Education
Children's charities issue warning over emergency laws
Eleven groups have warned of the impact of coronavirus disruption on vulnerable sections of society.
Accessing the arts in Islington
The 11 by 11 partnership provides outstanding cultural experiences to all children and young people in Islington’s schools – and Cllr Kaya Comer-Schwartz says opportunities like these ‘shouldn’t be based on chance or good fortune’.
Aspire towards achievement
Rachel Dickinson argues the review of children’s care in England must challenge the stereotype that care is a bad place to end up and be more ambitious about what children can achieve.
Government warned of coronavirus impact on council resources
Council officers are working ‘round-the-clock’ in the battle against the spread of COVID-19.
Kier ends contract with Hackney
Hackney LBC has brought a £2.5m outsourcing contract with Kier in-house.
Essex challenges evidence base for Basildon unitary bid
Essex CC’s leader has questioned the benefits of Basildon BC’s pursuit of unitary status.
Scottish councils’ improvements ‘stalling’
Spending on culture and leisure, economic development, and roads all fell by around a quarter last year, according to a study.
Examining the boarding school effect
Councils appear to be reluctant to explore the option of placing the children they support at boarding schools, but Paul Marinko finds that the evidence points to improvements in outcomes.
Cyber Central transformation
Rather than wait for a private developer to buy land next to the GCHQ building, the council stepped in to ensure the site is used for inclusive economic growth. Heather Jameson talks to acting chief executive of Cheltenham BC, Tim Atkins.
Medway caves after Ombudsman rap
Medway Council has finally accepted the recommendations in a Local Government Ombudsman public interest report after a two-year stand-off.
Let's put investment into our school buildings
Schools capital allocations have been skewed by political priorities, says Gary Fielding As a result, North Yorkshire CC 'find ourselves with swathes of the country having insufficient places to meet demand and/or poor building conditions'.
Sutton set to take full ownership of outsourced education company
An independent report has found that the company had ‘moved away’ from the council’s ‘ambitions and values’.
A gap that will prove hard to close
Dan Peters investigates the scale of the funding challenge faced by the 32 councils told by the Government to bring their SEND funding deficit back into balance within three years.
‘We must do more than tinker at the edges’
The system needs a truly sustainable multi-year financial settlement to ensure children and young people with SEND get the support they need, argues Phil Norrey.
Bristol is the first city worldwide to adopt a Period-Friendly Places model
Cllr Helen Godwin explains how Bristol is tackling the issue of period poverty - becoming the world’s first city to adopt a Period-Friendly Places model.
YPO agrees £50m Findel purchase
The public sector procurement company has struck a deal to buy rival Findel Education.
The importance of an early start
With concerns of underfunding remaining in the childcare sector, the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) president Rachel Dickinson outlines what she would like to see from future early years policies.
Not a business as usual approach
Metro Dynamics has launched a guide for people working in and with towns that distils what it has learned over the past few years, based on eight principles. Mike Emmerich explains.
It’s party time
With just a week to polling day, the race to form the next Government is nearly over. Here Paul Marinko tries to help the sector navigate the web of policy commitments for local government on offer after 12 December.
Ofsted reform plans come under fire
Proposals to intensify the inspection regime for schools have been attacked by teaching unions.