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News update - 15 May 2013
Below are a range of recent reports/guidance/consultation items that will be of interest to practitioners who work with children in Barnet.
Reports
This document from the Department for Education and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills provides employers, education and training providers and young people with information about traineeships and sets out how they will work in practice.
Child and working-age poverty in Northern Ireland from 2010 to 2020.
This report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies for the Northern Ireland Executive, warns that one in four children in Britain – 3.4 million – will be in relative poverty by 2020. As well as updating previous IFS projections of household incomes and poverty at the UK level, it extends this analysis by showing projections for Northern Ireland - and, in an appendix, for England and Wales, and for Scotland.
Research
On 3 May 2013, the Department for Education published its analytical review, conducted by Dr Ben Goldacre and Roger Plant, Director of So Direct Ltd. The review looks at the role of research, analysis and data in the Department for Education, schools in England and children’s services. The Analytical Review calls for the promotion and use of robust quantitative evidence by both practitioners in the sector, and policy makers in the department; this centres on the use of randomised control trials (RCTs).
Two RCTs were also announced:
1. an RCT on attainment information to schools on maths and science
2. an evaluation of SAAF (Safeguarding Assessment Analysis Framework) child protection assessment tool
More information is available in the Randomised Control Trials announcement.
Village schools 'outperforming those in inner-city areas' reports the Telegraph.
Children attending village schools in Britain are outperforming their inner-city peers despite a clear “urban advantage” elsewhere in the western world, according to international research.
Post adoption support: a rapid response survey of local authorities in England.
This study by the Childhood Wellbeing Research Centre for the Department for Education set out to explore how post adoption support teams and services are structured and to identify barriers and facilitators to effective provision. The findings highlight the difficulties faced by adoptive parents in requesting support and suggest that preparation of prospective carers, normalising the need for support, along with continuity of adoption staff and services may improve the extent to which adoptive parents feel able to request help. Additional training and knowledge, across the children’s workforce, about the impact of early childhood trauma and the specific needs of adopted children were identified as having the potential to improve the identification of needs and the provision of appropriate services. Participants reported concerns about pressure on resources and the capacity of adoption services to fully meet the needs of adopted children and their families. Furthermore, participants raised concerns that these pressures may be exacerbated in the future by budgetary constraints and increases in the number of children being adopted.
Guidance
Guide to answering competency-based interview questions from Community Care. Anyone can say, “I have strong leadership skills,” or, “I can keep my head in a crisis,” but can you substantiate these statements with real world examples? Increasingly common in social work, competency-based interview questions ask you about your behaviour and actions in specific circumstances. The interviewer will look for a specific example of a problem you addressed, a challenge you faced or a decision you made, as well as an explanation of why you took a particular course of action and insight into the consequences.
Consultation
Consultation on (i) the order for replacing ICT with computing and (ii) the regulations for disapplying aspects of the existing national curriculum. Following on from its consultation on reforming the national curriculum, the government has confirmed that it plans to replace the national curriculum foundation subject of ICT with computing at all four key stages and disapply the aspects of existing programmes of study, attainment targets and statutory assessment arrangements from September 2013 for a set time. The closing date for comments on this Department for Education consultation is 3 June 2013.
Keeping Children Safe in Education. The purpose of this consultation is to gather views on the Government’s proposals to reform safeguarding requirements and guidance in schools and further education colleges. The consultation closes on Thursday 20 June 2013.
Publication date: 15 May 2013
News update
Below are up-to-date news items, research, reports and consultations.
News
National MMR vaccination catch-up programme announced in response to increase in measles cases
A national catch-up programme to increase MMR vaccination uptake in children and teenagers has been announced by Public Health England , NHS England and the Department of Health.
The aim of the programme is to prevent measles outbreaks by vaccinating as many unvaccinated and partially vaccinated 10-16 year-olds as possible in time for the next school year.
The NHS reforms in the Health and Social Care Act brings in the most wide ranging changes to the NHS since it was set up in 1948. From the Kings Fund, two areas are identified that are particularly relevant to Local Authorities:
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Public Health: Improving the Health of the Poorest Fastest
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Health and Wellbeing Boards are central to a more integrated approach to delivering health and social care services
Benefit changes in 2013 are wide ranging, affecting those in social housing, introducing a benefits cap, the Council Tax Benefit Scheme becomes the Council Tax Support scheme, the Local Housing Allowance is frozen, a new Universal Credit single payment has been introduced for those on benefits and the Personal Independence Payment has replaced the Disability Living Allowance.
Change to the Ofsted inspection framework
The Chief Inspector of Ofsted announces plans to inspect child protection and looked after children services under a single, combined framework.
The timeline is reported in Community Care as follows:
April 2013 – Ofsted will continue with it’s separate child protection and Looked After Children inspections
June 2013 – Osfted will put out to consultation a draft framework merging child protection and Looked After Children inspections
September 2013 – The new framework will be put in place
To be decided – Eventually the single framework will be replaced by multi-agency inspections of the child’s journey into care and leaving care.
Review announced on social work education
Norman Lamb states: “I want to be reassured that social work education produces high quality practitioners and that the government’s £100m investment is producing the high quality social workers that our society deserves and needs.”
New technical baccalaureate announced
Providing an alternative to A level study route for post 16 education.
New home on the web for the Department for Education
The Department for Education has become the latest central government department to move it’s corporate and policy content onto the new GOV.UK website.
Reports
This report from the Association of Directors of children’s services provides an up-to-date analysis of adoption activity by local authorities. The data and analysis includes information about adoption activity currently as at 31 March 2013, and that predicted by 31 March 2014.
Research
Adoption for looked after children: messages from research
Published in January, this is an overview of the Adoption Research Initiative by Caroline Thomas, published by the British Association of Adoption and Fostering.
Guidance
Good practice for adoption agencies from Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service)
This guidance is to inform local authority/voluntary adoption agencies of best practice in cases involving children relinquished for adoption.
Useful publications from the Local Government Association on
- Tackling teenage pregnancy
- Measles frequently asked questions
- Higher Education Institutions and Local Government: Collaborating for Growth
Consultation
Keeping Children Safe in Education
The purpose of this consultation is to gather views on the Government’s proposals to reform safeguarding requirements and guidance in schools and further education colleges. The consultation closes on Thursday 20 June 2013.
Consultation on proposed changes to the role of the local authority in early education and childcare
This consultation, launched on Monday 25th March from the Department of Education seeks your views on the specific reforms to the role of local authorities in early education and childcare. The consultation closes on Monday 6 May 2013.
Publication date: 10 May 2013
Childminder grant from early May
A new grant scheme has been developed by the Government equalities office for new childminders.
New childminders will be able to get grants of £250 to help towards training and registration costs and new nurseries will be able to get grants of £500.
Further information about the scheme is shown in this briefing document.
Publication date: 23 April 2013
News Update- 12 April 2013
Below are a range of recent news items will be of interest to practitioners who work with children in Barnet.
News
What social workers need to know about the new NHS
NHS reforms are introduced in the Health and Social Care Act 2012 in April, bringing substantial changes for health professionals in England . Community Care asks “what does it mean for their social care counterparts and for integrated working between the two services?”
Disability Living Allowance replaced by Personal Independence Payment
The changes to disability benefits are the latest in a round of welfare reforms introduced at the start of April. The Government has introduced a new benefit called Personal Independence Payment (PIP) to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for eligible working age people aged 16 to 64.
New body set to address careers advice in schools
Enhancing career advice in schools is to be a priority for the newly formed Career Development Institute (CDI).
The National Children's Bureau Sex Education Forum is calling on the government to rethink changes to sex education within the Science curriculum - the only compulsory part of the curriculum providing education on sex and growing up. The Forum shares concerns raised by peers this week, that proposed government changes will deprive children of a comprehensive and developmental programme of sex education in science classes.
Street Play boosted by £1 million government grant
The Department for Health has confirmed that a variety of play organisations have received £1,079,793 over 3 years. The money will support the development of play streets across England and aim to improve children’s health and well being.
Loughton fears backlash over youth Police and Crime Commissioners furore
Children and Young People Now reports former children’s minister Tim Loughton has called on police and crime commissioners to stick to plans to recruit young people in the wake of a media storm around the first youth police commissioner.
