Democracy Spraffa

CS 2026-2029 Service Improvement Plan ECSPB

Renfrewshire Council · 21 May 2026
Back to Education and Children's Services Policy Board — 21 May 2026 and its agenda

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_________________________________________________________________
To:  Education and Children’s Services Policy Board
On:  21 May 2026
__________________________________________________________________
Report by: Director of Children’s Services
___________________________________________________________________ 
Heading: Children’s Services 2026-2029 Service Improvement Plan
___________________________________________________________________
1. Summary
1.1. The Service Improvement Plan for Children’s Services sets out our priorities for
the three-year period 2026–2029. It outlines what we aim to achieve, the key
actions we will take, when these will be delivered, and how we will measure our
progress.
1.2. This Plan sits alongside the wider suite of strategic documents that guide both
the service and the Council as a whole, including the Council Plan, Community
Plan, Risk Management Plan and Workforce Plan.
1.3. The full-Service Improvement Plan is attached to this report. It includes our
Performance Indicators and a detailed Action Plan structured around the
Council Plan themes. A mid-year progress update will be presented to the
Education and Children’s Services Policy Board in Autumn 2026.
__________________________________________________________________
2. Recommendations
2.1. It is recommended that the Education and Children’s Services Policy Board:
(a) Notes the content of the attached Service Improvement Plan; 
(b) Approves the updates to the action plan and performance indicators outlined
in Section 5;
(c) Notes that a mid-year progress report, including updated Performance
Indicators and Action Plan, will be presented to the Board in Autumn 2026.
__________________________________________________________________

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3. Background
3.1. Renfrewshire Council’s Children’s Services oversee a wide range of support for
children, young people, and families. This includes early learning and childcare,
universal services such as primary and secondary education, and social work
services for children and families. The service also delivers justice social work,
along with targeted and specialist support for those with specific needs. These
include child protection, education for children and young people with additional
support needs, mental health and addictions support, and the management and
rehabilitation of individuals who have committed offences.
3.2. Our approach remains firmly centred on prevention, early intervention, and
providing additional support to those who are most vulnerable. Although
children’s health services are delivered through Renfrewshire’s Health and
Social Care Partnership (HSCP), both organisations share a key priority:
maintaining strong, integrated working to improve outcomes for children and
young people.
3.3. The Service Improvement Plan sets out the outcomes the service aims to
deliver, and the actions required to achieve them. It sits within the Council’s
wider planning framework, aligning with Community Planning themes and
Council priorities. The Plan also provides elected members with clear oversight
of service developments and supports informed policy decisions that balance
the needs of children, young people, families, and communities with the
resources available.
__________________________________________________________________
4. Service Improvement Plan 2026-2029:  What do we want to achieve?
4.1. All Council services continue to operate in a challenging environment. Our
communities are experiencing significant cost-of-living pressures, and we will
respond by tackling the root causes of inequality. Schools and children’s social
work services are also seeing rising levels of need and demand, driven in part
by the financial difficulties many households are facing.
4.2. Over the next three years, Children’s Services will play a central role in
Renfrewshire’s local response to poverty. We will use data and insight to target
resources where they can have the greatest impact and to improve outcomes
for children and families currently experiencing poverty. This work
complements the commitments set out in the Council Plan 2022–2027, the
Renfrewshire Children’s Services Partnership Plan, the Education
Improvement Plan, and the Fairer Renfrewshire Programme.
4.3. In line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC),
we will ensure that children and young people’s voices are heard and included,
and that their human rights are upheld. Their rights will be central to the

