News

Public spending on children in England: 2000 to 2020 is stable but there are some worrying trends

Public spending on children in England: 2000 to 2020 is stable but there are some worrying trends

Secure Schools guidance

Secure Schools guidance

Concerns over nursery funding in Scotland

Concerns over nursery funding in Scotland

Government will keep the Prevent programme

Government will keep the Prevent programme

OFSTED to stop schools using ‘off role’

Ofsted inspector Sue Morris-King spoke to the education select committee and said that OFSTED are ramping up scrutiny of off-rolling. She said that they will strongly challenge any school pressuring parents to take children off roll during inspection and have recently trained inspectors on the issue.

Substantial improvement in Tower Hamlets responding to knife crime

Substantial improvement in Tower Hamlets responding to knife crime

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse has published its Interim Report on 25 April.

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse has published its Interim Report on 25 April.

Representation of children in public law proceedings

A study has concluded that children should continue to be represented by both a publicly-funded legal representative and a Cafcass guardian, known as the ‘tandem model’ of representation.

Not making ends meet

See a report about the crisis support schemes run by local authorities. It states that they are failing to operate effectively leaving
more people having to turn to foodbanks and other charities for help.

Reducing Parental Conflict Programme

A £39m programme aimed at reducing conflict between parents in disadvantaged families is to be trialled in 30 council areas. This is to build on existing activity, committed expert organisations and the latest evidence to maximise the impact of investment.

More than a number: Scale of youth homelessness revealed

Centrepoint launches data on youth homelessness in the UK

Members of the Serious Violence Taskforce announced

The Home Secretary has announced that a coalition of government ministers, cross-party MPs, police leaders, local government and the voluntary sector will make up the Serious Violence Taskforce – which will ensure sustained, swift and decisive action against violent crime.

Troubled Families payments – trial for up-front payments

A new funding system, called "earned autonomy" will be piloted with 11 local authorities from next month to pay for support provided through the government's Troubled Families programme.

ADCS support flexibility around dropping independent reviewing officers

The Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS) has backed a stocktake and recommendations by supporting the idea that Councils should be given the choice whether to continue providing independent reviewing officers for children in care

Serious Crime Taskforce to be created

A new Serious Violence Taskforce to bring together key sectors.

Ofsted praises MASH teams

Praise for Children's Services in Waltham Forest MASH team.

Primary staff need more help to steer children away from gangs

Frustrated primary staff felt they were doing everything they could to support young people at risk of getting involved with gangs.

A report shows children in north falling behind

Anne Longfield, Children’s Commissioner identifies the extent of how much children from the north are falling behind compared to their peers in London.

Spending cuts to blame for children’s mental health

Government’s failure to acknowledge that many problems to improve mental health are the result of public spending cuts.

Our Lives Our Care

Looked after children’s views on their well-being

Ofsted announces crackdown on school exclusion 'hot spots'

Ofsted to raise concerns with eight areas about the high number of pupils being removed from schools.

Foster Care in England

A Review for the Department for Education by Sir Martin Nareyand Mark Owers

LGA call for mental health counselling for all pupils

Every secondary school in the country should be able to offer independent mental health counselling to all pupils

Half of infant young carers under ten are suffering broken sleep to care for family members

A snapshot survey released by Carers Trust today, reveals a high proportion of infant young carers are regularly suffering from broken sleep in order to look after unwell family members

Multisystemic therapy 'no more effective' than conventional support, study finds

An intensive family therapy programme, used nationwide to turn around the lives of teenagers involved in antisocial behaviour and on the edge of care, is no more effective than conventional methods, researchers have concluded.

Youth Index 2018 Annual Report

The Princes Trust found that almost half of young people fear that there will be fewer job opportunities in the next three years.

Wolverhampton Safeguarding Children Board recommend changes to the way domestic abuse is dealt with

Wolverhampton Safeguarding Children Board SERIOUS CASE REVIEW on Child G wants to see agencies involved in the case look closely at how domestic abuse services can be improved as well as how those working with families can better understand how faith can impact on parenting.

Treasury to examine the impact of 30 hours free childcare extension

The committee will consider, scrutinise and explore areas of the free childcare entitlement for working families.