Plans to speed up adoption set out by councils
The Local Government Association reports that Children in care will be found a home with adoptive parents more quickly under new plans to reform the adoption system.
Reports
Benefits in Britain: separating the facts from the fiction
The Guardian asks how many people are dependent on welfare – and do families where three generations have never worked really exist?
Troubled families: 'You need to do something bad before you get support'
The Guardian reports on David Cameron’s pledge to help 120,000 families turn their lives around before 2015 and gains access to three families on the list.
Pupil absence in schools in England, including pupil characteristics
The Department for Education Statistical First Release (SFR) reports on absence in primary, secondary and special schools, city technology colleges and academies during the 2011/12 school year. The key points are:
- The overall absence rate decreased, from 5.8 per cent in 2010/11 to 5.1 per cent in 2011/12, continuing the recent downward trend.
- The percentage of pupil enrolments classed as persistent absentees decreased, from 6.1 per cent in 2010/11 to 5.2 per cent in 2011/12, continuing the recent downward trend.
Research
This thematic inspection by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission explored how well adult mental health services and drug and alcohol services considered the impact on children when their parents or carers had mental ill health and/or drug and alcohol problems; and how effectively adult and children’s services worked together to ensure that children affected by their parents’ or carers’ difficulties were supported and safe.
Guidance
Working Together 2013: London SCB briefing
New guidance (Working Together to Safeguard Children) on effective multi-agency working to safeguard children has been released, representing a radical shift in the way that the child protection system will operate in England . This includes a new approach to the oversight of serious case reviews, new guidelines for assessing the needs of vulnerable children, and a huge reduction in the level of national child protection guidance. This briefing summarises the key points of the guidance, released on 21 March 2013, highlighting any significant changes to existing guidance and considering the implications for London .
New National Standards for youth justice services
New National Standards for Youth Justice Services have been launched. The recent revisions to the standards are necessary to assist the introduction of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders (LASPO) Act 2012 and the introduction of AssetPlus, the new assessment, planning and interventions framework, due to replace the current system (Asset) next year.
Commissioning Toolkits for Local Authorities
A practical guide for commissioning services for young people from the National Youth Agency.
Consultation
Keeping Children Safe in Education
The purpose of this consultation is to gather views on the Government’s proposals to reform safeguarding requirements and guidance in schools and further education colleges. The consultation closes on Thursday 20 June 2013.
Consultation on proposed changes to the role of the local authority in early education and childcare
This consultation, launched on Monday 25 March from the Department of Education seeks your views on the specific reforms to the role of local authorities in early education and childcare. The consultation closes on Monday 6 May 2013.
Publication date: 23 April 2013
Consultation on proposal changes to the role of the local authority in early education and childcare
The Government values local authorities’ important role as ‘champions’ of disadvantaged children and their families. We want local authorities to focus on ensuring that all two, three and four-year olds, particularly the most disadvantaged, take up their entitlement to funded high-quality early education.
This consultation seeks your views on the specific reforms to the role of local authorities in early education and childcare.
For further information visit DfE website.
Closing date for this consultation: Monday 6 May 2013
Publication date: 10 April 2013
Capital funding for new school places
The National Audit Office says that one in five primary schools in England is full or near capacity and there are signs of “real strain” on places. The quick rise in England ’s birth rate has played a role in driving demand. The NAO advises that a quarter of a million extra school places will be needed in England by autumn 2014.
For more information visit NAO website for more information.
Publication date: 10 April 2013
Teachers to strike
The NUT and the NASUWT has announced that teachers will stage a series of strikes in protest at changes to their pay, pensions and workload. The strikes will begin in North West England on 27 June, followed by walkouts in the autumn, region by region and a national one-day strike before Christmas.
See website for further information.
Publication date: 10 April 2013
Commission to examine youth work & school partnerships
Youth work’s educational role is to be assessed by an independent commission formed by the National Youth Agency (NYA). The group of youth work and education leaders will investigate how schools can work more closely with youth work organisations to improve young people’s social and personal development.
For more information visit Children and Young People Now website.
Publication date: 10 April 2013
Lord Chief Justice calls for research into effects on children of giving evidence in abuse cases
The most senior criminal judge in England and Wales has said that research should be carried out into the long-term effects on those who give evidence about sexual abuse when they are a child; as such evidence would help improve the way in which young victims are treated by the justice system.
For more information visit Guardian website.
Publication date: 10 April 2013
Police change approach to missing children’s cases
Senior police have revealed a new approach to investigating cases of missing people in light of the Rochdale child sexual exploitation case. This new approach aims to target investigations, in future the definition of missing people will be changes to ‘absent’ OR ‘missing’ after a risk assessment has been carried out by the police call handlers.
For more information visit Guardian website.
Publication date: 10 April 2013
Primary school sport funding
The Departments for Education, Health and Culture, Media and Sport are jointly providing funding of £150 million per annum for the academic years 2013/14 and 2014/15 to improve the quality of sport and PE for children.
The money will go directly to primary school headteachers and can only be spent on sport and PE provision.
Visit the DfE website for more information.
Publication date: 8 April 2013
Ensuring Excellence for Barnet's Early Years - Barnet's Early Years Strategy
We are pleased to publish the new 'Ensuring Excellence for Barnet's Early Years' document, which has been written by the Early Years Strategy Group in our Childrens Service.
Delivering Excellence in Barnet’s Early Years 2013 builds on the partnership priorities of the Barnet Children and Young People Plan (2013 - 2016), the Councils Education Strategy (2013 – 2016) and the NHS ‘Social and Emotional Wellbeing: Early Years’ guidance, setting a more detailed strategic direction of the council’s approach to early years over the next three years.
This strategy identifies our key priorities and objectives that will help us to deliver our vision. It outlines the national and local context within which early years services operate, identifies some key challenges and opportunities, and sets out our future direction of travel.
You can download a copy of Delivering Excellence in Barnet’s Early Years here.
Publication date: 25 March 2013
Stories Together
Supporting dialogic book talk in the EYFS
Developed by Suffolk County Council’s Early Years and Childcare Service these simple booklets are based on popular children's titles including All Join In, Bear under the stairs, Dear Zoo, The Gruffalo, Peace at Last, Rosie’s Walk, Shark in the Park, The Snail and the Whale, Toddle Waddle and Where the wild things are. Stories Together booklets support dialogic book talk and can be used by early years and children's centre practitioners, or by library staff working with families. The booklets can be used by practitioners on a one-to-one basis, with a number of children, or in a group activity where parents and children develop a shared understanding of the book through talk.
Let’s Share Pack - 12 booklets!
Offer price £27.50
(Normal price £33)
These packs of 12 x A6 12pp booklets are available from Essential Reading Plus Ltd (see attached order form for details):
Phone: 020 8444 3995
Email: duncan@essentialreadingplus.co.uk
Order online at: www.essentialreadingplus.co.uk
Publication date: 20 March 2013
Government proposals to reform vocational qualifications for 16-19 year olds
The purpose of this consultation is to seek views on proposals to reform vocational qualifications for 16-19 year olds.
The consultation seeks views on proposals to:
i) Establish a process and set of characteristics by which vocational qualifications could be judged for inclusion in 16-19 performance tables;
ii) Introduce two separate categories of vocational qualification – ‘Applied General’ and ‘Occupational’, in addition to academic qualifications; and
iii) Only include Applied General and Occupational qualifications that meet pre-defined standards in future performance tables.
It also seeks views on whether the Government should fund learners who are over 19 to take vocational qualifications that meet the new characteristics but do not conform to the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF).
Closing date for this consultation Friday 10 May 2013.
See DofE website for more information.
Publication date: 19 March 2013
New Young Offender Assessment – AssetPlus
AssetPlus will be available to YOTs in April next year and youth prisons from January 2015. Assessment will be more needs based, taking into account factors such as communication needs and learning difficulties.
See the Children and Young People Now website for more information.
Publication date: 19 March 2013
Children with strong maths skills at age 10 earn significantly more in their 30s
New research finding show that children with strong maths skills at age 10 earn significantly more in their 30s. The report uses data from the British Cohort study – a large group of individuals born in April 1970 – to look at the link between reading and maths scores at age 10 and earning at age 30, 34 and 38.