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planning and delivery of all services that affect them. Children’s Services will
support Renfrewshire’s response to UNCRC by promoting awareness of
children’s rights not only among children and young people, but also among
adults.
4.4. By maintaining robust child protection procedures, we will safeguard the most
vulnerable members of our communities, including children and young people
at risk of harm. Our refreshed Equally Safe Strategy will be implemented across
all services, including education settings, reinforcing our commitment to ending
violence against women and girls and ensuring safety for all. Justice services
will also review and develop the unpaid work scheme to improve outcomes for
both individuals and communities.
4.5. Children’s Services are committed to supporting and nurturing our children,
families, and communities through our whole-family wellbeing approach. We
will continue to promote early and preventative intervention, and support
children, young people, and their families as they prepare for the transition to
adult services and greater independence. We aim to engage with, and
encourage the participation of, children, young people, and their families to
ensure their needs are met, and we will work closely with key partners to
support good physical and mental health for all our children and young people.
4.6. The Scottish Government’s Promise Implementation Plan and The Promise
Plan 2024–30 were published in Summer 2024, marking an important stage in
Renfrewshire’s contribution to the wider 10-year programme. Children’s
Services will continue to take this work forward through mapping and planning
sessions that consider the broader implications for all Council services,
including our planning, priorities, and governance arrangements.
4.7. We will continue to strengthen our approach to planning and future proofing our
learning estate, showing commitment to developing modern, energy efficient
and fit for purpose buildings, and creating an inclusive environment to allow
children and young people to thrive. 
4.8. Closing the poverty-related attainment gap remains a priority for Children’s
Services. Central to this effort will be to improve the attainment and
achievements of our learners through effective use of data, targeted
approaches, the implementation of a learning and teaching strategy, and robust
systems for assessment, tracking and monitoring.
4.9. We remain committed to collaborating with establishment leaders to provide
ongoing support for children and young people with additional needs
throughout their education. Additionally, we will ensure that vulnerable young
people receive the guidance they need to achieve and maintain positive
opportunities beyond school.
4.10. Ensuring that Renfrewshire’s young people go on to the best post school
destination is a key commitment. Renfrewshire has the second highest

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percentage of young people going on to positive destinations in Scotland and
we will continue to work to maintain this high standard.
4.11. We are committed to ensuring that compulsory supervision within the children’s
hearing system is used only when it is in the best interests of the child and in
line with national policy. Our focus will be on securing permanency
arrangements for children where this represents the best outcome. Ultimately,
we aim to support children, young people, and their families as they prepare for
the transition to adult services and greater independence.
4.12. Following the redesign of children and justice social work services, we will
review and evaluate progress and develop a new operating model for Children’s
Services. This will support the effective delivery of our key workforce priorities
and help ensure the health, safety, and wellbeing of our staff.
4.13. We will support the safe and effective shift in the balance between the use of
custody and justice delivered within the community. Our focus will be on
strengthening community-based interventions that reduce reoffending, promote
rehabilitation, and improve outcomes for individuals and communities. This
approach aligns with national policy and reflects our commitment to delivering
justice responses that are proportionate, evidence-based, and centred on
public safety.
______________________________________________________________
5. Proposed changes to the Action Plan and Performance Indicators
5.1. The action “Contribute to the refresh of the Trauma-Informed and Responsive
Renfrewshire Roadmap and participate in the trauma-informed Community of
Practice to support ongoing learning and improvement” will continue to
strengthen our baseline understanding of the impacts of trauma across the
service.
5.2. We have also included actions that align with the Council’s corporate priorities
on Artificial Intelligence, staff wellbeing, and tackling racism. These include: 
• Actively supporting the Council’s Living Well, Leading Well programme,
including driving service-level improvements in the management of staff
absence.
• Supporting Year 1 of the AI Transformation Programme to ensure
Children’s Services contribute to, and benefit from, the safe and effective
use of AI across the organisation.
• We will increase our understanding of racism and how to respond to racist
incidents.

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5.3. As agreed by the Board on 30 October 2025 a revised suite of performance
indicators has now been developed for the service. 
5.4. Education indicators have been adjusted to bring us in line with national data
reporting. Several Local Government Benchmarking Framework indicators
have been adopted into the Service Improvement Plan to ensure consistency
with national figures. 
5.5. The Justice Social Work indicators have been updated to better reflect the
improvement needs of the service. The indicators going forward will be: 
• Number of diversion from prosecution cases successfully completed by 31
March
• Number of bail supervision cases successfully completed by 31 March
• Percentage of new unpaid work orders/requirements completed within the
required timescale 
__________________________________________________________________
6. Monitoring progress
6.1. Progress on the implementation of the Service Improvement Plan is regularly
monitored by the extended Senior Leadership Team and will be reported to the
Education and Children’s Services Policy Board on a six-monthly basis. A
mid-year review of progress will be presented to the Board in Autumn 2026,
with the annual outturn reported in Spring 2027. 
Implications of the Report
1. Financial – The Service Improvement Plan highlights resourcing pressures
arising from increasing demand for services and the current financial
environment. 
2. HR & Organisational Development – The Service Improvement Plan also
highlights workforce development and wellbeing considerations.
3. Community/Council Planning – The report details a range of activities which
reflect Council and Community Planning themes and a direct link to the delivery
of the Council Plan.
4. Legal – none.
5. Property/Assets – none.

