UPDATE NO 393 06 March 2020

AD Education Network – next meeting Friday 1 May – Joint with SEND SE19

The next meeting of the AD Education Group will be a joint event with the SESLIP SEND Network on Friday 1 May, is planned to run from 10.30am to 3.30pm, more details are available from Chris Owen (Education) or Tracey Maytas (SEND) contact details for both below.

The Education Data sub-group met on 27 February. Good progress is being made with the Education Data dashboard and it is hoped to give a demonstration at the June Education Network meeting. Other updates at the meeting included about data dashboard for virtual schools and support for linking education and care date for children in need. For more information please contact Daryl Perilli (details below)

The Children Missing Education group met on 14 Feb 2020. Key points from the meeting:

• Mike Stoneman and Cate Duffy’s presentation about the group and CME to SESLIP DCSs had been well-received.
• Agreement that there are several aspects of CME where the group could develop recommendations for a shared SESLIP position. These include:
• promoting a role for LAs to manage in-year admissions for all schools,
• a core set of CME data for all LAs to request from all schools,
• agreements with local schools about reporting all pupils moved onto a reduced timetable.
• Next meeting 5 May, 1pm – 3.30pm, Shaw House Newbury. There will be a focus on pupils with medical needs and exclusions and fair access protocols.
• LAs yet to nominate a representative: Milton Keynes, West Sussex, Kent, Wokingham, Southampton.

The LGA have commissioned ISOS partnership to carry out a research piece about LAs and CME and several of the CME sub-group attended an initial workshop. We will aim to coordinate with ISOS about developments and activities of mutual interest, for example around data.

Behaviour Hubs Programme launched by DfE

The DfE launched the Behaviour Hubs Programme on 28 February

Behaviour hubs will enable schools and multi-academy trusts (MATs) with exemplary behaviour cultures and practices to work in partnership with those that want to improve their behaviour culture. 

In advance of the programme beginning in September 2020 we are looking to appoint approximately 20 lead schools from across primary, secondary, special and alternative provision sectors.

We are also looking for 2 to 3 MATs with excellent behaviour management willing to support other trusts

The behaviour hubs programme will begin in September 2020 and will run for an initial period of 3 years. It will be based on Tom Bennett’s 2017 review of behaviour in schools Creating a culture: how school leaders can optimise behaviour. This review identified the core principles of successful schools. These include:

• having a clear understanding of what the school culture is
• high expectations of pupils and a belief that all pupils matter
• consistency and attention to detail in the execution of school routines, norms and values

Please email all queries to behaviour.hubs@education.gov.uk.

To apply please complete the form at Apply to be a lead school or a lead multi-academy trust.

The deadline for applications is midday on 30 March 2020.

Review of the National Leaders of Education (NLE) Programme

The DfE has published its Review of the National Leaders of Education (NLE) programme

In May 2019, the Department for Education (DfE) commissioned an external National Leaders of Education (NLE) advisory group to evaluate the existing NLE programme and to make recommendations to DfE on future reforms.

In November 2019, the advisory group sent its report to ministers, which presented their findings, along with a set of proposed NLE standards, both of which have been accepted by ministers.

The NLE Standards set out the department’s expectations of designated NLEs, and cover the requisite knowledge, experience and attributes of those supporting under-performing schools to improve.

The accompanying research commentary includes references to published literature relating to school leadership and school-to-school support and does not include any new research.

DfE Consultation on Revisions to KCSIE

The DfE has launched an open consultation about proposed revisions to Keeping children safe in education.

The consultation website is here

The consultation opened on 25 February 2020 and closes on 21 April 2020

DfE are consulting on a wide variety of proposed changes to KCSIE. The aim is to help schools and colleges to better understand what they are required to do by law and what we strongly advise they should do in order to meet their safeguarding responsibilities.

Many of the proposed changes are technical in nature and are intended to improve the clarity of the guidance and ensure consistency throughout. A copy of the draft guidance is included and a full list of changes we are proposing to make is included at Annex G of this guidance.

4 recent research reports

1. Institute for Effective Education: The Attendance Playbook: approaches to reducing chronic low attendance and the evidence that supports the different strategies 3 March 2020

2. DfE Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel: annual report 2018 to 2019 4 March 2020

3. Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health The state of children and young people’s health across the UK. Data and policy priorities  2 March 2020

4. Early Intervention Foundation Adverse childhood experiences What we know, what we don’t know, and what should happen next 26 February 2020

Triennial Analysis of SCRs 2014-17

On 4 March 2020, DfE published its Triennial Analysis of Serious Care reviews 2014-2017.

