UPDATE NO 465 06 August 2021

Tackling violence against women and girls strategy

On 21 July 2021, DfE published Tackling violence against women and girls strategy

The strategy document is here, and an accompanying progress log is here

National Adoption Strategy

On 26 July 2021, DfE launched the new National Adoption Strategy. The strategy paper is here 

Backed by £48m, it is set to improve adoption services in England by putting in place better recruitment across the country and removing any unnecessary delays, through more training for front line staff, improving approval process and funding for targeted recruitment campaigns.

Criminalisation rate for children in residential care reduces further

On 22 July 2021, the Howard League for Penal Reform published new data showing that hundreds more boys and girls can look forward to a brighter future as government figures reveal the transformative impact of the Howard League’s programme to end the criminalisation of children in residential care.

In the year ending March 2014, 15 per cent of children in children’s homes received a caution or conviction; in the year ending March 2020, this proportion was reduced to 5 per cent.

Read more here

Permanent Exclusion Statistics

On 29 July 2021, DfE published statistics for Permanent exclusions and suspensions in England: 2019 to 2020

They show an overall decrease (linked to school partial closure), but there was a 5% increase in PEx in autumn 2019-20. South-east had the lowest rate of PEx and boys have a three times higher rate of PEx.

The details are here.

National pupil population estimates to 2026.

On 22 July 2021, DfE published national pupil population estimates to 2026. 

The growth in secondary population is projected to plateau from 2024.

Future dates for network meetings

Lead Members Group: Tuesday 17 August 2021 9:00-11:30. Expert workshop on UASC and the National Transfer Scheme. More information from Alison Michalska (contact details below)

Data Benchmarking: Tuesday 14 September 2021. More information from Alastair Lee (contact details below)

Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board: Tuesday 12 October 2021. More information from Rebecca Eligon (contact details below)

AD Education: Friday 17 September – 10.00am. More information from Chris Owen (contact details below)

AD Safeguarding: Friday 10 September 2021. More information from Mark Evans (contact details below)

QA Network: Friday 10 September 2021. 2pm – 5pm. More information from Amanda Meadows (contact details below)

Fostering Network: 10.30am Monday 4 October 2021. More information from Rebecca Eligon (contact details below)

SEND SE19: Preparing for Adulthood Forum 21 September 2021 13:30 – 15:30 More information from Tracey Maytas (contact details below)

Strengthening Home Education published by the House of Commons Select Committee

On 21 July 2021, the HoC Education Select Committee’s published its report on home schooling, “Strengthening Home Education” 

It calls for the DfE to get on with implementation of the legal registration of all children who are EHE, and for LAs to assess home education provision annually and, since 5% of schools account for nearly half of de-registrations, raises a question about whether the practice at a limited number of schools should be reviewed.

National funding formula tables for 2022-23

On 19 July 2021, DfE published the national funding formula tables for schools and high needs: 2022 to 2023. The tables showing provisional allocations for the schools, high needs and central school services blocks from 2022 to 2023.

National funding formula: summary table, 2022 to 2023; Impact of the schools NFF, 2022 to 2023; Impact of the high needs NFF, 2022 to 2023; Impact of central school services block NFF, 2022 to 2023