Labour urges action on youth knife crime

Labour has called on the government to deploy youth workers in hospitals to counter the growing number of young people dying from knife crime.

Social mobility board members all leave

All of the members resigned in protest stating that they felt that there was a lack of support from government.

Ofsted criticises treatment of SEND pupils across mainstream schools

The inspectorate's 2017 annual report states that in some cases informal exclusions are taking place, with parents being asked by head teachers to keep children at home as schools are unable to effectively support them.

Cheshire West and Chester deliver good multi agency response – OFSTED

The Joint targeted area inspection of the multi-agency response to abuse and neglect in Cheshire West and Chester found good evidence of multi agency work to support children in the area.

£45m boost for young people with SEND

A multi-million pound package has been announced to support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

Changes to Universal Credit

Following the Budget 2017 there was an announcement of changes that will make a huge difference to the thousands on Universal Credit.

Inspectors concerned about staff shortages in Youth prisons

HM Inspectorate of Prisons analysis of experiences in youth prisons.

Innovation projects 'struggle to address social worker recruitment problems'

Testing new ways of working in children's care.

Parents’ alcohol abuse damaging the lives of 700,000 teenagers

Parents’ alcohol abuse is damaging the lives of an estimated 700,000 teenagers across the UK, according to new research from The Children’s Society.

Good intentions, good enough?

There are over 6,000 children who spend much of their childhood in residential special schools and colleges. A review of the experiences and outcomes of children and young people in residential special schools and colleges has now taken place.

The Future of Family Services - report

Consultation on Local safeguarding Transitional arrangements

Consultation on Local safeguarding Transitional arrangements

Figures rocket of child-on-child assaults

Police figures reveal almost 30,000 cases which included 2,625 alleged offences on school premises in the last four years.

National mental and physical health initiative launched in schools

The Active in Mind project launches this month to improve children’s mental health and will be evaluated, and its successes shared, by academics at Leeds Beckett University.

Victims and witnesses will have their experience of going to court made easier through a number of new waiting rooms

Investment in victim and witness waiting room in courts.

Landmark review places family ties at the heart of prison reform

Ministry of Justice welcomes Lord Farmer's recommendations to strengthen family ties to help offenders turn their lives around and protect public safety.

A Country that Works for all Children

A position paper prepared by ADCS (The Association of Directors of Children’s Services Ltd) explores the impact of different initiatives and policies on children’s lives and outcomes.

Language as a child wellbeing indicator

Early language acquisition impacts on all aspects of young children’s non-physical development

Social mobility and opportunity areas

The DfE seeking to boost children and young people's life chances in 12 English districts that score poorly on social mobility.

Ethnicity facts and figures

For the first time there is a website created which brings together both new and already published official data on racial disparity in one place for the first time.

£20m drive to create alliances and improve children's services

The Department for Education has set aside up to £20m to encourage councils to support each other to improve children's services standards.

Government Statistics show further cuts on Early Years & Youth Services

A further fall in spending by £112m in a year on early years services.

Priority for Social Justice & Productivity

A leading committee group of MP’s who explore and challenge government’s policy on children and young people will be focusing on matters surrounding social justice and productivity.

Proposal to ensure early years teachers head up nurseries in deprived areas

An alliance of early years leaders, academics and charities is recommending to the government to ensure a qualified early years teacher leads all nurseries in deprived areas within the next three years.

The DfE appoints two LA’s to failing Children Services to aid improvement

A decision was made by Justine Greening, Education Secretary, following an Ofsted report found that Tower Hamlets Council was failing to perform.

A shocking picture of care leavers missing out on suitable mental health support

Research by the leading UK’s children’s charity Barnardos suggests that nearly half of England’s care leavers may be suffering with mental health problems.

Improvement Through Inspection?

A personal critique of Ofsted methodology and the implementation of the Single Inspection Framework for Local Authority Children’s Services in Stockport.

Making young minds matter: Reshaping support services for young people

A new report suggests the reshaping of services is needed.

Early Intervention - Losing in the long run

Losing in the Long Run report, produced by Action for Children, calls for renewed commitment from the Government.

