Education Providers

Closing the gap

A new report into trends in educational advantage has been published.

Street play initiatives in disadvantaged areas: experiences and emerging issues

A report published by Play England explores how local, resident-led street play initiatives and programmes are being taken forward in disadvantaged areas of England, in response to concerns about the decline in children’s opportunities for outdoor play.

DfE innovation findings on Family Safeguarding - Hertfordshire

The DfE provided funding for innovation in Hertfordshire for the setting up of Family Safeguarding teams.

£20m to tackle online grooming

Home Secretary Amber Rudd has announced more than £20m in funding over three years to help combat the online grooming of children.

Children’s Services Omnibus

The DfE have published a report of the findings from the first wave of the new Children’s Services Omnibus Survey.

Analysis of repeat child protection referrals

A research report by the University of Manchester looks the services offered by local authorities and the reasons why some children are referred multiple times.

Early help review- Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire County Council to set up a new 0-19 children and families service.

MANIFESTO TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES Policies for a Conservative Government to strengthen families

MPs and Peers have worked together to support the Government in delivering policies aimed at strengthening families, as part of its wider ambition for social reform.

Top priority on the issues of social justice and productivity for the education select committee

An influential group of MPs that probes government policy on children and young people will focus on the issues of social justice and productivity over the term of the current parliament, it has been announced.

Youth Centre gets the green light

Croydon Council and charity OnSide Youth Zones have been granted planning permission to build a £6m youth centre, due to be completed in 2018.

Government expects to introduce baseline test for reception age

It is expected that all four and five year olds will sit baseline tests on entering reception.

Ofsted joint inspections of the response to children living with domestic abuse

A report has been issues by OFSTED which is about the second joint targeted area inspection programme, which began in September 2016 and which examined ‘the multi-agency response to children living with domestic abuse’.

No signs of slowing up for Early Intervention Programme

The Pause Project is due to expand further after a funding boost from the lottery funding.

Youth prisons drive for recruitment

A prison officer graduate recruitment scheme is targeting social workers and teachers looking for a change of career.

Making The Difference: Breaking the link between school exclusion and social exclusion

A report called 'Making the Difference' addresses why teachers should be provided with skills to support pupils who are at risk of being excluded.

Treatment/outcomes of BAME individuals

A review into the treatment of, and outcomes for, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic individuals in the Criminal Justice System.

Analysis reveals children’s mental health treatment ‘shockingly poor’

The Children’s Commissioner for England, Anne Longfield sets out the shockingly poor support children with mental health services are receiving from the NHS.

Fostering system - funding and recruitment shortfall

DfE commissions report into the fostering system

Payment Survey - the views of foster carers in England

Three-quarters of looked after children in the UK are being cared for by foster families. A recent survey was conducted by The Fostering Network.

Fostering system - funding and recruitment shortfall

The Department for Education-commissioned a report into the fostering system.

Reducing the impact of Interparental conflict on children – EIF Commissioner’s Guide

This Guide is a practical planning tool to support local commissioners and leaders of services for children and families to reduce the impact of conflict between parents on children.

EIF published guide to support parenting

The EIF (Early Intervention Foundation) has published a guide which summarises evidence to support families with complex needs in priority areas such as parenting.

Oftsed advice on unregistered schools

Sir Michael Wilshaw has written to the Secretary of State for Education raising concerns from his inspectors working in the area of child safety.

Academies 'discriminating against SEN pupils', MPs told

Multi-academy trusts (MATs) are discriminating against children with special educational needs (SEN) by excluding disproportionate numbers.

Youth offending team funding cut by further £9m

Youth offending teams (YOT) have had their funding slashed by a further £9m, it has emerged.

Wraparound and holiday update

The government has published the response to the childcare provider ‘rights to request’ consultation... read more...

In Care, Out of Trouble

Interface are delighted with the excellent report by The Rt. Hon. the Lord Laming CBE DL examining how the life chances of children in care can be transformed by protecting them from unnecessary involvement in the criminal justice system.

Concern over implications of ‘profound’ safeguarding reforms

Proposed changes to Local Authority Safeguarding Arrangements.

Culture Change Programme – A Fairer Start

Interface are delighted to have been successful in being selected to provide a culture change training programme for A Fairer Start programme in Stockton.

How safe are our children? NSPCC report

See the NSPCC report which compiles and analyses the most robust and up-to-date child protection data that exists for 2016.

Norfolk YOT praised

Interface are delighted with recent news of praise.

Narey report published: Residential Care in England Report

Sir Martin Narey’s independent review of children’s residential has been published.

ADCS Conference: Trowler defends social work bill ‘exemption’ clause

The chief social worker for children speaks out

Ofsted call for more powers

Ofsted Chief Inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw has asked the government for more powers to monitor councils where children’s safety is at risk.