This study examines 368 serious case reviews (SCRs) relating to incidents from April 2014 to March 2017. Local safeguarding children boards (LSCBs) conduct SCRs every time child abuse or neglect is known or suspected and either a child dies; or a child is seriously harmed, and there are concerns about how organisations or professionals worked together to protect the child

LSCBs are responsible for improving the overall wellbeing of children in their local-authority area. They include representatives from children’s services, police, district councils and NHS trusts.

Using the study, Research in Practice have produced 6 online briefings for various professional sectors: Local safegaurding partnerships; social work; police and criminal justice; health; education; early help.

Commenting on the triennial analysis of SCRs 2014 to 2017 report Jenny Coles, ADCS Vice President, said:

“I would encourage all local authorities, their safeguarding partners, policy makers and ministers to read this report which shares learning from 368 serious case reviews and suggests how work to safeguard and protect children from abuse and neglect can be improved, locally and nationally.

[…]

“The report highlights the growing pressures facing local authorities as a result of rising demand for services and reducing resources, this is hindering our ability to provide early help and support to children and their families which prevents their needs from escalating. Despite this, England has one of the safest child protection systems in the world. The government cannot be complacent when it comes to keeping children safe from harm. A tipping point is being reached.”

The full quote is here

Developing Models of Social Work Project – Monday 8 June 2020 Conference Booking OPEN

There has been great interest in our Conference, and if you have not yet booked your place, please check with Diane Williamson (details below) that there are still places available. It will be held on 8 June 2020 at the Arora Hotel, Gatwick. 

The conference will share an overview of models of social care practice that are currently in use across the South East Region, including Family Safeguarding Model, Signs of Safety, Restorative Practice and Bespoke Models developed by Brighton & Hove, East Sussex and Hampshire. 

We will look at what works and why, as well as the challenges, and share ideas about how to overcome them, with an opportunity to look at the models in more depth in workshops.  The conference will be of particular interest to Assistant Directors with responsibility for Safeguarding, Senior Social Care Managers and  Principal Social Workers.

There are 3 places for each Local Authority in the South East region. To book places for your authority, download and complete the booking form and return it to  Jane.Redmond@bracknell-forest.gov.uk – by 7 May 2020.

For more information please visit the project webpage or contact Diane Williamson (details below)

Profit making and risk in independent children’s social care placement providers

This study examines the evidence that is available in relation to the financial performance of the largest independent sector children’s social care provider organisations operating in England. The LGA are increasingly concerned about the levels of debt and indicators of financial risk in some of the largest groups, as well as the lack of market oversight which means there is no clear understanding about how profit, consolidation and risk are affecting the market and outcomes for children in care.

The LGA Report Page is here

The full report is here.

This study examines profit-making and financial risk in the biggest independent providers of placements for children in care. In this report reference to the independent sector includes both private companies and voluntary sector bodies.

The LGA are calling on the Government to introduce oversight of groups of providers, and work with councils to support more in-house and smaller providers to ensure we have placements that meet the needs of our children.The LGA are increasingly concerned about the levels of debt and indicators of financial risk in some of the largest groups, as well as the lack of market oversight which means there is no clear understanding about how profit, consolidation and risk are affecting the market and outcomes for children in care

2 recent research reports

Longitudinal study funded by the DfE about the value of investing in early education

Evaluation of the PEEP early literacy programme shows small increase in early literacy and in the home learning environment

UNREGULATED CHILDREN’S HOMES CONSULTATION closing date 8 April

The government has launched a consultation over unregulated children’s homes, including plans to ban the use of provision for under-16s and the introduction of a minimum national standard for accommodation.

The LGA have said “ Making the use of unregulated settings for under 16s illegal will not solve the problem if the Government does not, first and foremost, work with councils and providers to make sure that we have enough high quality, registered places for children to live so that we can keep them safe.”

The number of children in care aged 16 or 17 placed in unregulated settings has increased from 2,900 in 2009 to 6,100 in 2019. We want to ensure these placements are good quality. Proposals include:

• banning using this provision for under 16s
• introducing national quality standards
• ensuring independent reviewing officers represent young people’s interests
• requiring local authorities and policy forces to cooperate with each other
• new legal powers for Ofsted to take action against illegal provider

You can respond to the online consultation here

This consultation closes at 10:30pm on 8 April 2020

18 March: Taking a look together at memoranda of co-operation to manage the demand and supply of Children’s Social Workers

Colleagues from the East Midlands have organised a regional seminar on the topic of MoCs for managing the supply of children’s social workers.

It will be held on Wednesday 18th March 2020, 1.00pm – 4.00pm at Kegworth, nr Derby DE74 2DF

The conference will be chaired by Andy Smith, DCS Derby and EM ADCS Chair.

You can download a flyer for the event here

Book places: Please can you contact Pete Chilvers to book places or Mark Evans (details below) who is organising SESLIP representation