UPDATE NO 454 21 May 2021

LGA webinar: “Support for care leavers – advice for corporate parents” Wed 23 June 10:00am

All councillors in unitary, county and district councils are corporate parents to care leavers – but what does this look like in practice? This webinar will support councillors in their role by considering what good corporate parenting looks like, hearing directly from a care leaver about why this is important, and the practical issues councillors can consider to improve the lives of care leavers.

Looking after and protecting children and young people is one of the most important jobs that councils do and when a child, for whatever reason, can’t safely stay at home, it is up to councils to step in and give them the care, support and stability that they deserve. That continues when young people leave the council’s care.

This session is specifically aimed at councillors to provide them with practical ideas and advice about how to be a good corporate parent. It will complement the LGA’s support for care leavers and corporate parenting resource packs.

Confirmed speakers:
Becca Williams, Advice and Support Officer, Become
Mark Riddell MBE, National Implementation Adviser for Care Leavers, Department for Education
Alex Latham, Engagement Advisor, Care Leaver Covenant
Cllr Shirley Reynolds, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, Telford & Wrekin Borough Council

More details at Support for care leavers – advice for corporate parents Wednesday 23 June 2021, 10:00am-11:30am. 

You can book now on this link

Elective Home Education – SESLIP dialogue with DfE

Following SESLIP’s response in the autumn to DfE’s advisory letter for LAs about elective home education (EHE) (see our response here) the SESLIP Children Missing Education (CME) Group has contacted the Department hoping to establish a dialogue about EHE. We have made good progress with this: the co-chairs recently met with officials who have taken up the lead for EHE.

As a result of the meeting, SESLIP was also invited to offer comments and improvements to the wording of a draft letter from ministers for parents who have moved to home educating their children during the pandemic. We are expecting the officals to meet with the whole CME Group on 9 June. For more information please contact Chris Owen (details below).

Current DfE Guidance is here. There is a DfE blogpost All you need to know about home-schooling and elective home education (EHE) 

NICE consultation: guideline for looked after children and young people. Closes 15 June 2021

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is consulting on a draft guideline which aims to achieve fairer outcomes for looked-after children and young people in England. The guidance covers how organisations, professionals and carers can work together to deliver high quality care, stable placements and nurturing relationships for looked-after children and young people.

Read the news story: New draft guidance aims to achieve fairer outcomes for looked-after children and young people
Read the consultation documents:  Looked-after children and young people

The consultation closes on 15 June 2021.

Revised Admissions Code now published; effective 1 September 2021

Children in kinship care are set to receive more support to secure school places

There are 180,000 children in kinship care in the UK. Under the reformed fair access protocol (at paragraph 3.14), which comes into force in September, children being raised by kinship carers under a legal order, who struggle to get a school place during the year, will be supported in finding one.

The response to the consultation and summary of changes are here

The change follows concerns raised last year by the cross-party Parliamentary Taskforce on Kinship Care, that some children being raised by relatives or friends, particularly those children who are not and have not been in the care system, are missing out on vital support to secure an appropriate school place.

There are more than 180,000 children across the UK raised in kinship care arrangements, latest government figures show.

The new provision applies to children raised by a kinship carer under a child arrangements order or a special guardianship order. It also applies to children in the care system. 

The new admission code can be found here

Education staff wellbeing charter

On 10 May 2021, DfE published the Education Staff Wellbeing Charter.

The education staff wellbeing charter is a declaration of support for, and set of commitments to, the wellbeing and mental health of everyone working in education.

All state funded schools and colleges are invited to familiarise themselves with the charter, and to sign up, as a shared commitment to protect, promote and enhance the wellbeing of their staff.

There is no expectation for your school or college to sign up to the charter now – DfE will publicise how to sign up in the autumn. It is voluntary and there is no deadline to sign up.

You should sign up when it is right for your organisation and when you will get the most benefit from it. If you would like to feedback on the charter and tell us how you have been or intend to use it, email teacher.wellbeing@education.gov.uk

Future dates for network meetings

Lead Members Group: Friday 2 July 2021. 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 18 June  – 10.30am. More information from Chris Owen (contact details below)

AD Safeguarding: Friday 11 June 2021. Alastair Lee will present a Demand Modelling Tool for discussion. More information from Mark Evans (contact details below)

QA Network: Monday 7 June 2021. 2pm – 5pm. Contact Sally Hickman 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)

Area SEND inspections and outcomes in England as at 31 March 2021

On 7 May 2021, Ofsted published a main findings report for the area special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) inspections and outcomes in England 2021 

Domestic Abuse Act

The Domestic Abuse Bill received Royal Assent on 29 April 2021. The Domestic Abuse Act explicitly recognises children as victims if they see, hear or experience the effects of abuse and includes a legal definition of domestic abuse which incorporates a range of abuses beyond physical violence, including emotional, coercive or controlling behaviour, and economic abuse.

Read the news story: Landmark Domestic Abuse Bill receives Royal Assent

Read an introduction to the work of the Domestic Abuse Commissioner

Read the Act: Domestic Abuse Act 2021

The Innovate Project: a study to explore the prevention of child exploitation

Study to Explore the Prevention of Child Exploitation – A £1.9m project studying safeguarding risks faced by young people outside their home looking at new ways of combating threats such as sexual and criminal exploitation and gang affiliation.

The study is looking at ways to combat child criminal and sexual exploitation. The Innovate Project, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and led by the University of Sussex, is exploring the work of six organisations each using one of three different frameworks for safeguarding and trauma-informed practice.

Over two years, researchers are observing meetings and practices, interview young people, parents and professionals, and examine organisational processes, systems, costs and outcomes to establish how effective frameworks are as well as note which factors lead to more innovative social care practice.

In 2021-22 researchers are engaging stakeholders in turning findings into policy recommendations and guidelines for good practice.

The three frameworks include:

• Contextual safeguarding, as adopted by Devon Children’s Services and Partners and the charity Safer London
• Trauma-informed practice at Brighter Futures for Children in Reading and North Lanarkshire Education and Families Service
• Transitional safeguarding with the Safeguarding Adults Board for Hackney and Sheffield Children and Families Services

You can read more about the project here