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6. Information Technology – Service developments relating to information
technology are key enablers of service improvement, modernisation, and
support service-level and corporate objectives.
7. Equality & Human Rights – The Recommendations contained within this report
have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights.
No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of
individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations
contained in the report. If required following implementation, the actual impact of
the recommendations and the mitigating actions will be reviewed and monitored,
and the results of the assessment will be published on the Council’s website. 
8. Health & Safety – none.
9. Procurement – none.
10. Risk – Risks related to the delivery and management of services are regularly
monitored and included in Renfrewshire Council’s Corporate and Strategic Risk
Registers.
11. Privacy Impact – none. 
12. COSLA Policy Position – none.
13. Climate Change – Actions and performance indicators aligned to Strategic
Priority 4: Green, of Renfrewshire’s Council Plan, highlights activities across the
Council to tackle climate change. 
___________________________________________________________________
List of Background Papers:  None
___________________________________________________________________
Author:   Andrew Voysey, Senior Policy Officer
Contact Officer:      Yvonne Farquhar, Policy Manager (People)
Appendix I:   Service Improvement Plan 2026-2029
___________________________________________________________________

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Children’s Services
Service Improvement Plan 2026 –29

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Welcome to our Service Improvement Plan
I am delighted to introduce the 2026-2029 Service Improvement Plan (SIP) for Children’s Services.
The plan sets out our vision for the three years ahead, and how we as a team will help ensure the organisation
delivers on the strategic outcomes set out in the Council Plan.
Councils everywhere are facing a very challenging financial context over the years ahead, while the cost-of-living crisis and
poverty-related inequalities will continue to affect our communities. So that makes it even more important we have a clear
sense of direction on how to focus our resources to deliver on what’s most important – helping deliver the best start to life for
Renfrewshire’s children and young people.
Our service has delivered some major successes in recent years – having been recognised for sector-leading good practice,
while achieving improved outcomes for our children, young people and families. The plan sets out where we can continue and
build on that over the next three years.
Our areas of focus will include putting children and young people at the heart of our services, tackling the impact of poverty,
protecting the most vulnerable, raising attainment for all, and creating the best possible environment for our children and
young people to thrive.
That will mean a team effort across the service, the wider council and our partners. I look forward to working with all of you to
do that.
Janie O’Neill
Director of Children’s Services

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The Director of Children’s Services is the Council’s Chief
Education Officer and is supported by three Heads of
Service: two Heads of Education and the Head of
Children and Justice Social Work who is also the Chief
Social Work Officer for the Council and the Health and
Social Care Partnership. 
Children’s Services are responsible for the delivery of
early learning and childcare, primary and secondary
education, social work services to children and
families, and justice social work services.  The
services provides universal services such as
education, and targeted and specialist services for
specific identified needs.   Our specialist provision
includes child protection services, provision of
education to children and young people with
additional support needs, mental health and
addictions services for children and young people,
and management and rehabilitation services for
people who have committed offences.
Children’s Services - about us
Director of
Children’s Services
Janie O’Neill
Head of Children
and Justice Social
Work
John Trainer
Head of Education
Emma Henry
Head of Education
Gerard McLaughlin

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Our Children’s Services
Primary
Primary education in 50 schools,
23 of which have an early learning
and childcare (ELC) class.
Commitment to children and young
people with additional support
needs through our 2 ASN schools,
mainstream and flexible learning
resources.
ASN ELC
Early Learning and
Childcare (ELC) is provided
across 15 standalone
centres.
Secondary
Secondary education in 11
schools.
Children's Houses and
Throughcare
4 children’s houses. Throughcare
support including  supported
accommodation for young people
leaving care and a dedicated UASC
team.
Frontline social work
services to children and
their families
From Front Door services
to longer term support.
Central Education
Team
Literacy, numeracy, health
and wellbeing, data literacy
and research.
Fostering, Adoption
and Kinship Carers
Providing dedicated assessment of
and support to foster carers, kinship
carers and adopters.
Justice Social Work
Services
Provides a range of services to
people involved in justice
processes.

