OFSTED INSPECTIONS

Ofsted inspections

Ofsted has published updates to its Framework for inspecting local authority services for children in need of help and protection, children in care and care leavers. Updates include: redrafted guidance on recording evidence to reflect new recording tools, updated arrangements for monitoring visits to inadequate local authorities and new guidance for inspectors when inspecting a local authority being reviewed or supported by a children’s services commissioner appointed by the Secretary of State for Education.

SourceOfsted  Date: 14 December 2018

Further informationFramework, evaluation criteria and inspector guidance for the inspections of local authority children’s services (PDF)

PREVENT REFERRALS

Prevent referrals

The Home Office has released statistics on the number of individuals referred to the Prevent Programme in England and Wales during 2017/18. 2,420 individuals were referred by the education sector, 33 per cent of the total for that period and the highest number from any sector. Individuals referred from the education sector also had the youngest median age of 14-years-old compared with all other sectors.

SourceHome Office  Date: 13 December 2018

Further informationIndividuals referred to and supported through the Prevent Programme, April 2017 to March 2018 (PDF)

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT

Mental health support

The Department for Education (DfE) has announced that 25 mental health support teams based in and near schools and colleges in England will provide support in 2019. The support teams will: build on support already in place from school counsellors, nurses, educational psychologists and the voluntary sector; support children and young people with mild to moderate mental health problems; help children and young people with more severe needs to access the right support, and provide a link to specialist NHS services.

SourceDfE  Date: 20 December 2018

Further informationTransforming children and young people’s mental health trailblazers

Health, sex and relationships education

Health, sex and relationships education

The Department of Education (DfE) has announced that life-saving skills and first-aid, including CPR, will be taught in all schools in England under plans for health education to become compulsory from 2020. Proposals form part of plans to strengthen the teaching of health, sex and relationships education with pupils taught: how to administer CPR; the purpose of defibrillators; basic treatments for common injuries.

Source: DfE Date: 3 January 2019