See IFS press release for details.
Publication date: 19 March 2013
School Capacity: academic year 2012 to 2012
The statistics provided are based on information collected from local authorities as part of the school capacity 2011/12 collection. It also includes information on the number of places in academies.
See DofE website for further information.
Publication date: 19 March 2013
NEET statistic: quarterly brief – quarter 4, 2012
This brief sets out the latest statistics available on young people who are NEET in England from the Department for Educations 16-18 participation statistical first release, the Labour Force survey (LFS) and regional NEET figures.
See DofE website for further information.
Publication date: 19 March 2013
A Call to End Violence against Women & Girls
This action plan is the Government’s vision and ambition to tackle the blight of domestic and sexual violence. Recognising that tackling violence against women and girls requires a sustained, robust and dynamic cross Government approach.
This action plan provides an overview of the wide range of actions the government will be taking forward with key partners to deliver its strategy to tackle violence against women and girls.
See Home Office website for more information.
Publication date: 19 March 2013
Public views on Child Poverty: Results of the second poll undertaken as part of the measuring Child Poverty Consultation
A consultation had been undertaken to identify better measures of child poverty with the aim of developing new measure of child poverty that would provide a broader understanding of the real experience of child poverty in the UK .
A key criterion for this child poverty measure is to ensure that it should be widely accepted by the public as being a fair representation of those children growing up in the poverty. An initial poll has already been taken and this report provides information as to the result of the second poll.
See DWP website for further information.
Publication date: 19 March 2013
The Early Education Pilot for two year old children: Age five follow-up
Key findings of this pilot show that children who attended the early years education pilot when they were age two, showed no evidence of better outcome at age five as measured by the Early Years Foundation Stage profile, than those who did not attend the pilot.
See website for more information.
Publication date: 19 March 2013
Childcare costs scheme 'better for parents'
The government has promised to create a "better" childcare system for parents, by allowing them to claim back up to £1,200 a year in costs per child.
Children's minister Elizabeth Truss said the problem of affordability went "right up the income scale" and the new scheme would provide "choice".
The UK has some of the highest childcare costs in the world, with many people with two or more children saying it does not make financial sense for both parents to work.
Under the proposed scheme, which will undergo consultation, parents will be allowed to claim back 20% out of a total of around £6,000 - what the government says to be the average annual price of a childcare place.
To be introduced from 2015, it would cover children up to five years old, but will build up "over time" to include under-12s.
Unlike the current voucher system, which only operates where employers support it, the new scheme would be paid per child, instead of per household.
Parents earning up to £150,000 a year each - or a maximum of £300,000 per household - would be eligible.
How the new scheme will work
- Parents will be able to open an online voucher account with a voucher provider and have their payments topped up by government.
- For every 80p families pay in, the government will put in 20p up to the annual limit on costs for each child of £1,200.
- Parents will be able to use the vouchers for any Ofsted regulated childcare in England and the equivalent bodies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- The scheme will initially only be open to pay for children under five
- The scheme is expected to benefit 2.5 million families.
- Parents using the existing childcare voucher system will be able to continue using that scheme instead
- Full details of the new scheme will be proposed in a consultation before being finalised.
Read the full article on the BBC website.
Publication date: 19 March 2013
The Child Protection system in England: Responses from the Government and Ofsted
This report is a compilation of responses from the Government & Ofsted to the committee’s fourth Report of Session; highlighting recent developments and identifying areas for the Government and local agencies to consider.
See website for more information.
Publication date: 15 March 2013
The Early Education Pilot for two year old children: Age five follow-up
Key findings of this pilot show that children who attended the early years education pilot when they were age two, showed no evidence of better outcome at age five as measured by the Early Years Foundation Stage profile, than those who did not attend the pilot.
See website for further information.
Publication date: 15 March 2013
Specialist Met unit in London to tackle gang-led child sex abuse
The Metropolitan police are setting up a specialist unit to counter child sex abuse in London similar to that in Rochdale, in response to a shocking report revealing the scale of incidents involving gangs across Britain .
For more information see website.
Publication date: 15 March 2013
Annual Youth Justice Convention 2013
This year’s annual Youth Justice Convention will be held in Birmingham at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel on Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 November 2013.
For further information visit website.
Publication date: 15 March 2013
Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Drop in sessions at Children's Centres
Are you worried about a child’s talking? Is the child becoming frustrated? Would you like someone to talk to?
The Children’s Centres are offering drop in sessions with a Speech and Language Therapist to offer you a chance to get some advice. The sessions are:
Child’s Hill Children’s Centre
Childs Hill School, Dersingham Road(entrance on Greenfield Gardens), NW2 1SL
Tel: 020 8450 2141
Sessions are between 9.30am-11am.
The Concourse, Grahame Park, London, NW9 5XN
Tel: 020 8359 3510
Sessions are between 9.30am-11am.
Hyde Crescent, London, NW9 7EY
Tel: 020 8200 2959
Sessions are between 9.30am-11am.
Silkstream Road, Edgware HA8 0DA
Tel: 020 8905 7605
Alternatively, phone Cherry Cornell on 07971 684 281 to arrange a time.
Fallows Close, East Finchley, London N2 8LG
Tel: 020 8359 3460
Alternatively, phone Cherry Cornell on 07971 684 281 to arrange a time.
Underhill Primary School & Children’s Centre, Mays Lane, Barnet, EN5 2LZ
Tel: 020 8359 3440
Or phone Cherry on 07971 684 281 to arrange a time.
Thursday 12 July
Thursday 16 August
Thursday 13 September
Wingfield Children’s Centre
Thursday 26 July
Thursday 30 August
Thursday 20 September
The Hyde Children’s Centre
Barnfield Children’s Centre
Newstead Children’s Centre
Tuesday 10 July at 9.30am-11am
Tuesday 7 August at 9.30am-11am
Tuesday 11 September at 1pm-2.30pm
Underhill Children’s Centre
Please note:
- it is advisable to phone the Children’s Centre beforehand on the day
- you should have permission from the parent of the child
- these sessions are for nursery aged children and younger
- these sessions are for children who have NOT been referred to Speech and Language Therapy.
Publication date: 15 March 2013
Free publications and resources from Early Education
Early Education - The British Association for Early Childhood Education.
Early Education is committed to supporting families and the professional development of all those working in early childhood education to ensure effective early childhood education experiences of the highest quality for all children across the United Kingdom.
They have a number of publications and resources that you can download for free on their website including: helping children with their behaviour, making their mark - children's early writing, making a noise for music and much more.
Visit the Early Education website to download these free publications.
Publication date: 12 March 2013
Released today - the findings of the Annual Childcare costs survey
Today the Daycare Trust has released the findings of the 2013 Childcare Costs Survey.
The Daycare Trust and the Family and Parenting Institute’s Childcare Costs Survey 2013 is compiled from figures submitted by Family Information Services across the UK.
The report reveals childcare is the luxury that families have to afford as figures show that nursery, childminder and after-school club costs are all rising at more than double the rate of inflation.
This year, key findings from the survey include:
- Average childcare costs increase by more than 6% (more than double rate of inflation)
- The average nursery cost for a child under two has risen by 4.2% to £106.38 per week for a part-time place (25 hours). A full-time place costs £11,000 for a year. Costs for over-twos have gone up even more – by 6.6% to an average of £103.96 per week for a part-time place.
- Childminder costs in Britain have increased by 5.9% for a child under two, to £98.15 and 5.2%, to £96.67 for a child aged two and over.
- The steepest cost hikes are seen in childcare for older children – with 15 hours a week at an after-school club costing £49.67, a rise of 9%. For a family with two children, care in term time, before and after school, costs nearly £4,000 a year.
- As well as having the fastest-rising costs, childcare around the school day is also the hardest to find, with under a third of local authorities (31%) reporting that they provide sufficient childcare for this group.
The Childcare Costs Survey 2013 is sponsored by Computershare Voucher Services www.computersharevoucherservices.com.
Publication date: 6 March 2013
Monitoring visits guidance for local authorities
This Standards & Testing Agency guidance explains how local authorities should carry out monitoring visits to schools administering Key Stage 2 National Curriculum tests.