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Our Resources and Risks
BUDGET
The Children’s Services revenue budget for 2026/27
is approximately £284m, equating to almost half of
the Council’s General Services budget.
As part of the capital budget, over £51m will be
invested in 2026/27 in Schools and Early Years
establishments, with £271m to be invested over the
period 2026/27 to 2035/36.
RISK MANAGEMENT
The Council’s risk management arrangements are well
established with all strategic, corporate and service
risks being reported to the Audit, Risk and Scrutiny
Board. Children’s Services risks are detailed in the
following table:
Strategic risks
• Reducing Inequalities  - very high
• Migration and Asylum Impact –high
Corporate Risks
• Financial Sustainability – very high
• Cyber Security –very high
• Learning Estate Strategy –very high
Service Risks
• Temporary funding streams ending – high
• Managing Violence and Aggression –high
• Additional Support for Learning –high
• Availability of foster care placements-high
• Multi-agency resource to meet the needs of children and young
people with complex needs -high
• Pupil Attendance and Exclusions –moderate
• 21 hours non-class contact time –moderate
• Home to School Transport –moderate
• Secondary school curriculum choice -moderate
• Recruitment of social workers (nationally) -moderate

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Data Strategy
The Council’s Digital Strategy includes Smart Data Workstream tasked with improving the management and exploitation of data in
a consistent way across our services, leading to the improvement of the Council’s capabilities around data. As part of the Smart
Data Workstream an organisation-wide data governance group has been created which includes data specialist representatives
from all services. Service data strategies have been developed since 2024 to address gaps and improve the management and
exploitation of business-critical data. In 2026/27, the service will:
Through evidence-based data driven decision making we will improve outcomes for children, families and communities.
• Increase cross-sector working to create consistent data approaches and share best practice.
• Expand data literacy training offer across Children’s Services.
• Increase awareness of data analysis across all teams within Children’s Services.
Barriers
• Service re-designs have impacted resources available for analysis & reporting.
• Limitations within management information systems.
• Actions identified from analysis may not be achievable in financial climate.
Data Network Group to identify key
areas for improvement relating to
consistent approaches & roles/
responsibilities
Improved data processes to reduce
duplication and manual error
Wider rollout of data literacy
programme to all teams
Increased sharing of analysis
across teams

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Cost-of-
Living-Crisis
Humanitarian
Support and
Resettlement
UN Convention
on the Rights of
the Child
The Promise
Included, Engaged
and Involved
Tackling the
poverty-related
attainment gap
Identification
and protection of
vulnerable
children and
young people
Vision for
Justice in
Scotland
Whole Family
Wellbeing
National
Improvement
Framework
Climate
Change
Education
Reform
National
Social Work
Agency
National Context

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Local Context
Our Values
Our Values describe our promise to our
communities, staff, and partners.  They
guide how we deliver services and
make decisions.
Council and Community Plans
Our Council Plan and Community Plan
set the strategic framework for our
organisation and describe what we
want to achieve for Renfrewshire
Fairer Renfrewshire Programme
Brings together existing programmes of
work focused on achieving fairness and
equity, and tackling the inequalities that
exist across Renfrewshire’s
communities.
Best Value
Aims to ensure good governance;
manage resources effectively; focus on
improvement; and, most important of
all, deliver the best possible outcomes
for local people.
Learning Estate Strategy
Our most ambitious and high-value
investment programme to achieve our
long-term strategy to “create the best
possible learning estate to allow children
and young people to thrive”.
Gaelic Language Plan
Renfrewshire Council is committed to
providing Gaelic education opportunities
for our residents and those who wish to
undertake this in future through our
Gaelic Language Plan 2024 – 2029.
Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion
Every area of work within the Council has a
role to play in promoting equality and
diversity. The Equality Act 2010 protects
people from unfair treatment and asks public
bodies to show how they make a positive
difference to equality groups.
Mental Health & Wellbeing
Deliver supports that are accessible,
early-intervention-focused, and rooted in
need.
Public Protection
Creating a safe, fair community by
identifying and responding to risk of harm
to children and young people and
managing people who have high risk
offending behaviour.

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Raise attainment,
achievement and enhance
learning and teaching in an
inclusive environment
Protect the most vulnerable
members of our
communities, including
children and young people
who are at risk
Place children and young
people’s human rights at
the heart of the planning
and delivery of services that
affect them
Create the best possible
learning estate to allow
children and young people
to thrive
Reduce child poverty in
Renfrewshire and improve
outcomes for children and
families currently living in
poverty
Support and nurture our
children, families and
communities
Support the shift of the
balance between the use of
custody and justice in the
community, safely
Invest in and develop our
workforce, in partnership
with our people
Key Priorities