Children's services overspend tops £600m

Councils are overspending on their children's social care budgets by more than £600m a year as they look to protect vulnerable groups amid cuts in central government funding, council leaders are warning.

Council-led safeguarding hub helps smash child sex abuse ring

A multi-agency hub bringing together social workers, police and health professionals has helped convict 18 members of a child sex abuse ring.

2,000 additional CAMHS staff to be recruited

The NHS has announced plans to recruit and train an additional 2,000 nurses, therapists and qualified clinicians to work in CAMHS.

Allegations of domestic abuse in child contact cases Joint research by Cafcass and Women’s Aid

A recent report has set out the findings of a small-scale study undertaken by Cafcass, with Women’s Aid, looking at domestic abuse allegations in 216 child contact cases.

Signs of Safety Evaluation

Signs of Safety approach to child protection found improved social work practice.

IMPROVING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEM

EIF has published a summary report of key findings and interventions to be effective in improving outcomes for vulnerable children.

Doubling the early years pupil premium to improve life chances

The ‘’Time for Change report by the Social Mobility Commission calls for a substantial investment in early years education for disadvantaged children.

Charities appeal for action

More needs to be done to identify young people with substance abuse issues and address the underlying issues, two charities have said.

Children’s Commissioner’s Report on Vulnerability

New analysis from the Children’s Commissioner reveals a host of shocking statistics.

Record increase in children receiving specialist SEN support

There has been a record increase in the number of children receiving additional support for special educational needs (SEN), with the figure rising by more than 30,000 in a single year.

Interparental relationships, conflict and the impacts of poverty

This overview summarises outputs from the Early Intervention Foundation (EIF) about why action to tackle inter-parental conflict matters for children and families who are in or at risk of poverty.

Unprotected – a report on attitudes to CSE

Family Education Trust reports on findings of serious case reviews and independent inquiry looking at reasons why abuse of young people was not picked up by professionals.

School Budget findings – the Sutton trust

The Sutton Trust surveyed 1,361 teachers in its annual teacher polling through the National Foundation for Educational Research Teacher Voice Omnibus survey, highlighting how budget cuts are affecting schools across the country.

Public Health England to monitor councils on Health Visitor Checks

The government body responsible for public health, Public Health England (PHE) has said that it will ensure that local authorities fulfil their duty to provide health visitor checks for young children.

National evaluation of the Troubled Families Programme 2015 - 2020: family outcomes - family survey: part 1

A newly released report contains findings from the baseline survey of families.

Fast-track social work scheme opens for applications

Government aims to train more than 3,000 new social workers through fast-track schemes.

How does child poverty affect behaviour and school achievement?

An anaysis by EIF (Early Invention Foundation) shows children from less well-off families are more likely to experience emotional and behavioural problems at age 5 and do less well academically at age 10-16.

ADCS response on Social work accreditation

ADCS welcomes government efforts to improve the quality and confidence of the children and family social work workforce.

Compulsory SRE in schools from 2019

Sex and relationships education (SRE) will be made compulsory in all secondary schools. However, parents will continue to have a right to withdraw their children from sex education.

DfE figures on children's social work caseloads

Average social work caseloads vary by in excess of 20 cases in different parts of England, new statistics published for the first time today show.

Professional development in speech, language and communication: findings from a national workforce survey

A new report from The Communication Trust presents the findings of consultation with the children and young people’s workforce.

Accreditation exams for social workers

Children's social workers will be able to start taking exams to achieve accredited status from November.

No choice but to send students with mental health problems to A&E

In the past year 74% of colleges in England had sent students experiencing mental health issues to A&E.

More childcare places to be created with £50m grant

Government has set up a £50m grant scheme to create 9,000 more childcare places and to help government deliver it’s free childcare pledge.

£80m Life Chances Fund available to Early Years Organisations

An announcement by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Cabinet Office encourages bids from Early Years organisations.

Child poverty unit abolished

The cross-departmental child poverty unit to help reduce child poverty has been scrapped. The functions will now be included into the wider remit of DWP.