CQC report ‘Not Seen, Not Heard’

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is calling all health professionals to do more to listen to children.

Chain Effects 2015 – Sutton Trust Report

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

Health visitor chief warns against scrapping mandatory checks

The chief of the Institute of Health Visiting (IHV) has warned ministers against ditching the five checks health visitors are currently required to carry out on children up to two-and-a-half years old.

Children’s centre overhaul

Andrew Selous, a conservative MP has asked the government to provide funding to help local authorities across England turn children's centres into “family centres”

Poor families with young children 'hit hardest' by government reforms

Research by the London School of Economics (LSE), Manchester University and York University found that poverty has increased since the coalition government came to power in 2010, and predicted it will get worse in the next five years.

No evidence academies improve children's outcomes' - MPs

In its Academies and Free Schools inquiry report, the education select committee recommends that the government should “stop exaggerating” the success of the academies programme unless it has clear evidence to prove its impact which it currently does not have.

Rise in number of children seeking mental health support

The number of children and young people in contact with mental health services is on the rise, with an increase of 6,905 in the space of two months.

DfE names councils to trial early years pupil premium

Seven local authorities are to test new arrangements for providing additional support to disadvantaged three- and four-year-olds in early education.

Tougher Ofsted inspections reveal visible fall in children's services ratings in 3 out of 4 councils

Over half of children’s services departments assessed under Ofsted’s single inspection framework have been rated in the bottom two grades, with nearly half inspected so far seeing a fall in their judgement compared with previous performance.

Over-16s are not sufficiently tracked by councils, say MPs

MPs have urged that councils need to strengthen tracking 16 to 18-year-olds through education, employment and training.

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

Theresa May states grammar school plans

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

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.

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

Education Committee to scrutinise primary school testing

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

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.

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.

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.

NCB creates a mental health toolkit for schools

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

Education provision to double for those in youth Custody

Hundreds of under-18s in custody will spend double the amount of time in the classroom after the government announced four new contracts for education provision in young offender institutions (YOIs).

Longfield urges children's centres to turn into family hubs

Children Commissioner's appeal to government to support family hubs

Minister of Justice plan for a young offender mental health programme

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

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.

£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.

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.

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

Increasing numbers of children have been let down in 2016.

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.

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.

£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.

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.

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.

Accreditation exams for social workers

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

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.

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.

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.

ADCS response on Social work accreditation

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

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.

Fast-track social work scheme opens for applications

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Children’s Commissioner’s Report on Vulnerability

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Children’s centres consultation delayed

The DfE have confirmed that a consultation on the future of children’s centres has been delayed... read more...

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...

Government commits to long-term funding for youth project

The government will continue to fund the British Youth Council (BYC) to support its Youth Voice initiative until 2020.

Schools -Effective Staff Support and Supervision Training

Interface are delighted to be providing Effective Staff Support and Supervision Training for a group of schools in Coventry.

Early Years Educator Article - Level 4 Certificate - Working with Children, Individuals and Families

Read more about a new programme designed to equip workers with the understanding, ability and confidence to go out and work effectively with children, individuals and families.

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

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

New eLearning course - Practitioner Skills in Reflective Practice

New eLearning course - Practitioner Skills in Reflective Practice

e-learn your way to better family outcomes for only £99

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.

Concerns over school childcare provision plans

Concerns over school childcare provision plans

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said parents in England will be given the right to request schools provide childcare for the full working day during term time and in the holidays. But the childcare sector has voiced concerns about the plans.

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.

North-south divide apparent by age five

Early Signs of Gang and Youth Violence risk can be picked up by aged 7

The Early Intervention Foundation have published reports which state that children and young people may be at risk of gang involvement or violent lifestyles can be identified in children as young as seven.

eLearning - Four Great Packages

We have four eLearning packages at present - 3 of which are brand new. Don't miss out on the opportunity of learning these great packages at phenomenal prices from £29 per learner - seriously...

Early help experts urge public services to be ‘preventer of problems'

A report ‘One Hundred Days For Early Action’ from Community Links-led group Early Action Task Force argues that political parties have so far failed to effectively promote the importance of intervening earlier to support families and children.

‘Fundamental’ review of Ofsted early years inspections needed

A strong early years sector needs a robust, reliable inspection framework...read more...

More free schools

Government drive to establish 500 more free schools... read more...

Call for 16 and 17 year-olds to vote in a planned referendum on EU membership

The chair of the British Youth Council has called on the government to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote...read more...

Give councils greater school intervention powers

We need to ensure robust intervention powers for all of those held accountable for school performance...

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...

Gang prevention work needs to start in primary school

A report into gangs and youth crime by the Commons home affairs committee says anti-gang prevention work in all schools, including primary schools, needs to be increased to reflect that "children as young as seven are at risk of gang involvement".

