Law to ensure new born babies who are taken into care are fostered

The Department for Education has announced that the law in England will be changed to encourage councils to ensure new born babies who are taken into care are fostered by people who want to adopt them in an attempt to shorten adoption waiting times.
Source: Department for Education press release 06 July 2012
Further information:
BBC Online 06 July 2012

Online Explicit Website Opt in Suggestion

The Department for Education has announced a consultation on whether the law should be changed to make explicit internet websites available on an “opt-in” rather than an “opt-out” basis. It is intended that this change would give parents more control over the material their children have access to online. The consultation closes on 6 September 2012.
Source: Telegraph 29 June 2012
Further information:
Department for Education press release 28 June 2012

Tim Loughton, Children

Tim Loughton, Children

The Scottish Government is consulting on the Children and Young People Bill. It sets out proposals for children’s rights and services

The Scottish Government is consulting on the Children and Young People Bill. It sets out proposals for children’s rights and services. Proposals include: increased funded provision for pre-school education; and raising the age to which young people leaving care can ask their local authority for help from 21 to 25.
Source: Scottish Government 04 July 2012
Further information:
A Scotland for Children – A Consultation on the Children and Young People Bill

The Department for Education has published a report on the progress so far in tackling child sexual exploitation

The Department for Education has published a report on the progress so far in tackling child sexual exploitation following the action plan published in November 2011. It finds that government departments, voluntary sector organisations and LSCBs are showing progress in implementing the action plan.
Source: Department for Education 04 July 2012
Further information:
Tackling child sexual exploitation action plan – Progress report

The Scottish Executive has published a literature review identifying definitions of resilience and the factors

The Scottish Executive has published a literature review identifying definitions of resilience and the factors which increase resilience in survivors of institutional child abuse. Findings include: resilience is a process rather than an individual character trait or a particular outcome.
Source: Scottish Executive website Uncertain Legacies: Resilience and Institutional Child Abuse – A Literature Review 25 June 2012
Further information:
Uncertain Legacies: Resilience and Institutional Child Abuse – A Literature Review – Research Findings

The Scottish Executive has published statistics on the educational outcomes for looked after children in Scotland

The Scottish Executive has published statistics on the educational outcomes for looked after children in Scotland in 2010/11. It brings together information from children looked after statistics 2010/11, the pupil census 2010, attendance, absence and exclusions, SQA attainment data 2010/11 and school leavers destinations (2011 and 2012).
Source: Scottish Executive website 25 June 2012