Newsletters
Our Regional Improvement Plan for 2023-2024 can be found here
Our Impact Report published in March 2023 can be found here
If you would like to work for the programme, ESCC has advertised the SESLIP Freelance Consultant Approved List. To view the advert follow the link and choose the “Opportunities” tab then search on reference RFX1000055. Pease address all enquiries about this opportunity to Richard Tyndall (contact details below)
Updates
The implementation of family hubs: Emerging strategies for success
On 17 July LGA published a series of six case studies exploring various elements of family hubs delivery across some councils in England.
The work was carried out Coram Impact and Evaluation
Six case studies
- Stockton-on-Tees forging partnerships to create services owned by all
- Salford using a strenghts-based approach and listening to families
- Essex leading the way with joint outcomes-focused commissioning
- Cornwall engaging rurally isolated families and collaborating with local services
- Lincolnshire taking time to plan and build on what is working well
- York establishing a community network of support and thinking creatively
Revised statutory guidance: Home-to-school travel
On 29 June DfE published Travel to school for children of compulsory school age
This updates guidance previously issued in 2016
Updated guidance refers to
- a School Transport Inquiry conducted by the charity Contact;
- a School Transport Report by the charity Cerebra;
- the coroner’s regulation 28 report to prevent further deaths issued in 2016,
following the death of a child on a dedicated school bus; - responses to DfE 2019 public consultation;
- stakeholder comments provided in late 2022 and early 2023.
Reminders From Previous Weeks
World Class: global learnings for England on early years policy
On 13 July The Sutton Trust published a new report, “World Class: What England can learn from global experience to make early years policy work for disadvantaged children” examining international early years systems to provide a roadmap to close child development gaps in England.
Findings
Low-income families with two young children, who do not meet eligibility criteria for funded provision, pay 8% of their income on average for 30 hours early years education.
This is considerably more than a similar family in Estonia (0%), Denmark (3%) and Iceland (4%); but less than Quebec (10%), Slovenia (21%) and the USA (39%).
The full report is here pdf 47 pages
England’s complex and unfair eligibility rules for funded early years provision mean several families miss out, despite both parents being in full-time work or study.
Education and looked after children
On 4 July The Education Policy Institute has published a blog analysing the GCSE attainment gap for looked after children in England
Findings
Education and looked after children – The Education Policy Institute has published a blog analysing the GCSE attainment gap for looked after children in England. The blog focuses on children who have been looked after in the previous 6 years, children in need with a child protection plan (CPP) in the previous six years, and children in need without a CPP in the previous 6 years. The analysis found that GCSE grade gaps widened markedly for all three groups in 2020 and each fell even further behind their peers in 2021.
KS2 national results 2022/23
On 11 July DfE published Key stage 2 attainment: National headlines for 2022/23 which cover the attainment of yr6 pupils who experienced disruption to their learning during the pandemic, particularly at the end of year 3 and in year 4.
Attainment increased in maths, writing and science compared to 2022; remained the same in GPS; and fell in reading.
Findings
In reading, 73% of pupils met the expected standard, down from 75% in 2022.
In maths, 73% of pupils met the expected standard, up from 71% in 2022.
In writing, 71% of pupils met the expected standard, up from 69% in 2022.
In grammar, punctuation and spelling, 72% of pupils met the expected standard, unchanged from 2022.
In science, 80% of pupils met the expected standard, up from 79% in 2022.
In all of reading, writing and maths, 59% of pupils met the expected standard, unchanged from 2022.
Take Your Place 2023
Applications for the 2023 Take Your Place cohort are now open.
Closing date is 25 August 2023.
The programme starts on 31 October 2023.
Take Your Place Leadership Development Programme
This is a free to access CPD leadership programme for third tier managers. The course will start with a residential on 31 October and 1 November 2023, followed by in person workshops on 23 November 2023, 17 January 2024 and a final session on 7 March 2024. The workshops are being held in Reading at venue with good public transport links. Each SESLIP large authority has two places and small authorities a single place (we will also take names for reserves as last year not all authorities took up their full allocation).
Your final nominations need to be endorsed by your DCS and details sent to mark@markevansconsulting.co.uk. The deadline for applications is Friday 25 August 2023. Those nominated will be asked to complete a short online questionnaire with the Staff College to confirm their place. More information is available in the flyer.
Tools & Templates
We have produced a Regional Improvement Plan (July 2023)
On 17 July LGA published a series of six case studies exploring various elements of family hubs delivery across some councils in England.
On 13 July The Sutton Trust published a new report, “World Class: What England can learn from global experience to make early years policy work for disadvantaged children”
On 11 July DfE published Key stage 2 attainment: National headlines for 2022/23
On 6 July DfE published consultations on changes to Working Together and Information sharing advice
On 6 July DfE published Commissioning High Quality Trusts
On 4 July The Education Policy Institute published a blog analysing the GCSE attainment gap for looked after children in England
On 4 July Foundations (what works centre for children and families) published the results from the largest randomised control trial (RCT) of family group conferences (FGCs) in the world,
On 30 June SESLIP and LIIA published a Report on The Big Listen Survey 2022-23
On 29 June DfE published Travel to school for children of compulsory school age
On 28 June, NAO published Condition of school buildings.
On 22 June DfE published SEN data for academic year 2022/23
On 12 June Ofsted published a press release on changes to school inspections
On 11 June DHSC published an Evaluation of the Children of Alcohol Dependent Parents programme
On 26 May DfE cirulated the Application Guide for the Fostering Recruitment and Retention programme.
On 25 May the Childrens Commissioner published Looked after children who are not in school
On 25 May the House of Lords Public Servicers Committee published A response to the Children’s Social Care Implementation Strategy
On 25 May DfE published new guidance: Suspension and Permanent Exclusion from maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units in England, including pupil movement
On 18 May NFJO published Ethnicity of children in care and supervision proceedings in England
On 18 May DfE published statistics on children accommodated in secure children’s homes for March 2023
On 17 May The Staff College published Just Home – evertything starts with heart, hope and a home.
On 16 May DfE published new guidance: Area SEND inspections: support and challenge following inspection
On 15 May DfE published 9 updated ‘Safety Valve’ agreements