Author Archives: CPTUKAdmin

The Department for Education has published a plan of action to increase flexibility in the childcaremarket

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The Department for Education has published a plan of action to increase flexibility in the childcaremarket and deliver high quality early education. Proposals include: increasing the mandatory staff: child ratios from 1:3 to 1:4 for under-2s and from 1:4 to 1:6 for 2-year-olds; and imposing tougher entry requirements for those joining the early years workforce.
Source: Department for Education 28 January 2013
Further information:
More great childcare: raising quality and giving parents more choice

The Social Services and Well-Being (Wales) Bill was introduced on 28th January 2013

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The Social Services and Well-Being (Wales) Bill was introduced on 28th January 2013. It provides the statutory framework to integrate social services to support people of all ages. Provisions include: creating Safeguarding Children’s Boards; the establishment of a national adoption service; and stronger support and legal rights for carers.
Source: Welsh Assembly Government 28 January 2013
Further information:
Social Services and Well-Being (Wales) Bill (PDF version)
   Guardian article discussing bill

The Scottish Government has announced a programme of action to tackle child sexual exploitation

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The Scottish Government has announced a programme of action to tackle child sexual exploitation. Pledges include: piloting improved identification of potential victims; improving the way this type of abuse is identified by Scotland’s new single police force; and providing a safe space for victims to share their experiences with the establishment of a National Confidential Forum.
Source: Scottish Government 30 January 2013

Children are Unbeatable! Cymru is a campaign calling for the law to be changed to ban the physical punishment of children

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Children are Unbeatable! Cymru is a campaign calling for the law to be changed to ban the physical punishment of children. They are also campaigning for a public education campaign to provide positive alternatives for disciplining children. The campaign is backed by organisations including Children in Wales and the NSPCC. To sign up, fill in the form on their website or emailsupportcau@childreninwales.org.uk for more information.
Source: Children in Wales 29 January 2013

Barnardo’s Fostering and Adoption week, the charity highlighted the following issues: a white child is 3 times more likely to be adopted than a black child;

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To coincide with Barnardo’s Fostering and Adoption week, the charity highlighted the following issues: a white child is 3 times more likely to be adopted than a black child; the proportion of children adopted drops from 1 in 3 when a child is under 4 to 1 in 15 when that child turns 5; 40% of children waiting for a new family have some sort of special need.
Source: Barnardos 21 January 2013

The Children’s Rights Alliance for England has published a report assessing how well the Government is protecting children’s rights.

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The Children’s Rights Alliance for England has published a report assessing how well the Government is protecting children’s rights. Key points from the report include: a child in custody was restrained resulting in an injury requiring hospital treatment on average once a month in 2010-11; and in October 2012, 37% of children in custody were from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, a rise of 3% on the previous year.
Source: Children’s Rights Alliance for England 22 January 2013
Further information:
State of children’s rights in England, 2012 (PDF version)

In Northern Ireland, a review of lessons learnt from Case Management Reviews between 2003 and 2008 has been published.

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In Northern Ireland, a review of lessons learnt from Case Management Reviews between 2003 and 2008 has been published. Analysing 24 reviews into the death or serious injury of 45 children, key recommendations include: services becoming involved with families at an earlier stage; services staying involved with families for longer to consolidate improvements; access to therapeutic services for children to address the psychological harm of poor parenting.
Source: BBC Online 24 January 2013
Further information:
Translating learning into action: an overview of learning arising from case management reviews in Northern Ireland 2003-2008 (PDF version)
   NSPCC: Northern Ireland Policy and Research Unit

Guardian reports research discussed at the Oxford Media Convention suggesting that 34% of 9-12-year-olds in the UK have their own Facebook page

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An article in the Guardian reports research discussed at the Oxford Media Convention suggesting that 34% of 9-12-year-olds in the UK have their own Facebook page. This is despite Facebook rules that users must be over 13. Simon Milner, Facebook’s director of policy, admitted at the event that they do not have a “mechanism for eradicating the problem of underage users.”
Source: Guardian 23 January 2013
Further information:
Information on the Oxford Media Convention

The DFE has announced a new adoption strategy and funding package aimed at reforming the current system in England.

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The Department for Education (DfE) has announced a new adoption strategy and funding package aimed at reforming the current system in England. The objective is to speed up adopter recruitment. The strategy proposes new legislative action which would require local authorities to outsource adoption services if their recruitment process is taking too long. In addition, the £150 million Early Intervention Grant topslice will be returned in full to the local authorities in the form of the Adoption Reform Grant.
Source: Department for Education 24 January 2013
Further information:
Further action on adoption: finding more loving homes (PDF version)

In Scotland, the Early Years Collaborative

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In Scotland, the Early Years Collaborative, a coalition of over 750 early years experts from social services, health, education, police and the 3rd sector gathered to begin work towards their aim of improving children’s starts in life. Objectives include: by the end of 2016, ensuring that 85% of children meet all expected developmental milestones at their 27-30 month health review; by the end of 2017, ensuring 90% of children have reached all developmental milestones by the time they start primary school.
Source: Scottish Government 24 January 2013