No ‘Life Chances’ strategy to be published

The long-awaited government strategy to boost the life chances of the poorest children in the country has been dropped and will not be published.

Time to act: charity urges Government to tackle England’s poor record on children

Increasing numbers of children have been let down in 2016.

ADCS Safeguarding Pressures National Research: Phase 5

ADCS Safeguarding Pressures research has provided evidence of trends in safeguarding activity and the provision of services to children and their families based on information from local authorities in five phases spanning 2007/8 to 2015/16.

£4.30 funding rate for childcare places

The government has responded to consultation stating that every council will receive a minimum funding rate of £4.30 per hour to cover the cost of childcare places for three- and four-year-olds.

Children’s Minister gets support from leaders to create social work body plans

Children’s service leaders are supporting Edward Timpson’s idea of a new professional body for social work which to be supported by the government.

Minister of Justice plan for a young offender mental health programme

A £24m programme to improve gaps in mental health treatment for young offenders.

Longfield urges children's centres to turn into family hubs

Children Commissioner's appeal to government to support family hubs

NCB creates a mental health toolkit for schools

A new online mental health toolkit aimed at staff and students in schools.

Time to Change – mental health research

Research shows that 49% of teenage boys in the UK would not feel comfortable talking to their dads about their mental health.

Troubled Families programme – little impact

The NIESR's analysis unable to find consistent evidence that the Troubled Family Programme had any significant or systematic impact.

Troubled Families approach needed to boost life chances

Conservative MP John Glen called for more integrated working between agencies to improve the life chances of children.

Education Committee to scrutinise primary school testing

Education committee launched an inquiry into how primary school reforms impacted teaching and learning.

Isabelle Trowler appeals for more social workers in early help

A plea from Chief children's social worker for England who is asking for greater involvement in supporting families in early help

Childcare funding formula miss the mark on redistribution

The Family and Childcare Trust has completed their analysis on how funding of free early education and childcare for three and four year olds. Findings highlight that the formula does not prioritise those areas that most need to boost childcare places.

Theresa May states grammar school plans

Prime Minister Theresa May has announced plans to allow schools to choose pupils according to their capabilities.

Innovation funding available for anti-radicalisation projects

Government will award a total of £1.5m to fund "innovative" projects which will help to prevent young people from being radicalised

Wilshaw wants councils to take responsibility for school improvement

Ofsted's Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, spoke at the London Councils education summit in central London.

Innovation fund opens for anti-radicalisation projects

A total of £1.5m has been set aside by government to fund "innovative" projects that work to prevent young people from being radicalised, it has been announced.

Schools 'should be incentivised' to take on vulnerable children

The chair of the National Association of Virtual School Heads has said that virtual school heads are sometimes told by a head teacher that a school cannot take on a looked-after child because they are full... read more...

Islamist extremism in prisons report

In September 2015 the then Secretary of State for Justice commissioned a departmental review, supported by external expertise... read more...

Ofsted announces domestic abuse focus for multi-agency inspections

Multi-agency inspections of how services work together to protect children within local authority areas will from next month focus on the quality of support for children living with domestic abuse, Ofsted has said.

Building emotional resilience in the children and families workforce

A report by the University of Bedfordshire outlines the need for policies to support workforce.

Consultation launched on reporting and acting on child abuse and neglect

This consultation outlines options for reform of the child protection system in England, specifically in relation to reporting and acting on child abuse and neglect.

Chain Effects 2015 – Sutton Trust Report

The Sutton Trust have published a report on the impact of academy chains on low-income students.

ADCS Conference: Timpson announces foster care review

The government is to undertake a national “stocktake” of fostering in order to understand how the system can be improved.

ADCS Conference: One in five children’s social workers ‘fail’ accreditation exam

Around 20 per cent of children’s social workers taking part in a trial of a controversial accreditation system did not pass, it has emerged.

Foundations for life: What works to support parent child interaction in the early years

A report by 'The Early Intervention Foundation'.

£80m payment-by-results fund to tackle social problems

Projects aimed at improving the life chances of vulnerable children and young people could gain a share of a new £80m government fund that links payments to improved outcomes.

