Newsletters
Updates
Disability, disparity and demand
On 7 October Coram Voice published Disability, disparity and demand
Analysis of the experiences of CIC/CL with a disability or long-term health condition.
- There is significant disparity between local authority (LA) data which records that 13% of care leavers have a disability, and self-reported data which found 27% of care leavers reported disability or long-term health condition
- Inconsistencies in how disability is defined across LAs, with significant variation in the percentage of children in care who were recorded as having a disability in an LA, ranging from 3% in the lowest proportion to 32% in the highest. The difference was even more pronounced in care leavers with 1% vs 36%.
- The percentage of young people self-reporting a disability or long-term health condition is rising over time: 22% in 2017 up to 32% in 2023.
CSA Data Insights Hub
On 9 October the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse launched its Data Insights Hub
Headlines
This new interactive online dashboard gives instant access to local and national data on child sexual abuse in England and Wales. Try it now and build an understanding of the scale of child sexual abuse identified and recorded in your local area.
JTAI: multi-agency response to children who are victims of domestic abuse
On 12 September, Ofsted (and other inspection agencies) published Joint targeted area inspection of the multi-agency response to children who are victims of domestic abuse – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
A new programme of inspections will scrutinise local links in response to domestic abuse.
Since JTAIs last focused on this theme in 2016, the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 has made clear that children are victims of domestic abuse in their own right if they have seen, heard or experienced the effect of the abuse.
The upcoming JTAIs will evaluate local areas’ strategic arrangements for all children, with a specific focus on unborn babies and children aged 0 to 7 years old. They will look at how children’s welfare is promoted and protected through effective and timely responses to adult victims of domestic abuse – such as through maternity and adult mental health services. And they will consider how perpetrators are dealt with, including through the probation service.
Listening and engaging with care experienced individuals: A good practice guide
On 2 October, LGA published Listening and engaging with care experienced individuals: A good practice guide
Includes case studies from: Medway and West Sussex
Headlines
The guide was co-produced with a group of Coram Voice A National Voice (ANV) Ambassadors from across England who have been involved in participation. The purpose is to support councillors, council officers and those working in other organisations who want to work with those with care experience.
LGA school attendance support survey
On 4 October LGA published its school attendance support survey 2024
Key findings
- In 2023/34, nine out of ten authorities had adhered to DfE’s 2022 WTTISA guidance either fully/to a great extent (54 per cent) or a moderate extent (36 per cent);
- 68 per cent of those which adhered to some extent had incurred additional costs and 67 per cent had had to expand its school attendance team;
- It is estimated that authorities spent an additional £40 million adhering to the guidance, and created around an additional 1,100 posts;
- 42 per cent of authorities had lost income from its traded offer in 2023/24 while 54 per cent had not;
- 43 per cent of authorities had conducted additional targeted support meetings with local independent schools.
Reminders From Previous Weeks
Ofsted school inspection handbooks updated
On 16 September Ofsted published revised school inspection handbooks
Headlines
The handbooks are primarily a guide for inspectors on how to carry out inspections of maintained schools and academies under section 5 and section 8 of the Education Act 2005.
We also publish this for schools and other interested parties so that they are aware of Ofsted’s inspection processes and procedures under the education inspection framework (EIF).
We have also published guidance for monitoring inspections, along with ‘Inspecting schools: guide for maintained and academy schools’.
Possible amendments to the Health Education and Social Care Chamber Rules 2008
On 12 September MoJ published a consultation on possible changes to the Health Education and Social Care Chamber Rules regarding whether Special Educational Needs appeals can be dealt with on the papers without the consent of both parties.
Consultation closes 5 December 2024
The tribunals want to deal with their backlog by changing the process for responding to requests for assessment on paper without a hearing. Furthermore, they are seeking to remove the LAs ability to challenge this or specifically request an in-person hearing.
The consultation document is here
The response questionnaire is here
Ways to respond ; Email to: tpcsecretariat@justice.gov.uk Write to: Tribunal Procedure Committee, Access to Justice Directorate
Policy, Communications and Analysis Group, Ministry of Justice, Post Point: Area 5.20, 102 Petty France. London, SW1H 9AJ
Delivering digital transformation
On Thursday 7 November 2024 MLL Telecom (MLL) and our colleagues at the South East Grid consortium (SEG) will be hosting the IT Strategy Summit South at the Amex Stadium, Brighton.
10-4, FREE to public sector delegates
This will be a one-day IT & Telecoms strategy event for senior public sector IT leaders and decision makers from across the South of England
Agenda
SEG’s aim is to provide a collaborative approach to delivering IT network services and are keen to build on the experience of existing contracts across East Sussex, Brighton & Hove and Surrey.
More information from Krista Pickering (contact details below).
Tools & Templates
We have produced a Regional Improvement Plan (June 2024)
On 9 October the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse launched its Data Insights Hub
On 7 October Coram Voice published Disability, disparity and demand
On 4 October LGA published its school attendance support survey 2024
On 2 October, LGA published Listening and engaging with care experienced individuals: A good practice guide. Includes case studies from: Medway and West Sussex
On 18 September The Fostering Network published Out of Pocket: Fairer Fees for Foster Carers
On 16 September Ofsted published revised school inspection handbooks
On 12 September, Ofsted (and other inspection agencies) published Joint targeted area inspection of the multi-agency response to children who are victims of domestic abuse – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
On 12 September MoJ published a consultation on possible changes to the Health Education and Social Care Chamber Rules
On 10 September The Children’s Commissioner published Children Missing Education: The Unrolled Story
On 10 September DfE published Key stage 2 attainment for academic year 2023/24
On 4 September The Refugee and Migrant Children’s Consortium published a briefing on age disputes
On 3 September Ofsted published a detailed response to its ‘Big Listen’ consultation,
On 3 September Children at the Table published Struggling against the tide: children’s services spending 2022-2023
On 23 August Become published Still Too Far – Children in Care being moved miles from the people and places that matter to them
On 23 August Kinship published Forgotten, a report on support for kinship children’s education and mental health.
On 21 August Action for Children published Four things you need to know about the UK care system
On 15 August NCB published A call for change – tackling inequalities in access to mental health support for children with social work involvement and those living in poverty
In August Skills for Care published Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) child and family Annual report to the Department for Education April 2023 – March 2024
On 31 July the Centre for Homelessness Impact published Staying put: leaving care and the risk of homelessness.
On Thursday 25 July LGA and County Councils Network published Towards an effective and financially sustainable approach to SEND in England
On 16 July MSHR published Internal trafficking and exploitation of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) within England and Wales
On 11 July NFJO published This is what we think – Perspectives on being cared for from older children and young people – including those on deprivation of liberty orders
On 10 July CSA Centre and Barnardo’s SEEN published the first overview of research in relation to the sexual abuse of African, Asian and Caribbean heritage children.
On 26 June the BBC radio programme Money Box Live broadcast a 30-minute programme on Care leavers and how they manage their money
On 20 June DfE published SEND pupil census information, based on school census data.
On 17 June Joseph Rowntree Foundation published The impact of hardship on primary schools and primary and community healthcare
On 13 June The Fostering Network launched the 2024 State of the Nations’ Foster Care survey and it remains open until 30 June.