Updates
Upskill yourself in Data Analytics
Data 2 Insight is promoting another cohort of the Children’s Services Data Analyst L4 apprenticeship, delivered by Corndel.
D2I hope that by providing more notice, and a longer application period, they can avoid the rush that some colleagues have had to prepare an application, and work around any summer absences which may be a factor. You can email georgina.pym@eastsussex.gov.uk if you’d like to register for either briefing session right now.
Applications open Friday 5 July
Applications open: 5 July 2024
Briefing session for potential applicants and/or managers: 11 July 2024
Briefing session for potential applicants and/or managers: 18 July 2024
Applications close: 13 September 2024
Learning commences: 31 October 2024
Strengthening protections in unregistered alternative provision
On 9 May DfE launched a consultation on proposals to strengthen protections for children in unregistered alternative provision settings.
Closing date is Friday 5 July
Consultation closes Friday 5 July
This consultation is the next step in delivering on the government’s commitment to improving experiences and outcomes for children in unregistered alternative provision and builds on the findings from our previous Call for Evidence “Understanding the Use of Unregistered Alternative Provision”, the findings of which have helped shape this consultation.
DfE is seeking views on proposals which position unregistered alternative provision as an intervention, not a destination, to complement education in school.
We propose that all unregistered alternative provision will be subject to new proportionate quality assurance frameworks, underpinned by national standards.
Children’s Social Care for Data People
On 21 May Data 2 Insight published Children’s Social Care for Data People, an overview of the system, stakeholders, common local practice, and necessary
knowledge for data professionals working in Children’s Social Care
A beginner’s guide
A beginner’s guide to the systems, stakeholders, common practice, and necessary knowledge for data professionals working in the sector. It’s an open document featuring contributions from a number of colleagues across different LAs and Ofsted, and it splits roughly into two halves: the first provides a guided tour through the most important elements of working with data in support of CSC, and the second provides a bundle of resources and reference information.
NSPCC Hub Open Day 10 June 2024
The NSPCC London and South East Hub open day will be held in person (12:00-2:30) and online (3:00-4:30) on Monday 10 June 2024.
Monday 10 June 2024
In person:
Alexandra Ciardi House, 7-8 Greenland Place, NW10AP
(2 minutes from Camden Town Station, 6 minutes from Camden Road Station)
Time: 12.00-14.30
On line:
Teams 3:00-4:30
Reminders From Previous Weeks
Post-16 support for young people attending Alternative Provision
On 10 May the Children’s Commissioner published An Alternative Route: Post-16 support for young people attending Alternative Provision
Headlines
In 2021’s The Big Ask survey, children’s top priority for the future was getting a good job or career. Children speak with hope and determination when asked about what they want to achieve in their lives.
The results showed that all children, no matter what their background is or where they come from, carry the same ambition to go far in life. This generation is keen to work hard and to strive for a brilliant future.
Children in alternative provision, like their peers in mainstream schools, are ambitious for their futures, however, a greater proportion of children in alternative provision do not progress to positive post-16 destinations.
This paper investigates some of the reasons behind this disparity and sets out policy recommendations to address it. Our research looks at what children in alternative provision say about what is holding them back from achieving their potential. We also examine the current provision of post-16 support in alternative provision.
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.
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 21 May Data 2 Insight published Children’s Social Care for Data People, an overview of the system, stakeholders, common local practice, and necessary
knowledge for data professionals working in Children’s Social Care
On 10 May the Children’s Commissioner published An Alternative Route: Post-16 support for young people attending Alternative Provision
On 9 May DfE launched a consultation on proposals to strengthen protections for children in unregistered alternative provision settings. Closing date is Friday 5 July
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.