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Our Focus 2026/27
• Continue to embed The Promise across services to ensure lasting, meaningful change.
• Enhance our early intervention and preventative approach to thewhole family wellbeing
• In accordance with UNCRC, develop our approach strengthen the voices of children and young people
• Implement recommendations from Learning Reviews promoting learning and development across the partnership.
• Achieve permanence for children who need it
• Improve the planning and process for  transition to adult services and greaterindependence
• Review the use of compulsory supervision where it is in the children’s interests and reflects national policy
• Refresh the Equally Safe Action Plan in line with national developments and in partnership with those with lived experience
of gender-based violence
• Implement the Caledonian system, working with men convicted of gender-based violence offences

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Our Focus 2026/27
• Work collaboratively with our key partners to ensure our children and young people enjoy good physical and mental health
• Play a critical part in ourlocal response to poverty, sharing data and insight to direct resources to areas of greatestimpact
• Reduce the poverty related attainment gap and improving attainment of our lowest 20% of learners
• Implement and align the work of the Curricular Improvement Cycle
• Deliver our strengthened approach to planning and future proofing our learning estate
• Multi-agency resource to meet the needs of children and young people with complex needs
• Embed effective attendance and inclusion strategies that proactively support learners, leading to sustained improvements
in attendance and reductions in exclusions
• Build on the success of our school leavers entering positive destinations, undertake a deep-dive into the data to ensure that
additional support is provided for those who need it
• Effective delivery of our key workforce priorities to support the health, safety, and wellbeing of our staff

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Delivering the Council Plan
Children’s Services Action Plan and
Performance Indicators

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Delivering the Council Plan – Place
What will we do? What difference will we make? Who is leading this? When will we do this by?
Progress development work in relation to the priority
schools identified in the Learning Estate Management
Plan –
a) Paisley Grammar School Community Campus
b) Extension and Adaptations to Park Mains High
School
c) A New Dargavel Primary School
Pupils and staff enjoy a modern, fit for purpose,
learning estate which supports learning and
achievement.
Head of Education (Strategy &
Improvement)
Learning Estate Strategy and
Delivery Manager
a) 31 August 2026
b) 31 August 2027
c) 31 August 2027
A digital strategy will be developed, implemented and
evaluated for children, young people and families
which will focus on Transformation, Capacity Building
and Innovation
In line with the corporate digital strategy, our children,
young people and families will have a successful digital
experience that supports learning and is seamless,
integrated, consistent and personalised.
Digital Learning and Link
Manager 31 March 2027

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Delivering the Council Plan – Place
What will we do? What difference will we make? Who is leading this? When will we do this by?
Implement the priority actions from the National
Strategy for Community Justice with our Community
Justice partners
Enhance intervention at the earliest opportunity by
ensuring greater consistency, confidence in and
awareness of services which support the use of direct
measures and diversion from prosecution.
Enhance community integration and support by
increasing and promoting greater use of voluntary
throughcare and third sector services. 
Community Justice Lead Officer 31 March 2027
Continue to implement ‘Equally Safe at School’ policy
A whole school approach to preventing and eradicating
violence against women and girls, with staff and
students working together with a shared
understanding and commitment to equality and safety
for all. 
Education Manager (Quality
Improvement and Health &
Wellbeing)
31 March 2027
Implement Renfrewshire’s Equally Safe Strategy Preventing and eradicating violence against women
and girls. 
Children’s Services Manager
(Front-Door Services) 31 March 2028

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Delivering the Council Plan – Economy
What will we do? What difference will we make? Who is leading this? When will we do this by?
Contribute to the Council’s Workforce Plan and
Strategic Recruitment and Talent Management Plan
to enable us to meet workforce demands particularly
in relation to Teaching and Social Work
Creating a high performing and sustainable workforce
capable of meeting the Council’s future challenges.  
Education Manager (Leadership
& Professional Development)
Strategic Manager (Children
and Justice Social Work)
31 March 2027
Working in partnership with Skills Development
Scotland, West College Scotland, Invest in
Renfrewshire and Developing the Young Workforce
West, we will ensure planned robust approaches to
supporting our most vulnerable learners into positive,
sustained destinations
This will provide a coordinated approach to ensuring
that all young people, particularly the most
vulnerable, are given the best opportunities and
supports to move into positive future pathways.
Education Manager (Developing
the Young Workforce) 31 March 2028

