The Department for Education (DfE) has published updated Keeping children safe in education 2021 statutory guidance for schools and colleges in England. This guidance comes into force on 1 September 2021 and replaces Keeping children safe in education 2020 (updated January 2021). Substantive changes, outlined in Annexe G, cover areas including: child on child […]
EU Settlement Scheme – Less than 10 days left to apply
On Monday 21 June, there will be less than 10 days to go until the deadline of 30 June 2021 for applications to be made to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS). An application to the EU Settlement Scheme by 30 June 2021 for those eligible, secures existing rights in UK law until a status […]
DIGITAL PASSPORTS’ LAUNCHED TO HELP TACKLE ONLINE HARM FOR CHILDREN IN CARE
The initiative – launched today by the UK Council for Internet Safety‘s (UKCIS) Vulnerable Users Working Group – is designed to help communication between foster carers and the children in their care, who are statistically at greater risk of online harm It is the first initiative launched by the group – chaired by Internet […]
LGBTQ+ young people’s experiences of care
What Works for Children’s Social Care (WWCSC) has announced the launch of a project with the University of Birmingham, which aims to better understand and improve LGBTQ+ young people’s experiences of social care. The project is made up of two linked studies: using interviews and focus groups to better understand the experiences of LGBTQ+ […]
The Childhood Commission: Review of the Future of Childhood Launched
The Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza has launched the ‘Childhood Commission’, a review of the future of children which will identify the barriers preventing children from reaching their full potential, propose policy and services solutions and develop targets by which improvements can be monitored. In April the Commission will carry out ‘The Big Ask‘ […]
Special Guardianship Training Film Launched
A new training film on special guardianship for sector professionals was launched on 15 March 2021. The film, ‘Special Guardianship – an agenda for change’, was made jointly by CoramBAAF, the Centre for Child and Family Justice Research at Lancaster University and Kinship (formerly Grandparents Plus). It is the sister film to ‘The First Day of Forever […]
Special Guardianship Needs More Recognition and Support
In an article published in The Conversation, Professor Judith Harwin of Lancaster University, considers the importance of, and increase in, use of special guardianship orders, and highlights recent research showing the benefits it brings to children by keeping them within their family networks. The article also argues that change is needed to ensure that special […]
Care Review Contract Shows that Recommendations must be “Affordable”
A Community Care article looks at responses to the publication of the contract between the Department for Education (DfE)and Josh MacAlister, Care Review lead, which states that “recommendations must be affordable” to government and that the “DfE cannot assume any additional funding from the Exchequer to meet the recommendations”. Concerns have been raised by […]
Public Attitudes to Children in Care and Care Leavers
To mark the first Care Experienced History Month UK, the findings of a new Coram survey on public attitudes to children in care and care leavers has been published. The survey of over 2,000 UK adults found that while 81% of those asked thought that children in care are neither a good nor bad influence on […]
LGSCO: Children’s Statutory Complaint’s Procedure New Guide luanched
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has launched a new guide to help local authorities handle complaints under the children’s services statutory complaints process. The guide shares lessons from previous investigations about how councils should apply the regulations and statutory guidance, and addresses the common questions received. Further information and a link to download […]