Updates
National aspirant DCS programme 2024
The Staff College we will be recruiting between 29 April and 7 June 2024 for the next round of the national aspirant DCS leadership development programme, with onboarding during the summer and the first residential in late September.
Programme Lead, Mike Bowden upon@thestaffcollege.uk.
Booking open 29 April – 7 June
We’re looking for inspiring new leaders that children can depend upon. Here’s an outline of some of the experience and character that would make an ideal future DCS:
- A strong moral purpose and passion to champion children and young people and their outcomes.
- At least 3 years effective senior strategic leadership and management experience in local government children’s services or related fields and sectors, though perhaps you feel you still want to consolidate your knowledge across the different component areas or be more confident in applying leadership skills to a more diverse range of services.
- If you fit these criteria, and you have the potential to become a Director of Children’s Services within the next three years then apply.
SESLIP Kinship Care Conference – booking now open
Save the Date – Monday 8 July 2024
We would love you and colleagues to come to our first in-person regional conference on Kinship Care.
The speakers are now all confirmed and the eventbrite is open for registration for our regional kinship care conference, the first event to be held in person. You need to secure your ticket via eventbrite to guarantee entry.
Click to sign up here: South East regional kinship care conference Tickets, Mon 8 Jul 2024 at 09:00 | Eventbrite
Please forward to colleagues who may be interested in attending. For further information contact rebeccaeligon@gmail.com.
Reminders From Previous Weeks
Government response to HoC Education Select Committee
On 25 April the House of Commons Education Select Committee published the government’s response on Ofsted’s work with schools
Ofsted to keep one word school judgements
At page 9, paragrpah 15, the government says, “
“So while the Government will continue to listen to views and look at alternative systems, including the various approaches taken internationally, the Government’s view is that there are significant benefits from having an Ofsted overall effectiveness grade. In our view the priority is to look for ways to improve the current system rather than developing an alternative to it. This includes considering with Ofsted the presentation of its findings and grades, and opportunities to highlight some of the detail sitting under the summary grade.”
Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England
On 18 April the DfE published 2022-2023 data on suspensions and permanent exclusions from schools in England
Details
The publication includes data on:
- reasons schools report for suspending and excluding pupils
- suspensions and permanent exclusions by pupil characteristics
The data has been collected in the school census. Data for earlier years is also included.
Open call for evidence: safeguarding children in schools and colleges
On 28 March DfE published an open call for evidence on safeguarding children in schools and colleges
Closes 20 June 2024
The call for evidence relates to take the views of schools, colleges, and other professionals on safeguarding practice development and direction, in advance of keeping children safe in education (KCSIE) 2025.
We are seeking your views on:
- the role of designated safeguarding leads
- child safeguarding information
- safer staff recruitment
- filtering and monitoring
- supporting children following reports of sexual violence and harassment
- protecting children in boarding and residential special schools
- quality assuring safeguarding
- children bringing their own devices to schools
- artificial intelligence
Tools & Templates
We have produced a Regional Improvement Plan (July 2023)
On 25 April the House of Commons Education Select Committee published the government’s response on Ofsted’s work with schools
On 18 April the DfE published 2022-2023 data on suspensions and permanent exclusions from schools in England
On 21 March DfE published School Capacity Data for 2022-2023
On 21 March DfE published pupil absence data for 2022-2023
On 21 March DfE published four new safety valve agreement
On 19 March LGA published Must Know: The role of a council leader in imporoving outcomes for children
On 7 March DfE published Maintained Schools Governance Guide and Academy Trust Governance Guide
On 5 March the Childrens’ Commissioner published Children on child in need plans
On 29 February DfE published annual data for Children’s social work workforce 2022-2023
On 29 February Ofsted published Social care common inspection framework (SCCIF): supported accommodation for looked after children and care leavers aged 16 and 17. Ofsted also published a report on the responses to the consultation on our inspection proposals
On 29 February the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse published Child sexual abuse in 2022/23: Trends in official data
On 20 February the Children’s Commissioner published Lost in transition? The destinations of children
who leave the state education system
On 20 February LGC released a podcast: The crisis in children’s services with Louise Gittins, Josh MacAlister, and Andy Smith
On 6 February UKSIC published Inspiring change? making a difference, managung influence and navigating change online
On 1 February Ofsted and CQC published Alternative provision in local areas in England: a thematic review
On 31 January DfE opened its consultation on Agency Rules for Local Authority Children’s Social Care
On 31 January DfE published Generative AI in education: Educator and expert views
On 31 January Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse published Support matters: The landscape of child sexual abuse support services in England and Wales
On 31 January NSPCC Learning published Home again: reunification practice in England: Understanding reunification practice in the children’s social care system in England
On 31 January NSPCC Learning published Returning children home from care: learning from case review
On 31 January NFER published Ethnic diversity in the teaching workforce: evidence review
On 31 January ECPAT UK published Prevention and identification of children and young adults experiencing, or at risk of, modern slavery in the UK.
On 30 January Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel published its Annual Review 2022-2023
On 29 January Education Select Committee published Ofsted’s work with
schools
On 25 January DfE published Financial year 2022-23 LA and school expenditure. DfE also published School funding statistics for financial year 2023-2024. This relates to the funding that is allocated to local authorities and state-funded schools (academies) in England by the (DfE) in each year.