was accessible and successfully reducing the need for statutory intervention for many families.” Minutes, 22 September 2025 ↗
19. By Period 11 (28 February 2026), reported to the Children's Trust Joint Committee on 22 April 2026, the Trust's forecast outturn had risen to £213.188m against a £185.651m contract sum, a net pressure of £27.537m, which the Executive Director of Finance attributed to increased demand and placement costs, particularly residential care, secure placements and parent-and-baby placements.
“The forecast outturn as of 28” Minutes, 22 April 2026 ↗
“resulting in a net pressure to the councils of £27.537m” Minutes, 22 April 2026 ↗
“The main pressures were as a result of increased demand and placement costs, particularly around residential care, secure placements and parent and baby.” Minutes, 22 April 2026 ↗
20. North Northamptonshire's Corporate Scrutiny Committee minutes of 29 July 2025 record officers confirming that the overspend in Children's Services was largely attributable to high-cost external placements, which had increased in number and complexity.
“The overspend in Children’s Services was largely attributable to high-cost external placements, which had increased in number and complexity.” Minutes, 29 July 2025 ↗
21. By Period 6 of 2025/26 (reported to the Children's Trust Joint Committee on 12 November 2025), the Northamptonshire Children's Trust forecast a net pressure to North and West Northamptonshire councils of £19.639m against the original contract sum, of which placement costs alone accounted for a £16.120m overspend variance, the largest single line.
“Placements 87,030 103,150 16,120” Minutes, 12 November 2025 ↗
“resulting in a net pressure to the councils of £19.639m” Minutes, 12 November 2025 ↗
22. Kent's Quarter 2 2025/26 revenue budget forecast outturn report (Cabinet, 19 November 2025) continued to forecast overspends in Children, Young People and Education, mainly due to high-cost packages for looked-after children with disabilities (partially offset by home-to-school transport underspends), within an overall authority-wide forecast overspend of £46.5m (3% of budget, driven mainly by a £50.9m Adult Social Care and Health overspend).
“Further overspends were forecast in Children, Young People and Education, mainly due to high-cost packages for looked-after children with disabilities, partially offset by underspends in home-to-school transport.” Minutes, 19 November 2025 ↗