You can view the document here.
Publication date: 4 March 2013
Good practice resource – Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation: Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
‘Lessons from history and current practice tell us that the only effective way of identifying and supporting victims and prosecuting offenders is to do so in partnership’. Nick McPartlan, Team Manager, Engage Team
See Ofsted website for further information.
Publication date: 4 March 2013
Participation in education, training and employment by 16 to 18 year-olds in England, end 2011
This DofE statistical release draws together information from the different post-16 learning options (school, FE colleges, work-based learning, higher education, etc.) to give a coherent and compreh
It has been updated because the Office for National Statistics is revising its mid-year population estimates following the 2011 Census. The estimates are used to calculate the rates in this release and the changes have affected the data published for end 2001 through to end 2011.
See the DofE website for more information.
Publication date: 4 March 2013
Conception Statistics
The number of teenage pregnancies in England and Wales fell sharply in 2011 and is now at its lowest level since 1969.
The figures – 31,051 pregnancies to girls aged 18 and under - mark a fall of more than a quarter in the past ten years. The number of pregnancies to girls aged under 16 was 5,991 in 2011, compared with 6,674 in 2010 - a fall of 10 per cent.
See Office for National Statistics website for further information.
Publication date: 4 March 2013
Measuring up: the medical profession’s prescription to the nation’s obesity crisis
The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges is demanding a 20 per cent increase in the cost of sugary drinks, fewer fast food outlets near schools and a ban on unhealthy food in hospitals to prevent the country’s spiralling obesity crisis.
Its report calls for action by ministers, the NHS, councils and food firms as well as changes in parental behaviour, to break the cycle of “generation after generation falling victim to obesity-related illnesses and death”.
See website for more information.
Publication date: 4 March 2013
Childcare vouchers - what makes for a successful scheme?
Get the information you need to make an informed decision with a free childcare voucher guide
Childcare Vouchers are now widely accepted as one of the most practical, cost-effective ways an employer can support staff with family responsibilities.
Take-up for Childcare Vouchers continues to grow at a pace, as experience shows employers supporting staff with childcare responsibilities makes sound business sense.
The Childcare Vouchers free guide explores some of the issues around employer-supported childcare and explains in simple terms how Childcare Vouchers work. It aims to identify exactly what makes for a successful Childcare Voucher scheme, and provides answers to some common questions.
Whether you are considering setting up a Childcare Vouchers scheme for the first time – or are reviewing your current provider – the Childcare Vouchers free guide will give you the background and information you need to make an informed decision.
Download the Childcare Vouchers free guide
Publication date: 25 February 2013
Early Years Developmental Journal
The new Early Years Developmental Journal is designed for families, practitioners and others to use as a way of recording, celebrating and supporting children's progress.
It is also for people who would like to find out more about children's development in the early years. It supports key working by helping everyone involved with a child to share what they know and discuss how best to work together to support development and learning.
This Journal is particularly useful if you know or suspect that your child or a child who you are helping is unlikely to progress in the same way or at the same rate as other children - whether or not a particular factor or learning difficulty has been identified and given a name.
The Early Years Developmental Journal links closely with Development Matters in the Early Years Foundation Stage.
For more information about the Early Years Developmental Journal download the flyer.
We suggest that before you start to use the Journal, you first read the 'How to Use' guide, which you can also download.
Developmental journals for specific childhood conditions or disabilities
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Developmental journal for babies and children with Down syndrome
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Developmental journal for babies and children with visual impairments
Publication date: 21 February 2013
Ofsted warns schools taking physical out of PE
In a new report on physical education in schools, Ofsted says that PE lessons in more than a quarter of schools involve so little physical activity that they fail to improve pupils’ fitness at all with only a minority of schools playing high class competitive sport.
Publication date: 19 February 2013
Online abuse warning
The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) has warned that parents must do more to protect their children from the growing number of paedophiles grooming victims purely for online sexual abuse.
In a third of grooming cases, abusers are making contact with their victims using the BBM function on BlackBerry phones or applications on social networking sites.
See Independent website.
Publication date: 19 February 2013
Launch of Ofsted’s ‘Data View’
Ofsted has launched a new data tool to enable comparison of regional and local performance of schools, further education and childcare providers. It also allows comparison with similar local authority areas.
See Data View website.
Publication date: 19 February 2013
Catch-Up Premium
The DfE has announced the following:
£54 million will be given to state secondary schools in England to help every year 7 pupil who did not reach the expected level of literacy and maths when they finished primary school. The catch-up premium will provide intensive tuition for 110,000 pupils with each school receiving £500 per pupil.
Publication date: 19 February 2013
Academies could take over teaching in youth prisons
As part of a radical plan to create “secure training colleges”, academies and free schools are to be invited to take over education in young offender institutions.
The Ministry of Justice is due to publish a green paper on youth custody and it is expected to “put education at the heart of detention” for the 1,500 young offenders held in YOIs, local authority secure units and privately run secure training centres. Half the 15 to 17-year-olds in YOIs are assessed as having the literacy level of a seven to 11-year-old, with 88 per cent of the young male offenders having been excluded from school.
See Telegraph website for further details.
Publication date: 19 February 2013
Trading Times- a service for job seekers
Here Dr Jonathan Collie describes the launch of an exciting new service in Barnet for job seekers:
The Service:
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Trading Times is a new online social enterprise that matches the skills and availability of plus-50s, family carers and lone parents with the adhoc resource needs of local businesses. It is essentially a flexible jobs service for those with skills and time, but who are typically excluded from the 9-5 full-time workplace. It also provides businesses with access to the largely untapped resource pool of experienced, mature, skilled, committed and local workers - just the resources you need, when you need them. It’s common sense!
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On the one hand, we have thousands of small businesses and local households that have jobs that need doing. On the other hand, we have large numbers of local people - the over 50’s, family carers and single parents - who have skills, experience, and some spare time. They’re the perfect match, but they don’t know how to find each other. That’s where Trading Times comes in. We match available local people with businesses and individuals who need things done.
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You tell us what skills (if you're an employer) or what work (if you're a candidate) you're looking for and we'll let you know when we find you a match! No complex forms, no lengthy CVs, no need to login each day, no fee. Simple.
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Trading Times can be viewed as a job/skills ‘dating service’ for the local economy. It is all about making meaningful connections that empower individuals and help businesses flourish.
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Trading Times is free to all users
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The over 50s, carers and lone parents may not see themselves for the valuable resource they are. They may not even think of themselves as employable. But with our encouragement and support they can use their skills to supplement their income and possibly do something different with their spare time. Equally, small businesses or household employers will discover a rich seam of talent, perfect for their requirements. Whether it's monthly bookkeeping, HR support once a week, a daily dog walk or a one-off house sit, we will carefully match the right person with the right qualities to do the job.
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In addition to skills/job matching, Trading Times will provide candidates with guidance on becoming work-ready, and employers on how to benefit from flexible working efficiencies.
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The online forum and social media channels will help share the success stories and experiences of Trading Times candidates and employers.
Launch in Barnet:
- To start with, we have chosen the London borough of Barnet to launch Trading Times in March 2013. We’ll be running a three-month pilot, to make sure everything is working well, before we extend the service nationally.
- If you live in (or near) Barnet, sign up today, and you’ll be in at the start of something great. If you’re not in Barnet, sign up too and we’ll keep you updated with our news and when we go live in your area.
On 18th February we launched our social media campaign. Our new Facebook and Twitter pages are up as is our new landing page (www.tradingtimes.org.uk). Please Like/Follow us and Pre-register on our website. - We’ll be steadily raising our profile in the lead up to 1st March through live events, press releases and other communication channels.
- We’ll also be using the social media channels will help spread the Trading Times word through the sharing of success stories (both candidates and employers alike).
Engaging Target Users:
- Please spread the word – help reach target Barnet residents who would like us on Facebook (TradingTimesUK), follow us on Twitter (@tradingtimesuk), and pre-register on our holding page ( www.tradingtimes.org.uk ).
- Featuring Trading Times in popular Barnet media channels and affiliate websites.
Creating reciprocal links between popular Barnet (and national) stakeholder groups and media organisations. - Attendance of and/or presentation at key events in Barnet.