Manchester Council puts £10m into children’s services

Aiming to lower social worker caseloads by employing 132 members by 2021.

Ellie Butler Serious Case Review

A serious case review criticised the family courts for their role.

Dentists urge action over 'crisis' in child dental health

Dentists are warning of a "crisis" in child dental after new figures revealed that thousands of children in England had to have decaying teeth removed last year.

Putting infant mental health in the spotlight

NSPCC has launched a campaign to improve mental health provision for looked-after children under five.

Wood Report Review of the role and functions of Local Safeguarding Children Boards

See the recent Wood report on a review of the role and functions of Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) within the context of local strategic multi-agency working.

Webinar – Research and Evaluation

Please listen to the recent Webinar to hear tips from experts about what to consider in research and evaluation.

MP Tim Loughton concerned about quiet chief children's social worker

Chief children’s social worker Isabelle Trowler has been criticised for failing to give the post a high enough media or public profile.

Wendy Weal talks at Community Care Live Conference

Our Director, Wendy Weal presents at the recent Community Care Live conference in Birmingham. It is the largest free social care event featuring popular innovations.

New publication Parental Mental Health and Child Welfare Work

This Annual brings together different perspectives on success and collaborative working for parental mental health and child welfare professionals.

Our own Wendy Weal has a section (Chapter 11 p75-77) on the schools vulnerability tool.

Nursery World Interview with Wendy Weal - New Level 4 certificate for early intervention

Suffolk Council praised for outstanding work with children in care

Suffolk Council praised for outstanding work with children in care

Government announces extra £80m for SEN reforms

Councils across England will share £35.8m in 2016/17 to help them transfer young people to education, health and care (EHC) plans... read more...

MP Tim Loughton supports New Level 4 Training ‘Working with children individuals and families.’

We are delighted that MP Tim Loughton has endorsed our new Level 4 training 'Working with vulnerable children, individuals and families' programme.He has also agreed to write a foreword for the comprehensive learner recourse explaining to learners how valuable their role is in transforming the lives of vulnerable families.

New social work body

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has announced that there will be a new social work organisation to drive up standards... read more...

Ofsted joint safeguarding inspections

Joint inspections of health, social care and criminal justice services for vulnerable children and young people will launch in February... read more...

Councils receive cash to test out youth services

Six local authorities are to receive a share of £200,000 in government funding to test out alternative ways of providing youth services... read more...

Every school to teach online safety

Every school will be forced to use internet filters and teach children about online safety under government plans to better protect pupils from exploitation and radicalisation.

Increase in 'missing' fostered children

The number of children going missing from foster care has rocketed by 19% over the last year... read more...

Webinar Recording: Brand New Level 4 Training!

We are proud to announce the launch of our new Level 4 training programme - Working with vulnerable children, individuals and families. This includes a recent webinar recording - so be sure to read more...

Extra £350m to deliver free childcare expansion

The government has pledged £300m to improve funding for early years providers... read more...

Children's centres must innovate

Government and local authorities must do more to find "innovative" ways to deliver a full range of children's centres services... read more...

Peer-mentoring plans for schools

DfE minister Sam Gyimah has said he wants to pursue peer-mentoring projects in schools... read more...

Centre for Youth Impact to take on 'national leadership' role

An organisation established by government to support the youth sector is to take on a "national leadership" role... read more...

¾ Local Authorities sign up for regional adoption agencies

Nearly three quarters of councils will become part of regional adoption agencies... read more...

Police training on children's issues undermined by 'lack of capacity'

Police training on children's issues undermined by 'lack of capacity'

More five-year-olds achieve good level of development

More five-year-olds achieve good level of development.
The DfE state that more five-year-olds are reaching expected levels of development than ever before. The early years foundation stage profile results shows improving attainment for children in early years settings with the number of children who achieved a good level of development increasing by 5.9% over the last year.

Review of youth justice system

Review of youth justice system

A former government adviser on school behaviour will head a review of the youth justice system.

Michael Gove has asked Charlie Taylor to review the youth justice system. He was previously asked to e

School staff concerned over rising levels of pupil anxiety

School staff concerned over rising levels of pupil anxiety

Cuts to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) have been condemned by teachers' leaders amid concerns over rising levels of stress and anxiety among pupils.

