UPDATE NO 452 07 May 2021

Ofsted research review series: Science.

Ofsted published this review on 29 April 2021. It explores the literature relating to the field of science education. Its purpose is to identify factors that can contribute to high-quality school science curriculums, assessment, pedagogy and systems. Ofsted will use this understanding of subject quality to examine how science is taught in England’s schools. They will then publish a subject report to share what they have learned.

Summary

The performance of pupils who study science in England is significantly above the average performance of pupils in other countries. Over the past 10 years, there has been an increase in the number of pupils wanting to study science beyond age 16. However, there is emerging evidence from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), key stage 2 national sample tests and Ofsted’s own research into curriculum that suggests the picture is not an improving one for all pupils and may be deteriorating. This makes the findings of this review particularly significant, not only because it identifies features associated with high-quality science education but because it also shines a light on some of the barriers that prevent their implementation.

DCS turnover analysis from ADCS

Gary Dumbarton of ADCS has produced an analysis of turnover of DCS posts in England. The report covering the year to 31 March 2021 shows that turnover slowed during the panademic, but there was still at least one change of DCS in 23% of children’s services authorities.

In the South East, we welcomed seven new permanent appointments in Bracknell Forest, Brighton and Hove, Medway, Oxfordshire, Southampton, Surrey and West Sussex; an interim appointment in Slough, meaning that our turnover rate was 42% in the year to 31 March 2021.

Future dates for network meetings

Lead Members Group: More information from Alison Michalska (contact details below)

Data Benchmarking: Tuesday 13 July 2021. More information from Alastair Lee (contact details below)

Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board: Tuesday 13 July 2021. More information from Rebecca Eligon (contact details below)

AD Education: Friday 7 May 2021 – 10.30am, then Friday 18 June  – 10.30am.  More information from Chris Owen (contact details below)

AD Safeguarding: Friday 11 June 2021. More information from Mark Evans (contact details below)

QA Network: Monday 7 June 2021. 2pm – 5pm. Contact Sally Hickman at sally.hickman2@hants.gov.uk for MS Teams invitation

Fostering Network: 10.30am 19 July 2021. More information from Rebecca Eligon (contact details below)

SEND SE19: More information from Tracey Maytas (contact details below)

Effective Children’s Social Work in a Pandemic: What we’ve learned. Wed 26 May

Essex County Council were commissioned by the DfE to do a peer review of social work practice during the pandemic in order to capture learning and insights. 

The findings from that exercise, which involved six local authorities (including Medway Youth Services), will be shared via a free online conference featuring keynotes and panel inputs from Prof. Harry Ferguson, Yvette Stanley, Isabelle Trowler, Jenny Coles and a group of young people. The event, which will take place on Wednesday 26 May, 9.30am – 3.30pm, also features a series of workshops including: leadership; virtual assessments; anti-racist practice; home working; CPD; and, the experiences of children and young people with SEND.

In order to allow as many authorities as possible to benefit from this learning there are regional ticket allocations (to find out more about the South East allocation, please contact Mark Evans – details below). If tickets are sold out for your region, please select from general admission tickets.

Please see the event flyer here, the booking form is here.

APSW Knowledge and Evidence Events in connection with the DfE Social Care Review

The Association of Professors of Social Work has organised a series of four Knowledge and Evidence Events in May and June in connection with the DfE Social Care Review

• KEE 1: Alternative Child Care Social Work Service Delivery Models on Tuesday May 18 1600-1700
• KEE 2: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Children’s Social Care and Social Work on Monday May 24 1200-1300
• KEE 3: Everyday Social Work with Children and Families on Tuesday June 8 1600-1700
• KEE 4: Looked After Children and Care Leavers on Wednesday June 16 1600-1730

Each of the four events are focused on key messages delivered by leading researchers in the fields of Children’s Social Work and Social Care. At each event there will be the opportunity for those attending to contribute by posting their comments and responses via the chat function.

These events will be recorded and details will be provided in due course on how to access them; after each event, knowledge briefings, developed in collaboration with Research in Practice, will be made available.

Registration is free, follow the eventbrite links at the APSW events page or in the event flyer

You can download a flyer for these events here

Children in care

The House of Commons Library has published a briefing on out of area placements and unregulated or unregistered accommodation for children in care. 

The briefing gives an overview of definitions and relevant legislation across the UK and provides data and statistics on placements in England. The briefing also signposts other reports and debates on these topics.

The full report is here