For more information contact Dr Collie using the following details:
Dr Jonathan Collie (Founder)
Tel: 07887624385
Email:
jonathan@tradingtimes.org.uk
Publication date: 14 February 2013
Barnet Safeguarding Children Board launch new website
The Barnet Safeguarding Children Board recently launched a new website.
The website can be be found at: www.barnetscb.org/
Tim Beach Independent Chair of the Board said the following regarding the launch:
'We hope that you will find this website accessible and informative. Colleagues in our Professional Advisory Sub-Group have helped to develop the Practitioners Directory so that colleagues can access relevant guidance and protocols in one place.
In developing this website, we have sought the views of young people who have told us what they consider to be important messages in communicating with children and young people.
Your comments, ideas and suggestions are vital to help us in further developing this site as a valuable resource for all partners, as well as young people and the wider community in Barnet.
Please let us know what you think!'
You can feed back your comments to Helen Elliott, Safeguarding Children's Board Development Manager via Email:
helen.elliott@barnet.gov.uk
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or Tel: 020 8359 4540.
Publication date: 14 February 2013
Improving Enforcement in Childcare
In this review, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills are asking anyone involved in childcare to let them know their views and experiences.
This review aims to ensure children get the protection and support they need while giving providers greater clarity and guidance, so they can focus on giving high standards of care rather than being held back by unnecessary bureaucracy.
Childcare providers, nurseries and pre-schools for children in the early years group (0-5years), as well as users of childcare services are invited to provide examples of how current enforcement of regulation could be improved, driving up standards while removing confusing bureaucratic requirements that divert carers from meeting the needs of children.
You are also asked to suggest how regulators could better help providers comply with the law and to highlight where regulation is working well, so that good practice can be extended and replicated across the sector.
Share your experiences on the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills website.
Publication date: 14 February 2013
Double Dutch: The case against deregulation and demand-led funding in childcare
The Institute for Public Policy Research have written a report that critically engages with the arguments and ideas put forward in childcare minister Liz Truss’ paper Affordable Quality.
Despite major advances over the last 15 years, childcare in the UK is more expensive and or more variable in quality than in many other European countries. This is especially problematic given the potential of good childcare to overcome early childhood disadvantage and enable parental employment.
The argument in Liz Truss’ paper is rooted in the claim that our childcare system delivers poor value for money, for both parents and taxpayers, and she suggest that British policymakers should take inspiration from the reforms that took place in the Dutch childcare system in 2005. These reforms focused on reducing regulation, especially on childminders, and on switching to a demand-led funding model for childcare services.
This report argues that the outcomes of the Dutch reforms are not universally positive, and concludes, more generally, that this two strategic directions – deregulation and demand-led funding – are likely to take the UK's childcare system down the wrong path. Specifically, it argues that:
- reducing regulation of childminders (by loosening child-to-adult ratios or ending individual registration and inspection) would undermine quality and parental trust
- a demand-led funding system would not reduce costs or increase quality: on the contrary, it would lead to increased costs for government and parents, and to lower quality and diminished parental choice.
As an alternative source of inspiration for British policymakers, the report surveys the Danish childcare system, which:
- offers a universal national entitlement to childcare
- prioritises spending on services over spending on benefits
- fosters a high-quality workforce
- decentralises governance
- maintains relatively generous parental leave and workplace flexibility.
All this is premised on a broad political consensus and strong alliances, especially in the entrenched social partnership between employers and trade unions, and so would be difficult to import straightforwardly into the British context. However, there are a number of insights that we believe can be gained from looking elsewhere in Europe for inspiration in childcare reform.
Download the full Double Dutch Childcare Report here.
Publication date: 14 February 2013
Climate Week 2013 - 4 -10 March
Climate Week is a supercharged national occasion, celebrating the practical positive solutions to climate change.
Climate Week 2012 was a great success and is now the UK’s biggest climate change campaign - half a million people across every sector of society, attended over 3000 events. It is supported by some prominent individuals and organisations, such as The Prime Minister, The Met Office, The Department of Education and the National Association of Head Teachers to name a few. If you wanted to have a little look at a fun summary of Climate Week 2012, click here.
Climate Week 2013 is the 4 -10 March 2013 and there are already over 1,000 events registered on the Climate Week website.
Climate Change have a number of suggested events and activities. The Climate Week Challenge is running again this year, which 145,000 people registered to take part in last year. This is a fun and easy way to engage young people with climate change. It is a national competition across all age groups and is free to take part in. There is also a Climate Week Picture Competition for children aged 3 - 5 so they can join in the campaign as well!
Climate Change also suggest a low-carbon food event or a Climate Week Swap, which is based on swapping clothes, books, toys and so on. Swapping items is great for the environment, a good way of meeting new people and bringing communities together, and can even be used as a fundraising event.
It would be fantastic if you could help Climate Change spread the word about the campaign. For more information and ideas on how to get involved, contact Sophia McNab on sophia.mcnab@climateweek.com or 020 3397 2612 or visit www.climateweek.com.
Publication date: 11 February 2013
What are childminder agencies?
The More great childcare: Raising quality and giving parents more choice report recently published by the DfE speaks of offering parents the choice of more great childcare through Childminder Agencies
The DfE has now published details of what Childminder Agencies are and the advantages to both parents and childminders.
You can read the full article on the DfE website.
Publication date: 7 February 2013
New information resources from Early Support
NEW! The existing Early Support resources have been revised, updated and adapted for use with older children and disabled young people. They are available FREE to download.
The Early Support information resources describe, discuss and explore either a specific impairment or more general information that parent carers and young people have told us they would find useful to know.
The resources were produced in response to requests from families, professional agencies and voluntary organisations for a better standard of information about particular conditions or disabilities and more general and reliable background knowledge resources.
To find out more and download the resources, please visit the Early Support website here.
Publication date: 7 February 2013
Children & Families Bill published
Independent Parental Special Educational Advice (IPSEA) Press Release
IPSEA has issued a Press Release about the new Children & Families Bill.
At 5pm on Monday 4th February, the Children & Families Bill was presented in Parliament. The Bill was published today.
The IPSEA Press Release has some initial observations. Edward Timpson, the Minister responsible for SEN, has written a letter explaining some of the changes made to the draft provisions. You can read his letter here.
You can view the Bills' progress through Parliament here.
Publication date: 5 February 2013
Early Home Learning Matters - A Brief Guide
The Family and Parenting Institute have produced a brief guide that provides an overview of the key messages for practitioners contained in Early Home Learning Matters: A good practice guide.
This is an essential resource for anyone working with parents of children from birth to five years of age, or developing early years services.
The link between social deprivation and poor outcomes for children is well established but, crucially, it is not set in stone. What the evidence also tells us is that when parents provide the experiences that children need for their early development, this has a huge and lasting impact on their future wellbeing and achievement, irrespective of their parents' material or educational background.
Involving and supporting parents by working in partnership is therefore an essential part of early years services. This brief guide will help you:
- understand the evidence about brain development and the vital role of
- parents, both fathers and mothers
- reach and include vulnerable families
- enable parents to gain the understanding, skills and confidence they need to help their children flourish.
Further information on a wide range of examples from practice, as well as the development and evaluation of services, the equipping of the workforce, and the location of key resources, can be found in Early Home Learning Matters: A good practice guide, available from: www.earlyhomelearning.org.uk.
Publication date: 5 February 2013
Arrangements for the inspection of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass)
This is a consultation on proposals for the revised inspection framework for the inspection of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service.
The new inspection arrangements will come into effect from September 2013.
Read more here.
Publication date: 4 February 2013
Consultation on changes to the delegation and inspection of functions for looked after children and care leavers
This is a consultation on proposals to: allow all local authorities to delegate some decision making and tasks around children in care and care leavers to external social work providers.
This aims to avoid disruption where such arrangements are currently in place as part of the Social Work Practices pilot, and extend flexibility to other local authorities; to remove the requirement for social work providers to register with and be inspected separately by Ofsted. Ofsted has already said it will consider the experiences of children receiving services under delegated arrangements as part of its new inspection framework.
Read more here.