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Delivering the Council Plan – Fair
What will we do? What difference will we make? Who is leading this? When will we do this
by?
Implementation of the Learning, Teaching
and Assessment Strategy that clearly
articulates the vision for planning and
delivering high quality learning, teaching and
assessment
All staff will be aware of the Renfrewshire Vision for learning,
teaching and assessment and features of highly effective practice
and will begin to use them in their practice.
All practitioners are provided with the opportunity to learn from and
share highly effective practice.
All staff will be empowered and supported to strengthen their
practice through collaboration and professional learning.
Learners’ experiences will improve as the vision for highly effective
practice is realised in each establishment. 
Education Manager
(Assessment & Moderation) 31 March 2027
Raise attainment and skills for learning, life,
and work to enhance opportunities and
choices for all our children and young people
Close the educational attainment gap for our care experienced
children and young people.
Ensuring equality through targeted improvement activity in literacy,
numeracy and health and wellbeing
Improve attendance and monitor exclusions and provide help to
parents and carers to support their children and young people to
meet their educational needs. 
Heads of Education 31 March 2027

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Delivering the Council Plan – Fair
What will we do? What difference will we make? Who is leading this? When will we do this
by?
The Promise Strategic Oversight Board and
workstreams will progress and ensure
Renfrewshire ‘Keeps the  Promise’ and
delivers improved outcomes for individuals
who are care experienced, wherever possible
keeping  children within their families (CF)
Continue to progress Renfrewshire’s response to KeepingThe
Promise The Promise Manager
31 March 2027 (CP)
31 March 2028 (SIP)
(overall programme
until 2030)
We will embed the whole family wellbeing
service and request for assistance process to
ensure that families get the right support at
the right time, based on need
The request for assistance process will enable families to reach in for
support themselves and is a one door approach for professionals to
seek stage 1 support for families which will include access to our
funded third sector partners.  This will result in improved family
wellbeing outcomes, reduced number of crisis and social work
interventions and improved access to early intervention and
prevention services.
Children’s Services Manager
(Protection and
Commissioning)
31 March 2028
Work collaboratively with our key partners to
ensure our children and young people enjoy
good physical and mental health
We will have improved physical and mental health for our children,
young people, families and communities
Service Improvement
Manager
Education Manager (Quality
Improvement and Health &
Wellbeing)
31 March 2028

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Delivering the Council Plan – Fair
What will we do? What difference will we make? Who is leading this? When will we do this
by?
Focus on securing permanency
arrangements for children where this is the
best outcome
Ensure that children who cannot safely remain in the care of their
birth parents have a permanence decision six months after
becoming accommodated and have a permanence plan agreed
within 12 months of becoming accommodated.
Social Work Strategic
Manager (Depute Chief Social
Work Officer)
30 June 2026
Implement the recommendations from the
children at risk of harm inspection
Ensure that robust child protection responses are in placeand
implement the recommendations from the children at risk of harm
inspection.
Head of Children and Justice
Social Work (Chief Social Work
Officer)
31 March 2027
Review the impact of the social work re-
design
Clarity about the impact of the service re-design upon delivery of key
objectives leading to improvement and adaptation where required.
Social Work Strategic
Manager (Depute Chief Social
Work Officer)
30 November 2026

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Delivering the Council Plan – Fair
What will we do? What difference will we make? Who is leading this? When will we do this
by?
Ensure robust action plans are in place to
develop and align with the work of the Curricular
Improvement Cycle
This systematic review of the Scottish curriculumwill ensure it
remains up to date and relevant for all children and young
people.
Head of Education
(Attainment, Inclusion &
Wellbeing)
Education Manager
(Assessment & Moderation)
31 March 2028
Continue to work with establishment leaders to
support our children and young people with
Additional Support Needs
Ensure that resource is allocated effectively and equitably in
line with the staged intervention framework, supporting
Renfrewshire’s children and young people to access an
appropriate education.
Head of Education
(Attainment, Inclusion &
Wellbeing)
Education Manager (ASN &
Inclusion)
31 March 2028
Managing and Reporting Violence and Aggression
Incidents in Establishments Policy will continue
to be embedded, ensuring that local processes
are followed to track and monitor incidents
resulting in appropriate interventions and
supports being actioned
Continue to support establishments to embed new policy and
signpost to the related training opportunities to support this
both universally and targeted.
Head of Education
(Attainment, Inclusion &
Wellbeing)
Education Manager (ASN &
Inclusion)
31 March 2028

