UPDATE NO 459 25 June 2021

Government Targets – overuse can lead to gaming says IfG report

On 16 June 2021, the Institute for Government published Using targets to improve public services.

The IfG says “Government targets in public services may do more harm than good.

“The government has added new targets to existing ones across key public services such as the NHS, schools and the police, which it hopes will improve performance in those services hit by the Covid-crisis.

“But this report reveals the way that targets have been used for easy wins, have ignored important issues and manipulated data. For example, the government’s target to process 100,000 coronavirus tests a day by 30 April 2020 was only achieved by encouraging testing of low-priority cases and reclassifying what counted as a test.”

The full report is here

Left behind: white pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds from HoC Education Select Committee

On 22 June 22 the House of Commons Education Select Committee published The forgotten: how white working-class pupils have been let down, and how to change it

A summary of the key issues is here: it explains “Our Committee is dedicated to supporting left-behind groups. As a first step, we have looked at why disadvantaged White pupils are being let down, and how the Department can do more support them.

“The white working class are by far the largest group of disadvantaged pupils

“There were around 982,950 White pupils eligible for free school meals in 2020, compared to 139,720 Asian students as the next largest group. Specifically, we looked at White British pupils who are eligible for free school meals (FSM). FSM-eligibility is currently the most pragmatic way to evaluate disadvantage, and is frequently used as a proxy for ‘working class’.

“Disadvantaged white pupils fall behind their peers at every stage of education. This is how FSM-eligible White British pupils performed in 2019:

• only 53% met the expected standard at early years Development Goals
• only 17.7% achieved a strong pass in English and Maths
• 16% started higher education at age 19″

New School population and SEND data from DfE

The secondary and primary school applications and offers data reveals a 5.1% drop in primary numbers for 2021/22. The reduction is ascribed to higher than usual late applications due to covid-19 (which are not included in the stats), reducing birthrate and migration out of the UK post-Brexit

The Schools, pupils and their characteristics data from January 2021 census show a continuing increase in numbers eligible for FSM (13.6% in 2018 to 20.8% in 2021)

The Special educational needs in England data for 2020-21 reveals a 10% rise in EHCPs compared to the previous year (up from 3.3% to 3.7% in England) 

VSH role extension to children with a social worker

On 16 June 2021 DfE published Promoting the education of children with a social worker Virtual School Head role extension

There is a 22-page guidance document and confirmation of s31 grant ranging from £100k for the smallest authorities to £170k for the largest

SMF publish Fostering the future – Helping local authorities to fulfil their legal duties

On 25 June 2021 the Social Market Foundation published Fostering the future – Helping local authorities to fulfil their legal duties. 

It explores current and future challenges surrounding the provision of appropriate foster care placements that meet the needs of some of society’s most vulnerable children.

It makes 5 key recommendations:

1. A nationally coordinated assessment of effective capacity
2. A national strategy for increasing effective capacity
3. Provide local authorities with more support to meet their duties and improve accountability
4. A national register for foster carers 
5. Adopting regional commissioning 

The full report is here

Ofsted publish Childrens Social Care Questionnaires 2021

On 18 June 2021 Ofsted published Childrens Social Care Questionnaires 2021. 

 

Responses from 7,011 children and young people show that 95% of children and young people said they felt well cared for always or most of the time; and 96% said they felt safe where they lived always or most of the time.

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 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: More information from Amanda Meadows (contact details below)

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

SEND SE19: 20 July 2021 12:00 – 13:30 (LAs). More information from Tracey Maytas (contact details below)

Academy trust handbook published

Previously known as the Academies Financial Handbook, on 16 June 2021 the DfE published the Academy Trust Handbook.

It covers more than financial management and extends to health and safety, notices to improve, changes in leadership and the role of parents on the board.

A pdf version is available here

Independent review of children’s social care in England

The Independent Review of Children’s Social Care in England, chaired by Josh McAllister, has published “The Case for Change“. 

At the end of each chapter of this document is a request for feedback on the interpretation of the evidence and a request for ideas, views and further evidence.

A summary of the underpinning evidence is here

The team will use the responses to help shape the future work of the review. The main way to provide feedback on the Case for Change is through our online form which you can access here. This will be open until 13th August. As always, at any point you can email the review team at review.childrenssocialcare@education.gov.uk.