Publication date: 4 February 2013
Safeguarding children peer review
The Children's Improvement Board will fully fund a Safeguarding children peer review until 31 March 2013 for any council.
There is a strong demand for this peer review and a 12-week lead in is recommended.
Read more here.
Publication date: 4 February 2013
DfE guidance and advice for schools
The Department for Education has updated guidance on statutory duties and powers concerning the use of alternative provision.
Read more here.Publication date: 4 February 2013
Improving outcomes for looked after children and care leavers – London Borough of Ealing
This Ofsted good practice resource looks at Ealing’s ‘Horizons’ programme.
A one-stop shop that provides young people in care and care leavers aged between 11 and 24 with the range of services and support they need from a single access point in a youth-friendly setting.
View more here.
Publication date: 4 February 2013
The impact of Reading Recovery five years after intervention: a report for the Every Child a Reader Trust
This study reveals that the positive impact of Reading Recovery for pupils who struggled with literacy at the start of primary school lasts up to and into secondary school.
The five year study, looking at the long term effects of early intervention, followed 254 children up to the end of Key Stage 2. Those who had received Reading Recovery (77 children) made significantly greater progress in English than the comparison school (127 children) that had no access to the intervention. The benefits of having a Reading Recovery teacher, a highly skilled literacy expert, in the school were also seen on pupils (50 children) who didn't receive the additional one-to-one support.
Read more here.
Publication date: 4 February 2013
Prince’s Trust youth index 2013
Based on interviews with 2,136 16-to-25-year-olds, the index measures how confident and happy young people feel about their lives and their futures, considering their wellbeing across a range of areas including family relationships, local community and health, qualifications, employment and money.
Among the findings are that one in ten young people feel they cannot cope with day-to-day life and young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs) are more than twice as likely to feel unable to cope as their peers.
Read more here.
Publication date: 4 February 2013
Family Justice Board Action Plan published
The Family Justice Board is the government’s vision of a family justice system.
It supports the delivery of the best possible outcomes with the overall aim of driving significant improvements in the The report highlights 13 actions which it aims to execute. For more information you can see their website.
View the report here.
Publication date: 4 February 2013
A generation adrift: the case for speech, language and communication to take a central role in schools’ policy and practice
This report calls for schools to do more to emphasise good speech, language and communication.
It draws together research which shows that many children and young people are not being adequately supported to develop good communication skills and children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) are often misunderstood or missed altogether.
View the report here.
Publication date: 4 February 2013
Announcement of the Discontinuation of the ‘Behavior in Schools in England’ statistical release
The Department (DfE) usually publishes a Statistical Release entitled "Behaviour in Schools in England" in April each year.
Under new transparency arrangements, Ofsted are now publishing these data on their website more information can be found in the Schedule for the release of official statistics.
View more here.
Publication date: 4 February 2013
School census 2013
The DfE has added updates to its school census pages on spring COLLECT familiarisation and school funding arrangements.
Read the full report here.Publication date: 4 February 2013
Youth policy not a central government policy
Giving evidence to the Education Select Committee, the Education Secretary said that youth policy is not a priority for central government and should be developed by local authorities rather than Whitehall.
View more here.
Publication date: 1 February 2013
Further action on adoption announced
Edward Timpson has launched ‘Further Action on Adoption’ which announces: the potential for new legislation to remove responsibility from Local Authorities for the recruitment, assessment and approval of adopters.
The document stresses that this will not necessarily be invoked and a challenge is offered to the local government sector to bring forward alternative proposals for significantly increasing the number of approved adopters.
View more here.
Publication date: 1 February 2013
Major Young offender resettlement scheme announced for London
Crime reduction charity Nacro has won a contract to run a high profile payment-by-results resettlement scheme for young offenders in London.
The new project which replaces the Daedalus scheme, aims to provide resettlement, “end-to-end” provisional support for young offenders leaving custody. Help will be given in relation to accessing education, training or work opportunities upon release. These services will be provided in two areas covering 11 London boroughs.
Read more here.
Publication date: 1 February 2013
Boris Johnson’s £650,000 programme to provide healthy food to children in capital’s most deprived boroughs.
An increasing number of children are arriving at school hungry, according to the charity Magic Breakfast, overseeing the breakfast initiative which has been funded by the mayor Boris Johnson.
This scheme provides free healthy pre-school meals and aims to roll out to all schools in the capital where at least half of the pupils qualify for free school meals.
View more here.
Publication date: 1 February 2013
Youth Contract opened up to help more young people who are NEET
The Department for Education has extended the eligibility criteria for the Youth Contract and an extra 15,500 16- and 17-year-olds are now eligible for tailored help to return to work with training, school or college.
View the full story here.Publication date: 1 February 2013
Rise in teacher training figures
The Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR) has published the first set of data on applications it has received for teacher training in the current recruitment year.
It shows that as of 7 January 2013 28,005 applicants have registered with GTTR for higher education-led teacher training courses in England.
View more on this here.
Publication date: 1 February 2013
John Nash appointed as new education minister
Following the promotion of Lord Hill of Oareford to Leader of the House, John Nash will join the DfE as the new minister in the Lords.
View the full story here.
Publication date: 1 February 2013
Domestic violence awareness training
The Domestic Violence training programme has been revised and there is now an opportunity to undertake training at two levels. Please note that this training is available until the end of March 2013.
Further information about the training and an online application form can be found on the following web pages:
Publication date: 31 January 2013
Action on Neglect Conference
You are invited to join us for the Barnet Action on Neglect Conference.
This half day conference will be held on 13 March 2013 at the The Penridge Suite, 470 Bowes Road, New Southgate, N11 1NL.
The event will focus on local and national issues regarding Child Neglect. We would also be launching the Barnet Action on Neglect Resource Pack. We hope you are able to join us at this event.
Please circulate to all your networks and contacts in Barnet.
More information about this event and booking details are available via the conference web page.
Publication date: 31 January 2013
UK Youth Parliament election update
This year we have 37 candidates standing in the UK Youth Parliament Elections! Please support them by encouraging young people you work with who are aged 11 – 18 years to vote. Voter cards have been sent to schools, youth/community centres and some primary schools.
This year we have 37 candidates standing in the UK Youth Parliament Elections! Please support them by encouraging young people you work with who are aged 11 – 18 years to vote. Voter cards have been sent to schools, youth/community centres and some primary schools. At the official Candidate Debate on 23 January 2013 at Woodhouse College, they campaigned to support the homeless, prevent gang culture, create cycle lanes, improve Barnet’s environment and parks, to establish a broader curriculum for Barnet’s young people, for a safer and equal Barnet and the list goes on…
You can view all 37 candidates and read their manifestos at www.barnetukyp.co.uk
Voting
Online elections will run from 4 – 15 February 2013.
To vote: each young person needs one voter card (includes full instructions) and the voting web address www.mi-vote.com. If you need materials or have any questions about voter cards please contact Zainab Bundu on ext 4373 or email uktp@barnet.gov.uk This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Consultation (optional)
This year there will be a short consultation alongside the voting process, once voters have chosen their candidate/s (up to 4) they will be invited to take part in a 5 question optional survey.
Questions are as follows:
- Do you feel that your voice is important and listened to in Barnet?
- Is poverty a BIG problem for children and young people in Barnet?
- What new activity or sport would you like to be made available in Barnet?
- What BIG issue for young people should the UKYP winners focus on this year?
- What is your main aspiration (what do you want to be when you are older)?
If the results of this consultation will be useful for your work please let Zainab Bundu know and she will ensure you receive the data in late February 2013.
Publication date: 31 January 2013
Manchester offers childcare providers a unique opportunity
Manchester City Council is committed to ensuring that its diverse population of young people get the best possible start in life, and are well supported throughout their early years.
They are therefore looking to accept bids from high-quality day care providers, whether large or small - private sector, third sector or community-based, to deliver high quality day care in Manchester.
Analysis of the market shows that there is a wealth of potential opportunity here, and if you would like to know more Manchester City Council are holding events across the country about the opportunities in our great city, who lives here and what facilities are already in place. In total, they hope to award contracts for 29 centres across the city, which will be available from late spring 2013 and early 2014. The events will outline details on each site (these are also available to organisations which comply with tendering framework) and we welcome interest for single and multiple sites.
