Children
Children's services under pressure at embattled council
Powys CC’s children’s services remain ‘under considerable pressure’ as the council attempts to improve from a damning inspection verdict.
Britain’s betrayal of childhood
Is childhood across Britain in crisis? The answer in a new book by Sir Al Aynsley-Green is ‘yes’ .The former children's commissioner for England says it's time politicians and the public woke up to reality
Adopting strengths-based approaches
To deliver improved children’s social care, we need to focus on people’s strengths, and not just their difficulties, says Ewan King
Unions in Brexit funding plea
Councils should not bear the financial burden of registering 120,000 children who qualify for UK citizenship after Brexit, Britain’s trade union movement has warned.
Brum vows to improve SEND after critical report
Birmingham City Council has vowed to take urgent action to make ‘significant improvements’ after a special educational needs and disabilities inspection (SEND).
'Radical approach' to improve Surrey's children's services
Surrey CC will take a ‘radical approach’ to improving its inadequate children’s services in a bid to avoid a Department for Education (DfE) takeover, councillors will be told.
Bristol SEND ruling 'could have wider implications'
A court ruling that ordered a council to reverse cuts to provisions for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) could have wider repercussions, the Local Government Association has warned.
Children's services risk management strategy is a leap of faith
Blair McPherson believes some councils are adopting a dangerous risk management strategy when it comes to children's services.
Powys CC chief executive to leave
Powys CC chief executive Jeremy Patterson is to leave the authority after almost 10 years in the role, the council has announced.
Understanding children’s social care
The post of director of children’s services is arguably the most highly-scrutinised in local government and is invariably among the most challenging to recruit to, says Tim Hills and Philip Emms.
Hillier laments Whitehall cost shunting
An influential MP has raised concerns about Whitehall cost shunting.
Sending a positive message
Stuart Gallimore welcomes the renewed focus on funding for special education needs and disabilities schooling – and the future benefits this will bring to young people – but warns that schools still have a balancing act to perform before cost pressures ease.
Does NCS deserve to survive?
In his first major speech about the voluntary sector given in London in May, secretary of state Matt Hancock lauded the National Citizen Service as a scheme that helps young people. Is he right? Dan Corry investigates.
Council warning after schools cash injection
Councils have warned that a £50m investment to create state-of-the-art school places for pupils with special educational needs (SEN) should not be a one-off cash injection.
In high need of a funding solution
Over the last few years, much progress has been made to highlight the growing pressures in both children’s services and schools funding for councils.
Edinburgh lashes out at partner managing schools
Edinburgh City Council’s chief executive has lashed out at a partner for failing to address safety concerns two years after schools in the city were gripped with fear about faulty construction.
MHCLG alone cannot ease funding pressures, says NAO
The National Audit Office (NAO) has insisted all government departments need to work towards finding solutions to local authority funding pressures, not just Marsham Street.
Government bails out overspending Kingston
Kingston Upon Thames LBC has been handed £4.3m funding from the Department for Education (DfE) to help control large overspends on children with special educational needs (SENs).
Don't scrap IROs, shadow minister warns
Scrapping independent reviewing officers could open the floodgates to child abuse, the shadow children's minister has warned.
Thomas to replace Quirk at Lewisham
The man who helped turn around Rotherham’s children’s services has been recommended by Lewisham LBC to become the council's new chief executive.