Newsletters
Updates
State of the nations’ foster care survey
The Fostering Network launched the 2024 State of the Nations’ Foster Care survey on 13 June and it remains open until 30 June.
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The foster carers’ survey takes 30-45 minutes to fill in and the service managers’ survey takes 20-30 minutes. Grab a cup of tea, get comfortable and share your views!
Take the foster carers’ survey
Take the fostering service managers’ survey
Take the former foster carers’ survey
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We are seeking 12 children’s librarians who are interested in developing their skills in working with families in the early years.
This offer of training is part of our DfE grant funded work. We are undertaking an action research project on how libraries can be a key partner in improving the home learning environment. It will help raise the profile of children’s librarians, so they are seen as part of the wider children’s workforce.
Please see here and here more details. On Wednesday 10 July 2-3pm on TEAMS we are holding an information session if you are interested in learning more or have any questions
Unaccompanied asylum seeking children
Every Child Protected Against Trafficking (ECPAT UK) has published a briefing on unaccompanied children in the UK
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The briefing sets out the legal judgements, outcomes and remaining challenges around caring for these children. Recommendations include a call for the UK Government to conduct an inquiry into the use of hotel accommodation for unaccompanied children.
Reminders From Previous Weeks
SESLIP Regional Improvement Plan 2024-2025
On 10 June the SESLIP Steering Group approved the Regional Improvement Plan for 2024-2025
£700,000 plan approved
The SESLI programme, worth nearly £700,000 this year, has been approved. The plan supports 12 regional networks and 5 specific projects.
It covers the last year of a three-year funding plan provided the DfE.
We anticipate resuming discussions with DfE about future improvement funding after July 4!
Councils cannot refuse responsibility for lone migrant children
On 5 June Mr Justice Chamberlain published his final decision in the long running JR case involving ECPAT UK, Kent, Brighton and Hove, the Home Secretary and the Education Secratary. Neutral Citation Number: [2024] EWHC 1353 (Admin).
Local authorities cannot legally refuse responsibility for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children arriving in their area on the grounds that they cannot safely accommodate them, a High Court judge has ruled.
It marks the fourth judgment in this case.
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Following a previous order by the court for the Home Office and Kent to submit an action plan setting out what they will each do to ensure the situation does not arise again, the most recent decision also addressed remaining conflicts between the two defendants.
This includes defining the action required by the Home Secretary when the final “trigger point” is reached where the council feels it cannot safely accommodate more asylum-seeking children.
The judge highlighted that “personal engagement by ministers may not be enough on its own” to resolve this circumstance.
He said he was “encouraged” to see that the plan includes emergency funding for Kent to support greater numbers of unaccompanied children – the council was handed £9.75mn last year to support greater numbers of migrant children following a previous hearing of the care.
The most recent decision notes the need for both parties to “keep the plan under constant review because of their joint responsibility”.
Previous judgments found both the government’s management of its national dispersal scheme for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children – the National Transfer Scheme (NTS) – and the practice of housing unaccompanied lone children in hotels as “unlawful”.
Schools, pupils and their characteristics 2023-2024
On 6 June DfE published Schools, pupila nd their characteristics 2023-2024
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The number of pupils in schools in England has increased
Free school meal eligibility continues to increase
1.6 million infant pupils were recorded as taking a free school meal on census day
The average class size for infant pupils (reception, year 1 and year 2) remains stable
Education, health and care plans 2024
On 13 June DfE published Education and Health Care Plans 2024
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The total number of Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans has continued to increase
The number of new EHC plans issued in the calendar year has continued to increase
The number of initial requests for an EHC plan in the calendar year has continued to increase
The proportion of new plans issued within 20 weeks has increased
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
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.
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.
Tools & Templates
We have produced a Regional Improvement Plan (June 2024)
On 13 June The Fostering Network launched the 2024 State of the Nations’ Foster Care survey and it remains open until 30 June.
On 13 June DfE published Education and Health Care Plans 2024
On 6 June DfE published Schools, pupils and their characteristics 2023-2024
On 5 June Mr Justice Chamberlain published his final decision in the long running JR case involving ECPAT UK, Kent, Brighton and Hove and the Home Secretary and the Education Secratary. Neutral Citation Number: [2024] EWHC 1353 (Admin).On 24 May the Childrens’ Commissioner published Children’s experiences as victims of crime
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 15 May the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel published Safeguarding Children in Elective Home Education
On 13 May DfE published Agency child and family social workers: data return and price caps
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