With the first new centres opening their doors from September 2013, Manchester City Council look forward to working with providers to develop the future of childcare across the city.
Events will be held on the following dates in London:
Monday 11 February 2013 (3.30pm - 6pm)
Tuesday 26 February 2013 (3:30pm - 6pm)
To book online visit: www.manchester.gov.uk/childcareproviderevents.
If you have any queries, contact Manchesters' Early Years Team on 0161 234 3319 or n.akhtar@manchester.gov.uk.
Publication date: 30 January 2013
Delivering Free Pre-School Education: Extending the Offer to 2-year Olds
Westminister Briefing and the Daycare Trust are running training to look at the major delivery challenge for the early years sector of increasing the number of 2 year olds.
The key issues to be addressed at this Policy and Practice Briefing will include:
- Examining the new proposals in detail: delivering sufficient provision & funding
- The implications of the new staffing ratios
- The role of the local authorities in securing provision
- The challenge to third sector and private providers
- Changes to inspection and regulations
- For full details please view the agenda
The event will be highly interactive with scenario planning and group discussions focusing on practical implications of the proposed arrangements.
For full details visit our events page.
Publication date: 30 January 2013
Elizabeth Truss speaks at the Policy Exchange on childcare
Speaker: Elizabeth Truss Speech date: 29 January 2013 Location: London
Conclusion
The DfE will shortly publish the report by their commission on childcare, looking at ways to tackle the high costs for parents and to get better value for money. The status-quo is neither fair to providers nor allows enough money to reach the front line.
Getting the funding right is a necessary condition of providing world-class childcare but it is not sufficient. It is not good enough to carry on with an unreformed system. A greater focus on quality and value for money matters enormously as well.
Some children enjoy more advantages than others, but all children are vulnerable. Of course parents want their child to have the very best start in life possible.
The DfE wants every child to spend their early years learning, exploring, enjoying and growing – and for them to arrive at primary school well-prepared and confident. By driving up standards right across early education, parents can be given the sense of security they crave and every child the care and attention they need.
Read the full speach on the DfE website.
Publication date: 30 January 2013
Consultation: Early education and childcare staff deployment
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets out the current arrangements for how staff should be deployed in Early Years settings.
Start date: Tuesday 29 January 2013
End date: Monday 25 March 2013
This consultation seeks your views on how these arrangements could work more effectively. The proposals in this consultation emanate from the report 'More great childcare' which was published by the Department for Education on 29 January 2013.
You can download the consultation response Word form, and submit your completed response via the online form.
Publication date: 29 January 2013
More great childcare - Raising quality and giving parents more choice
More great childcare is vital to ensuring we can compete in the global race, by helping parents back to work and readying children for school and, eventually, employment.
And it can help build a stronger society, with more opportunities for women who want to work and raise children at the same time, and better life chances for children whatever their background.
Download the full 'More great childcare - Raising quality and giving parents more choice report' from the DfE website.
The plans in this document are the first step to encourage all providers to learn from the best, and learn from effective practice in other countries. They set out our proposals to build a stronger and more professional early years workforce, and to drive quality through everything it does.
This report sets out a plan of action for how the Government will achieve its vision of a dynamic childcare market, delivering high quality early education. It incorporates the Government’s response to Professor Cathy Nutbrown’s independent review ‘Foundations for Quality’.
Includes:
- A vision for early education and childcare
- The case for change
- A plan of action
- Raising the status and quality of the workforce
- Freeing high quality providers to offer more places
- Improving the regulatory regime
- Giving more choice to parents
- Appendix.
Publication date: 29 January 2013
Two Year Old Scheme Update
Increase in hours The Two Year Old scheme will be increasing its hours from 10 hours to 15 hours per week from April 2013.
Increase in Places
Due to the national expansion of the scheme, Barnet will be offering the following number of places for the financial year 2013/14:
- Summer Term 2013 (April to July) 500 places
- Autumn Term 2013 (September to December) 600 Places
- Spring Term 2014(January to March) 700 places
Capital Grant Funding
Capital Grant Funding will be available to all childcare providers that provide places to the Two Year Old scheme. Applications will be made through a bid process. This funding will be available in the financial year 2013/14. Further details will follow.
Early Years Vulnerable Children Funding
Childcare providers that participate on the Two Year Old Scheme are now able to join the Early Years Vulnerable Children (EYVC) funding scheme which provides free childcare to vulnerable children. The EYVC funding provides targeted two year olds up to 10 hours* of childcare for up to 48 week per year and targeted three to five year olds up to 15 hours. This is in addition to the 2,3 and 4 year old offer. Additional EYVC hours can also be accessed in selected nursery schools/classes).
For more details on the scheme and how children can access the Early Years Vulnerable Children Funding (EYVC) please go to www.barnet.gov.uk/wwcib/eyvc
*this will increase to 15 hours from April 2013.
Stretched Offer
Barnet will be piloting the Stretched Offer for children accessing a Two Year Old place. Participating Two Year Old providers will be holding a workshop on 6 February 2013, 1.30pm – 3.30pm, to book a place please contact Rakhi Bose on rakhi.bose@barnet.gov.uk.
Publication date: 22 January 2013
Consultation on the revised statutory guidance on children missing education for local authorities
This DfE consultation seeks views on guidance that advises on key principles to help local authorities fulfill their legal duty to put effective arrangements in place for identifying children of compulsory school age living in their area who are missing education.
The closing date is 15 February 2013.
View more here.
Publication date: 21 January 2013
Revision of the London Child Protection Procedures – questions for consultation
The London Safeguarding Children Board is currently working to revise the London Child Protection Procedures and welcome views on this.
View more information herePublication date: 21 January 2013
Raising the Participation Age Tool kit
A look at the Raising the Participation Age Tool Kit.
- Legislation - Education & Skills Act 2008.
- RPA Factsheet - Helpful factsheets explaining what raising the participation age (RPA) will mean for young people, parents, schools and colleges, employers and local authorities.
- Lessons & Tools from the RPA delivery projects - Since 2009, 66 local authorities have participated in locally-led delivery projects, developing local approaches to increasing participation and preparing for RPA (raising the participation age).These projects have given local authorities the opportunity to test different approaches to achieving RPA and to share their learning with other areas to inform preparations across the country in the build up to 2013/2015.These reports are evaluative and provide feedback and learning from these project areas.
View all the reports here.
Publication date: 21 January 2013
Pickles warned that some councils will go bust
Local authorities have predicted that financially weak councils will go bust and others will be forced to drastically reduce services to cope with cuts to local government budgets outlined by ministers.
Councils in England will face spending reductions of up to 8.8% from April, with an average cut of 1.7%. Eric Pickles, the Communities Secretary, said the settlement was fair and that the onus was on councils to do more to cut costs and pursue “sensible savings” to protect public services. To help them he has published a report: 50 ways to save: examples of sensible savings in local government.
View the full report here.
Publication date: 21 January 2013
Which type of parenting programme best improves child behaviour and reading? The Helping Children Achieve trial.
This DfE report describes the Helping Children Achieve (HCA) study, a randomised control trial undertaken between February 2008 and March 2012.
It assessed the effectiveness of three different parenting programmes to reduce anti-social behaviour and improve reading, in primary school children living in an inner disadvantaged London Borough and a South West city.
View the full report here.
Publication date: 21 January 2013
School governance
The following have been added to the DfE’s leadership and governance pages: Research on the role of school governors - An overview of the research conducted on the governor role, as taken from a prel
A guide to the law for school governors in maintained schools, which contains information on the statutory responsibilities of a school’s governing body.
To read further click here.
Publication date: 21 January 2013
C4EO has produced a paper highlighting three recently published pieces of Research
C4EO has produced a paper which identifies three important recently published pieces of research.
The three pieces covered are:
1. Implementing evidence-based programmes in children’s services – key issues for success (DfE) September 2012
2. Silent voices: Children living with parental alcohol misuse (Children’s Commissioner Office) September 2012
3. Therapeutic services for sex-abused children (NSPCC) April 2012.
View the full report here.
Publication date: 21 January 2013
Pre-legislative scrutiny: Special Educational Needs
This report by the Commons Education Committee welcomes the overall direction of the government’s proposed legislation to reform provision for children with special educational needs (SEN).
