Homelessness figures: Nearly 100,000 children in England ‘homeless’

Homelessness figures: Nearly 100,000 children in England ‘homeless’

Nearly 100,000 children in England are living in temporary accommodation after being made homeless, new figures show.

At the end of June, 66,980 individuals or families were registered as having no home of their own – an increase of 12% from the same date last year.

Almost a third of them had lost a home in the private rented sector.

Homelessness charities blamed housing benefit failing to keep pace with rent rises – but the government said there was a “strong welfare safety net”.

Most homeless families with children are living in self-contained accommodation – where there is sole use of a kitchen and bathroom – the government figures show.

But more than 2,500 are living in bed and breakfast accommodation – 25% higher than a year earlier.

Of those households, 830 have been in B&Bs for more than 6 weeks, 36% higher than a year earlier.

Source BBC Website

 

Compulsory academic GCSEs ‘a problem’ for some, says Ofsted chief

Compulsory academic GCSEs ‘a problem’ for some, says Ofsted chief

A key government policy to force all pupils to sit GCSEs in core academic subjects could be difficult for some students, the head of Ofsted has said.

Ministers want all pupils in England to study maths, English, science, one of history or geography and a modern language at GCSE.

But some young people “will find it a problem” Sir Michael Wilshaw, told the Times Educational Supplement (TES).

Sir Michael said vocational subjects would suit some pupils better.

In particular he questioned whether the academic subjects included in the government’s Ebacc would be the best thing for pupils who wanted to take apprenticeships when they left school.

“I can think of youngsters, even at the highest-performing schools, who will find it a problem and who would have been better suited to do English, maths and science and a range of vocational subjects,” he told the magazine.

In June, the education secretary Nicky Morgan confirmed she wants all pupils to have to study the five traditional subjects included in the Ebass school performance measure

According to Mrs Morgan the move would ensure all pupils received a rigorous academic education and avoid pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds being put off academic subjects.

In addition, the Conservative manifesto pledges that schools which do not have 100% of pupils studying this set of subjects at GCSE should not be able to obtain Ofsted’s top rating of “outstanding”.

Both policies will be subject to a government consultation later in the autumn.

Sir Michael told the TES he agreed more young people should be studying these subjects – but said the combination was not suitable for everyone.

The Association of School and College Leaders, which represents secondary heads, welcomed Sir Michael’s challenge to government policy.

General Secretary Brian Lightman said union shared his concerns

He said a recent survey by the union found almost 90% of school leaders disagreed with making these subjects compulsory for all pupils.

“It is unfair on young people to take a one-size-fits-all approach to their education.

“We are concerned that creative, technology and vocational subjects will be squeezed out of the curriculum.”

Mr Lightman said the union would urge ministers to make the choice of GCSE subjects more flexible.

The Department for Education said an additional league table measure, Progress 8, allows pupils to study a wider range of subjects.

“As part of Progress 8, pupils will be able to study up to three of our new gold-standard Tech Awards which will provide a real foundation for progression on to vocational courses including apprenticeships,” said a spokesman.

Source BBC Website

 

 

Are child protection thresholds too high?

A Community Care survey of more than 1,000 social workers has found that 71% of practitioners believed the threshold for child protection had risen in the past 12 months. Of those who felt the threshold for abuse had risen, 74% believed it had risen for neglect, while 39% felt it had risen for cases involving sexual abuse and exploitation.

 

Directors of children’s services are less convinced. In a safeguarding pressures report by the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) in 2014, 56% of directors of children’s services did not feel that thresholds had changed in the past two years.

 

However, a previous version of the ADCS’safeguarding pressures report published in 2012 found that 71% of directors did not feel thresholds had changed, showing that, over time, more directors are starting to feel that the thresholds for children’s social care are changing.

 

In order to further understand the differences between frontline and managers views, Community Care conducted an analysis of all of the Ofsted inspections carried out under the single inspection framework up to August 31 this year.

 

The analysis of 59 Ofsted inspections found confusion around thresholds in 26, or 44% of, local authorities. Often, the understanding of thresholds in partner agencies, and within children’s services, was not consistent.

 

What do you think ?

 

Source: CYPNow – click here for the full article

Changes to education inspection from September 2015

Changes to education inspection from September 2015

Details of the changes to how Ofsted will inspect early years provision, schools and further education and skills from September 2015.

 

Ofsted has launched far-reaching changes to the way it inspects early years provision, schools and further education and skills. These changes will come in to effect from September 2015 and include:

 

  • the introduction of a common inspection framework for all early years settings on the Early Years Register, maintained schools and academies, non-association independent schools and further education and skills providers
  • short inspections for maintained schools, academies and further education and skills providers that were judged good at their last full inspection. These short inspections will be conducted approximately every 3 years
  • significant changes to Ofsted’s inspection workforce. From September 2015, Ofsted will contract directly with inspectors for maintained schools, academies, non-association independent schools and further education and skills inspections

 

From this page you can access the new common inspection framework and supporting handbooks. There is also additional information outlining the key changes including materials from Ofsted’s national launch conferences.

 

The changes are a result of the consultation ‘Better inspection for all’ and subsequent response.

New Inspection Documents

The new common inspection framework and handbooks for Ofsted inspectors come into effect from September 2015 for the inspection of schools, further education and skills and early years provision:


Explaining the changes

For a summary of changes, please read ‘The future of education inspection: understanding the changes’.

Source: Ofsted Website

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has published a new strategy for the policing of children and young people

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has published a new strategy for the policing of children and young people. The strategy focuses on four priority areas: stop and search; looked after children; detention, custody and criminalisation of children and the relationship between young people and the police.
Source: National strategy for the policing of children & young people (PDF).  03 September 2015
Further information:
Children & Young People Now 03 September 2015

Source: CASPAR

The Children’s Society has published a report on supporting separated migrant children in England

The Children’s Society has published a report on supporting separated migrant children in England. Findings include: the best interests of separated children are not properly assessed and the care planning process is complicated by the temporary leave generally granted to separated children. Recommendations include: the Government should introduce a multi-agency Best Interests Determination process and an alternative child protection status should be explored for separated children who do not qualify for asylum.
Source: Childrens Society 28 August 2015
Further information:
Not just a temporary fix: the search for durable solutions for separated migrant children: summary (PDF)
   Not just a temporary fix: the search for durable solutions for separated migrant children: full report (PDF)

Source: CASPAR

The University of Northampton has published a report about children’s experiences of domestic violence

The University of Northampton has published a report about children’s experiences of domestic violence. Findings from the study, based on over 100 interviews with children from four European countries, include: despite the significant suffering caused by their experiences, children were able to use coping strategies, remain resilient and develop a positive sense of self.
Source: The University of Northampton 03 September 2015
Further information:
Understanding agency and resistance strategies: children’s experiences of domestic violence: executive summary. (PDF)
   Understanding agency and resistance strategies: children’s experiences of domestic violence: full report. (PDF)

New policy paper outlining how it is tackling extremism through the education and children’s services sectors

The Department for Education has published a new policy paper outlining how it is tackling extremism through the education and children’s services sectors. Work covered includes the Prevent duty, guidance for schools and childcare providers and inspections.
Source: Department for Education 01 September 2015

Source: CASPAR