Prioritise free childcare for disadvantaged children, say peers

A House of Lords Committee on Affordable Childcare is calling for a radical rethink in childcare funding to ensure disadvantaged children are prioritised.

Charity condemns exclusion practices in academies

Academies have been challenged for their “alarmingly higher” rate of pupil exclusions compared to state schools and for failing to reinstate pupils on appeal.

Charity criticises academy exclusion practices

Academies have been criticised for having an “alarmingly higher” rate of pupil exclusions than state schools and for failing to reinstate pupils on appeal.

LGA urges Ofsted to overhaul children services inspections

The Local Government Association (LGA) has warned that Ofsted’s current arrangements for inspecting children’s services paint an unfair picture of a local authority area’s efforts to protect vulnerable children, only assessing council performance and failing to consider the contribution of other agencies.

MPs warn of Academy safeguarding confusion

MPs have warned that pupil safety is being put at risk due to confusion over safeguarding arrangements for academies.

Ban on using cells for children in mental health crisis

A Commons home affairs committee report on mental health illness within the criminal justice system is highly critical of the continued use of police cells for children and young people experiencing a mental health crisis and lack of available alternative places of safety.

LGA say post-16 study failings cost £800m

Figures provided by the Local Government Association (LGA) show that more than £800m of education money is being “wasted” by schools and colleges because of poor advice being given to students about post-16 study options.

Ofsted tells two further authorities to improve children's services

Both Halton Borough Council, in the north west, and Hull City Council, in East Yorkshire, were given a “requires improvement” grading after being inspected in November.

Councils receive funding to promote early years premium

From April, early years providers delivering free hours to disadvantaged three- and four-year-olds will be able to share £50m in EYPP funding. The DfE expect councils to use the money on work such as telling local providers about the premium and upgrading IT systems.

New school mental health measures

Education minister Sam Gyimah announced a series of measures to improve mental health support and education in schools.

Darlington Case Study – Working Whole Family, Core Skills and Effective Practice

Darlington required a number of voluntary and statutory partners within the borough to become more aware of the concept of whole family working in line with the Care Act 2014.

LB Tower Hamlets – ATHE Level 4 working with individuals, children and families

Tower hamlets commissioned Interface to run this brand new accredited course following our delivery of 4 previous city and guilds accredited courses.

Thurrock - Report writing and Effective communication

Interface provided a one-day training session aimed at Children Social Care Social Workers to increase the quality of written assessments for newly appointed and existing staff.

City and Guilds Working with Parents Level 4 – LB of Tower Hamlets

LB of Tower Hamlets wanted to embed an accredited program into their whole family working framework. This training was to coincide with changes in the authority and a will of LBTH to invest in their staff.

Early Help Training – London Borough of Haringey

Interface worked with Haringey Early Help Executive group members to develop a 3 module training programme for front line staff and those involved in the wider early help offer. The package of support was to integrate the new Early help workflow in to practice and embrace the culture change that this would bring. This bespoke course was delivered over 40 training days.

Motivational interviewing – Berneslai Homes

Berneslai Homes runs a large Family Intervention Service. We supported the team through the use of Motivational Interviewing.

Motivational interviewing – Hertfordshire

We were successful in providing a large contract of Motivational Interviewing for family safeguarding teams across Hertfordshire.

Adults with Complex Needs Evaluation – Hertfordshire CC and partners

We were commissioned to provide an independent evaluation of the Adults with Complex Needs Service.

Motivational Interviewing - West London Zone

West London Zone is inspired by the Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ), a ‘cradle-to-college’ pipeline of support for children. The HCZ approach is to do ‘whatever it takes’ to help young people escape generational disadvantage – with the ambition to achieve a ‘tipping point’ whereby the whole community has a positive experience of learning, work and family life.

Darlington - Effective Whole Family Working

Darlington City Council are focussed on developing a whole council approach to the new responsibilities created by the Children and Families Act and the Care Act to consider the needs of the whole family, delivery of coordinated packages of support and the protection of children and young people from excessive or inappropriate caring roles.

Level 4 – Working with Children, Individuals and Families– Warrington

Warrington Borough Council has implemented an integrated multi-agency approach to supporting children, young people, families and vulnerable adults across the continuum from Early Intervention to statutory safeguarding services.

Stockton - Cognitive, Social & Emotional Development Training Programme

Stockton Council have developed ‘A Fairer Start’ ethos and philosophy that aims to ensure that every child has the best start.

Advanced Safeguarding -Level 3 - Ashmead Primary School

Interface provides an in-depth programme for school staff working directly with cases who are subject to or at risk of being subject to a child protection plan...

Safeguarding and Signs of Abuse Training

Interface worked with Ashmead Primary School on safeguarding and signs of abuse training...read more...