However it warns that the NHS Constitution cannot be allowed to prevent the imposition of much stronger duties on commissioning boards to ensure that adequate, joined-up services are put in place across the country.
View the full report here.
Publication date: 21 January 2013
Adoption: pre-legislative scrutiny
The Adoption Legislation Committee’s report calls on the government to widen the scope of its proposed new ‘fostering for adoption’ duty which is designed to encourage councils to place looked after children with foster carers who can then go on to adopt them, providing continuity and stability.
It says that the new duty, which is expected to be incorporated into the Children and Families Bill early next year, does not go far enough and recommends that the scope be extended by creating a duty to consider a fostering for adoption placement for all children for whom adoption is the plan. The Committee also comments on the government’s proposal to remove any requirement to give consideration to ethnicity when placing a child with adopters.
View the full report here.
Publication date: 21 January 2013
National Travel Survey 2011
This statistical release from the Department for Transport presents information on personal travel in Great Britain during 2011 from the National Travel Survey.
Includes travel by age, including school travel.
To view the full report view here
Publication date: 21 January 2013
Tracking economic and child income deprivation at neighbourhood level in England: 1999 to 2009
This release from the Department for Communities and Local Government presents the Economic Deprivation Index (EDI) and the Children in Income Deprived Households Index (CIDI).
These indices track levels of economic deprivation from 1999 to 2009 in small areas in England called Lower-layer Super Output Areas (LSOAs).
To view the full report click here
Publication date: 21 January 2013
Free Schools: government ordered to publish list of bids
Department of Education fails in attempt to withhold details of groups applying to open free schools as appeal dismissed.
This is a move which some have hailed as transparency of the process and an opportunity for the public to have its say. However on the other hand there are fears of disruption to public affairs as well as the free school programme.
To view the full story in more detail click here
Publication date: 21 January 2013
New drive to help children find adoptive families
The government has announced a new package of support for people who want to adopt.
Reforms include: giving adoptive parents the same rights to pay and leave as birth parents; giving adoptive parents the right to take time off work to meet the children they are set to adopt before they move in; piloting personal budgets which will enable parents to have a freer hand in choosing the right support for their family; and extending the free early education for two year-olds to adopted children from 2014 and giving them priority school access from 2013.
Read more here
Publication date: 21 January 2013
School sport policy hobbled by Gove v Hunt standoff
A standoff between the Health and Education departments has delayed a £100m government school sport policy designed to combat criticism over the Olympic legacy.
The scheme, which should have been unveiled this week, is a replacement for the school sports partnerships that Michael Gove axed as soon as he took office.
View the full story here.
Publication date: 21 January 2013
Sports chiefs warn Olympic legacy threatened by Ebacc plans.
The Sport and Recreation Alliance, the umbrella body for all sports governing bodies in the UK says that the new English Baccalaureate will downgrade sport in schools and compound a “worrying” decline in the number of teenagers studying PE at secondary school.
To view the story in more detail click herePublication date: 21 January 2013
Nick Clegg promises to 'fill the gap' left by childcare support cuts
The government proposes to provide extra help to the working poor and those “crucified by high childcare costs” by the introduction of a childcare package that has been agreed and is to be announced soon.
The objective for such a package is to provide help to families who are not receiving enough help with their child care costs and to provide them with an incentive to work. The government are looking to offer assistance to:
- Families that will in the future be on the Universal Credit, but will not get enough from the Universal Credit to cover their childcare costs and provide an incentive to work.
- Families who are “better off” and don’t receive Universal Credit but still need help with child care costs.
To view the full story view here.
Publication date: 21 January 2013
Barnardo’s report ‘paying to work: childcare and child poverty’
Barnardo’s report ‘paying to work: childcare and child poverty’ has shown that lone parents face loosing a substantial amount of their pay to meeting childcare costs.
The Universal Credit System which is to be launched this year will provide parents with up to 70% in financial support for their childcare costs and free childcare entitlement remains at 15 hours.
To view the full report click here ‘paying to work: childcare and child poverty’
Publication date: 21 January 2013
Welfare reforms will penalise working families warns Barnado’s
Increased childcare costs has meant the poorest parents will be forced to pay most of what they earn towards childcare costs.
The extent of cost varies across the country and London shows the highest rates of costs in terms of Child care costs in comparison to other areas outside of the capital.
To read more view here
Publication date: 21 January 2013
Careers Fair
The London Borough of Barnet and its partners invite you to join us at this year’s working with children and young people careers fair.
Pop-in anytime between 10am and 3.30pm and speak to a range of employers about local opportunities for volunteering, training, apprenticeships and jobs.
We look forward to welcoming you there.
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Venue: Royal Air Force (RAF) Museum, Grahame Park Way, London, NW9 5LL
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Date: Thursday 14 March 2013
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Time: 10am – 3.30pm
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How to get there: There is plenty of parking available at the RAF Museum and it is accessible via tube(Colindale Station) and bus 303, which stops outside the gate.
For more information contact Gail Williamson: Tel: 020 8359 6389 or Email:childrens.workforce@barnet.gov.uk or visit us at: www.barnet.gov.uk/workforce
You can download the promotional flyer from below:
Publication date: 18 January 2013
Emergency and unplanned closure
Due to the recent and forcasted adverse weather conditions we would like to remind you of the procedures for emergency and unplanned closures.
The first, and most important thing that you need to do is inform all parents that you will be closed in a timely manner.
Secondly, if you participate in the Free Entitlement to Early Education (FEEE) scheme you must inform Lyn Gallacher (Registrations Support Officer) as soon as practical after the closure. You can contact Lyn on 020 8359 7619 or lyn.gallacher@barnet.gov.uk.
Publication date: 16 January 2013
Young Carers are everyone’s business’ Barnet’s Young Carers Plan
The new Barnet Young Carers Plan suggests there may be as many as 4,000 young carers in Barnet, although we cannot identify exact numbers as few services identify this group.
Young Carers may look after a parent, or other member of the family with a physical illness, learning difficulty, mental health problem, or substance misuse problem. Many will not recognise themselves as carers, and sometimes adult members of the family will be reluctant to identify children as ‘carers’, especially when this may draw attention to physical disabilities; hidden disability/illness; mental health, or substance misuse issues.
Publication date: 15 January 2013
Final call for UK Youth Parliament candidates
Young people have the chance to represent Barnet in the UK’s Youth Parliament Elections 2013 which take place on 4 February to 15 February 2013 .
Anyone between the ages of 11 and 18 can apply to become a Member of Youth Parliament and have their chance to speak out about issues affecting young people.
The UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) was established in 1999 and is run by young people for young people, giving them the opportunity to share their opinions on issues ranging from the cost of university education to job opportunities to transport. Its views and recommendations are listened to by local and national Government and providers of services and other agencies who have an interest in the views and needs of young people.
After the applications are received, the candidates’ profiles will be uploaded online and voted for by people under 18 in the borough.
There will be four members for Barnet, with two deputy members.
Councillor Andrew Harper said: “It’s great to see our young people making such a positive impact and gaining a valuable insight into the democratic process. I look forward to welcoming our new members of the UKYP.
“Applications have already started to come in and I am keen to see an even greater number of candidates in the running this year.”
For a young person to register they should contact the us on 020 8359 4373 or email ukyp@barnet.gov.uk before the deadline on Wednesday 16 January 2013.
You can also find the latest information about the election on the UKYP webpage.
Publication date: 15 January 2013
Parkfield Children's Centre
Management responsibility for Parkfield Children’s Centre has passed over to the Local Authority as of 1 January 2013. The Centre Manager and staff are now directly line managed by Sue Hillsden, Early Years Services Manager, Early Intervention and Prevention Team.
All contact details for the Children’s Centre will at present remain the same. The day to day services provided by the Children’s Centre also remain the same.
For general information about the Parkfield Children’s Centre Services (or any of the Barnet Children’s Centres), please contact FYi on 0800 389 8312 or refer to the Children’s Centre web pages.
Should you require any further information relating t o the management changes please contact Sue Hillsden on 020 8359 7614 or email: sue.hillsden@barnet.gov.uk.
Publication date: 15 January 2013
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