Education
FCYP
HCAN
R&S
SPI
Workforce
Remit

The Educational Policy Committee covers all aspects of education from the early years to further education, and skills and support for the improvement of educational standards. In particular, the committee leads on school improvement, relationships with academies and free schools, admissions and place planning and the role of the local authority in education. This committee liaises closely with the SPI committee on school improvement and the R&S committee on budgets. It also works with the HCAN committee on the educational outcomes and wellbeing of children in care and provision for learners with special educational needs.

Meeting Dates

Policy committee meeting dates for 2024 are available here.

Contacts

Chair: Heather Sandy, Executive Director of Children’s Services, Lincolnshire County Council

Vice Chair: Jo Sullivan-Lyons, Barnet Council

ADCS Policy Officer: Madeline Jackson supports the work of the committee. To contact Madeline, email: madeline.jackson@adcs.org.uk 

Heather Sandy
Chair

Heather Sandy

Executive Director of Children’s Services,
Lincolnshire County Council
Jo Sullivan-Lyons profile
Vice-Chair

Jo Sullivan-Lyons

Strategic Advisor SEND and Inclusion,
Barnet London Borough Council
Remit

The Families, Communities & Young People Policy Committee (FCYP) leads on all aspects of early help, safeguarding, child protection, early years, youth services, youth justice, family justice and community safety.

FCYP links with a wide range of organisations across the sector.

Meeting Dates

Policy committee meeting dates for 2024 are available here.

Contacts

Chair: Helen Lincoln, Executive Director for Children, Families and Education, Essex County Council.

Vice Chair: Becca Dove, Camden Council

ADCS Policy Officer: Katy Block supports the work of the committee. To contact Katy, email katy.block@adcs.org.uk

Helen Lincoln
Chair

Helen Lincoln

Executive Director for Children
Families and Education,
Essex County Council
BeccaDove_profile
Vice Chair

Becca Dove

Head of Family Early Help,
Camden London Borough Council
Remit

The ADCS Migrant Families Taskforce, chaired by Colin Pettigrew, Corporate Director for Children, Young People and Schools, Nottinghamshire County Council, reports into the Families, Communities & Young People Policy Comittee. For more information on the Taskforce, please contact info@adcs.org.uk

Contacts

Chair: Colin Pettigrew, Corporate Director for Children, Young People and Schools, Nottinghamshire County Council.

ADCS contact: Esther Kavanagh Dixon supports the work of the committee. To contact Esther, email esther@adcs.org.uk 

ColinPettigrew_MFT
Chair

Colin Pettigrew

Corporate Director for Children, Young People and Schools, Nottinghamshire County Council
Remit

The Health, Care & Additional Needs Policy Committee has lead responsibility for children in care and care leavers, all aspects of child health and children with SEND.

The committee liaises closely with the EA Committee on the educational outcomes of learners living in care and those with SEND, and with a range of partners and stakeholders in the voluntary and health sector.

Meeting Dates

Policy committee meeting dates for 2024 are available here.

Contacts

Chair: Nigel Minns, Executive Director - Children and Young People, Warwickshire County Council

Vice Chair: Fiona Corless, Norfolk County Council

ADCS Policy Officer: Sarah Wilson supports the work of the committee. To contact Sarah email: sarah.wilson@adcs.org.uk

Nigel Minns
Chair

Nigel Minns

Executive Director - Children and Young People,
Warwickshire County Council
Fiona Corless
Vice Chair

Fiona Corless

Assistant Director, Sufficiency and Commissioning: High Needs,
Norfolk County Council
Remit

The Resources & Strategy Policy Committee has lead responsibility for all issues relating to the organisation of children’s services, funding and commissioning.

The committee liaises closely with the EA Committee on admissions, capital funding and strategic place planning. Members of the committee represent the Association on various reference groups including the DLUHC Technical Group on Fair Funding, the High Needs Funding External Group, Service Working Group on Education and Children’s Services (SWEGECS), the Schools Funding Implementation Group (SFIG), and the ESFA Advisory Group.

Meeting Dates

Policy committee meeting dates for 2024 are available here.

Contacts

​Chair: Chris Munday, Executive Director for Children and Family Services, Barnet Council.

Vice Chair: Richard Selwyn, Somerset Council

ADCS Policy Officer: Sarah Wilson supports the work of the committee. To contact Sarah, email sarah.wilson@adcs.org.uk

Chris Munday
Chair

Chris Munday

Executive Director for Children and Family Services,
Barnet London Borough Council
Richard Selwyn
Vice Chair

Richard Selwyn

Service Director, Children's Commissioning,
Somerset Council
Remit

The Standards, Performance & Inspection Policy Committee (SPI) links with Ofsted and other relevant inspectorates and leads on performance management, the use of data, and sector-led improvement, including the ongoing development of Regional Improvement & Innovation Alliances (RIIAs).

The committee liaises closely with all other committees and its members represent the Association on various reference groups organised by Ofsted and other inspectorates.

The ADCS Research Group is a sub-committee of the Standards, Performance & Inspection Policy Committee (SPI).

Meeting Dates

Policy committee meeting dates for 2024 are available here.

Contacts

Chair: Jo Fisher, Exeutive Director of Children’s Services, Hertfordshire County Council

Vice Chair: Tania Townsend, Islington Council

ADCS Policy Officer: Katy Block supports the work of the committee. To contact Katy, email katy.block@adcs.org.uk

Jo Fisher
Chair

Jo Fisher

Executive Director of Children’s Services,
Hertfordshire County Council
TaniaTownsend_425x225
Vice Chair

Tania Townsend

Head of Strategic Programmes and Strategy,
Islington London Borough Council
​Remit

The Workforce Policy Committee has lead responsibility for issues relating to professional standards, training and qualifications, workforce planning and working with national regulatory and training bodies

The committee links closely with the various regional ADCS groups to identify new and emerging practice and assesses the impact of ongoing public service reforms in all areas relevant to children’s services including education, health, safeguarding, social care and family justice.

Meeting Dates

Policy committee meeting dates for 2024 are available here.

Contacts

Chair: Nicola Curley, Strategic Director of Children and Young People’s Services, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

Vice Chair: Florah Shiringo, Kent Councty Council

ADCS Policy Officer: Madeline Jackson supports the work of the committee. To contact Madeline, email: madeline.jackson@adcs.org.uk

Nicola Curley
Chair

Nicola Curley

Strategic Director of Children and Young People’s Services,
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
Florah Shiringo
Vice Chair

Florah Shiringo

Assistant Director Integrated Children’s Services,
Kent County Council