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Delivering the Council Plan – Fair Performance Indicators
Performance Indicators – Financial Year Last Updated Value Target
Proportion of children being looked after in the community Q4 2025/26 92.7% 89.9%
Percentage of accommodated Looked After Children placed with families Q4 2025/26 90.3% 83%
Percentage of care leavers participating in employment, training or education Q4 2025/26 46.7% 55%
Percentage of care leavers who have had a period of homelessness in the last 6 months Q4 2025/26 7.7% 0%
Number of diversion from prosecution cases successfully completed by 31 March New Indicator 83%
Number of bail supervision cases successfully completed by 31 march New Indicator 68%
% of NEW unpaid work orders/requirement complete within required timescale Q4 2025/26 80% 85%

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Delivering the Council Plan – Fair Performance Indicators
Performance Indicator – Academic Year Last Updated Value Target
% of Leavers attaining literacy SCQF Level 4 2024/25 96% 98%
% of Leavers attaining numeracy SCQF Level 4 2024/25 93% 94%
% of Leavers attaining literacy SCQF Level 5 2024/25 86% 88%
% of Leavers attaining numeracy SCQF Level 5 2024/25 77% 77%
Overall average total tariff 2024/25 937.78 *LGBF Data
Average total tariff SIMD quintile 1 2024/25 647 *LGBF Data
Average total tariff SIMD quintile 2 2024/25 786 *LGBF Data
Average total tariff SIMD quintile 3 2024/25 993 *LGBF Data
Average total tariff SIMD quintile 4 2024/25 1,165 *LGBF Data
Average total tariff SIMD quintile 5 2024/25 1,258 *LGBF Data
No of foundation apprenticeships accessed by Renfrewshire school pupils 2025/26 30 455
Percentage of adults satisfied with local schools 2024/25 64% *LGBF Data
* LGBF data will be compared to national and family group statistics

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Delivering the Council Plan – Fair Performance Indicators
Performance Indicator – Academic Year Last Updated Value Target
Average Total Tariff Score of Looked After Children (school leavers) 2024/25 353 340
Gap between the Average Total Tariff Score of Looked After Children (school leavers) 2024/25 64% 62%
% of P1, P4 and P7 pupils combined achieving expected CFE Level in Literacy 2024/25 77.4% *LGBF Data
% of P1, P4 and P7 pupils combined achieving expected CFE Level in Numeracy 2024/24 84.9% *LGBF Data
Literacy Attainment Gap (P1, P4, P7 Combined) 2024/24 18.9 *LGBF Data
Numeracy Attainment Gap (P1, P4, P7 Combined) 2024/24 14.9 *LGBF Data
Proportion of Children meeting developmental milestones 2023/24 80.6% *LGBF Data
Proportion of funded early years provision which is graded good/better 2024/25 84% *LGBF Data
School attendance rates (per 100 pupils) 2024/25 91% *LGBF Data
School attendance rates (per 100 'looked after pupils') 2024/25 83% *LGBF Data
School exclusions rates (per 1,000 pupils) 2024/25 25.14 *LGBF Data
* LGBF data will be compared to national and family group statistics

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Delivering the Council Plan – Fair Performance Indicators
Performance Indicator – Academic Year Last Updated Value Target
School exclusions rates (per 1,000 'looked after pupils') 2022/23 164.49 *LGBF Data
Participation rate for 16-19 year olds (%) 2024/25 93.4% *LGBF Data
% of pupils gaining 5+ awards at level 5 2024/25 72% *LGBF Data
% of pupils gaining 5+ awards at level 6 2024/25 44% *LGBF Data
% of pupils living in the 20% most deprived areas gaining 5+ awards at level 5 2024/25 54% *LGBF Data
% of pupils living in the 20% most deprived areas gaining 5+ awards at level 6 2024/25 25% *LGBF Data
% of School leavers in a positive destination 2024/25 97.9% 98%
% of children attending school (Primary) 2024/25 93.8% 95.5%
% of children attending school (Secondary) 2024/25 87.6% 91%
% of young people choosing to stay onto S6 (as % of S4 roll at September two years before) 2025/26 65.8% 71%
Percentage of children registered in this period who have previously been on the Child Protection
Register Q4 2025/26 14% Data Only
Number of children on the Child Protection Register at quarter end date Q4 2025/26 94 Data Only
* LGBF data will be compared to national and family group statistics