MPs call for urgent changes to pupil premium

MPs call for urgent changes to pupil premium

More needs to be done to ensure the pupil premium improves outcomes for disadvantaged children, a group of MPs has said.

Increase in radicalisation cases in family courts

Increase in radicalisation cases in family courts

Increasing numbers of cases involving children whose parents are planning to travel to areas of Syria controlled by Islamic State are coming before family courts, the country’s top family judge has warned.

PM announced drive to improve outcomes for children in care

PM announced drive to improve outcomes for children in care

Improving outcomes for children in care will form part of an “all out assault on poverty” by government, Prime Minister David Cameron has said.

Try our elearning course Tools to support work with children and families

Try our elearning course - Tools to support work with children and families
From only £29 per user - contact us to discuss a discount on multiple licences.

Youth Offending Service Pilot in Hillingdon

Youth Offending Service Pilot in Hillingdon
Hillingdon are piloting a model of whole family working in their youth offending service around the pre court population. They have been successful in obtaining MOPAC funding for this.

Drive on children’s oral health

Drive on children’s oral health
Public Health England (PHE) will work with councils to improve children’s oral health.

Tower Hamlets Workforce Training

We are delighted to have been chosen to run the Working with Parents Level 4 award in Tower Hamlets. We will be provided this to seven different teams across the workforce and cant wait to start this Friday!

Newcastle Staff Support / Supervision Training 19-20th October 2015

Newcastle Staff support/Supervision Training 19-20th October 2015...

Children Society Report on failings for migrant children

A report by The Children's Society found that thousands of migrant children entering the UK on their own are being failed by government... read more...

Police use new FGM control orders for the first time

On the day that control orders to protect girls from female genital mutilation, Bedfordshire Police used them to prevent two girls travelling to Somalia for the illegal operation... read more...

Debate about people who go missing regularly

Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy has said that young, vulnerable people may be better dealt with by social workers, rather than police officers... read more...

Under 18s to be treated as 'children first' by Police

The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) have set out in a document for how officers should deal with young people... read more...

Quarter of councils fail to monitor mental health of children in care

1/4 of local authorities are failing to adequately assess and monitor the mental health needs of looked-after children... read more...

Self-harm to rise

Self-harm, eating disorders, and anxiety and depression are likely to be the biggest risk factors facing young people in the coming years... read more...

Open Training: A Sound Investment for your Workforce

Effective Supervision, Skills to Work Effectively with Complex Families and Child Sexual Exploitation are training events happening across the UK between September and October 2015...read more...

Early intervention funding halved under coalition

Councils have cut spending on early intervention by a further eight per cent in 2015/16... read more...

Overhaul of resettlement support needed

NACRO has gathered evidence that demonstrates that too often support services for children in custody are patchy and planning for release starts too late... read more...

Prevent Duty

The DfE have published advice about the ‘prevent duty’ in the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015... read more...

Police child protection 'inadequate' in a third of cases

The protection and safeguarding of vulnerable children is not being given high enough priority... read more...

Youth offending team managers criticise stocktake

Youth offending team (YOT) managers have criticised a government review of their work... read more...

Summer-born children - at risk of behaviour problems and poor academic attainment

Summer-born children are at risk of behaviour problems and poor academic attainment in their first year at school unless the curriculum is tailored to take their needs into account... read more...

Taskforce created to drive childcare reforms

Prime Minister David Cameron has created an “implementation taskforce”

One in four apprenticeships goes to under-19

The LGA is calling on the government to carry out urgent reform of the system...read more...

Bullying 'more damaging than maltreatment'

Children who are bullied are at greater risk of mental health problems in later life than those who are maltreated by adults, according to research...

Early life health ‘as important as national defence'

A report, Building Great Britons, says that mental health problems, neglect and abuse can be passed down from one generation to the next “creating a vicious cycle and damaging environment in which to grow up”.

Evaluation of Islington’s Early Help Family Support Services

We are delighted to be carrying out an evaluation of the operational, strategic and cost effectiveness of Islington’s Early Help Family Support Services.