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Delivering the Council Plan – Living Our Values
What will we do? What difference will we make? Who is leading this? When will we do this by?
Contribute to the refresh of the Trauma Informed
Responsive Renfrewshire Roadmap and colleagues
will take part in trauma informed Community of
Practice to support ongoing learning and
improvement.
We understand what trauma is, and how it affects
people, so we will now work differently: Learning
and working together to co-create fair and helpful
collaborations to support healing and recovery
with people affected by trauma.
Progress towards, and achievement of,
improvement outcomes for people, systems and
services as detailed of five strategic themes and
outcomes in Trauma Informed and Responsive
Renfrewshire programme 
All Heads of Service 31 March 2027
Actively promote health and wellbeing support for
staff
Our staff feel supported and are aware of the health
and wellbeing support available to them.  All Heads of Service 31 March 2027

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Delivering the Council Plan – Living Our Values
What will we do? What difference will we make? Who is leading this? When will we do this by?
Place the human rights and needs of every child
and young person at the heart of service planning
and delivery (UNCRC)
Promote awareness of children’s rights, not just
amongst children and young people but also
adults. 
Strategic Manager (Children
and Justice Social Work)
Head of Education (Inclusion
and Quality Improvement)
31 March 2027
Through engagement and participation, we will
ensure the collective views, needs and aspirations
of children, young people and families are met
We take steps to ensure seldom heard voices are
heard e.g., care experienced children and young
people and those children involved in child
protection.
The participation and influence of care experienced
children, young people and their families is
recorded and evidenced. 
Head of Education (Inclusion
and Quality Improvement)
Child Protection Adviser
Children’s Services Manager
(Children & Families Teams)
31 March 2027
In partnership with the HSCP, closely collaborate
with young people and their families to ensure a
smooth transition to adult services
Empower young people with disabilities and their
families to make informed choices. 
Children’s Services Manager
(Renfrewshire-Wide Services) 31 March 2027

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Delivering the Council Plan – Living Our Values
What will we do? What difference will we make? Who is leading this? When will we do this by?
Take forward findings from Employee Survey and
develop actions across the following three priority
areas
Addressing mental and physical well being
Addressing workload issues
Receiving praise and recognition
Service Improvement Manager 31 March 2028
Play a key role in the Reshaping Renfrewshire –
Transformation Programme and associated
workstreams
Transformative learning estate strategy and provide
regular updates to CMT and Education and Children’s
Services Policy Board
All Heads of Service 31 March 2028
Undertake the duty under the Education (Scotland)
Act 2016 to promote and support, as appropriate, the
potential for Gaelic medium and Gaelic learner
education to Renfrewshire Council residents
Children and young people will have access to high
quality GME provision at all levels, where required. 
Head of Education (Strategy &
Improvement)
Education Manager
(Assessment & Moderation)
Early years – 31 August
2026
Primary expansion – 31
August 2027
Secondary – 31 August
2029

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Delivering the Council Plan – Living Our Values
What will we do? What difference will we make? Who is leading this? When will we do this by?
Actively support the Council’s ‘Living Well, Leading
Well’ programme, including driving service level
improvements to manage absence’
Staff and managers are aware of the supports
available to support good health and wellbeing
and benefit from a fair and consistent approach to
absence. Improving our absence levels is a shared
goal.
Director of Children’s Services 31 March 2027
Support Year 1 of the AI Transformation Programme
Ensure Children's Services requirements are
represented on the AI Transformation Programme. 
Children's Services subject matter expertise will
optimise the alignment of relevant AI solutions with
Children's Services strategic and operational
outcomes.
Director of Children’s Services 31 March 2027
We will increase our understanding of racism and how
to respond to racist incidents.
All schools will have anti-racism on school
improvement plan.
We will implement the self-evaluation toolkit
designed by The West Partnership to engage staff in
bespoke anti-racist activity.
We will share feedback with Renfrewshire Council
Education employees from the anti-racist training
programme developed in partnership with West of
Scotland Development Education Centre.
Head of Education (Inclusion
and Quality Improvement)
1 March 2029

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Delivering the Council Plan – Living Our Values
Performance Indicators
Performance Indicators – Financial Year Last Updated Value Target
% of Stage 1 complaints responded to within timescales agreed with
customers Q4 2025/26 100% 95%
% of Stage 2 complaints responded to within timescales agreed with
customers Q4 2025/26 95% 95%
% of FOI requests completed within timescale by Children's Services Q4 2025/26 83% 100%
Completion rate of corporate induction within 30 days of starting
employment with the Council Q4 2025/26 5% 100%
Completion rates of mandatory training courses Q4 2025/26 74% 100%

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Children’s Services
Service Improvement Plan 2026 – 29