More children in receipt of Free School Meals following COVID
The percentage of children in receipt of Free School Meals has risen over the past year, Department for Education figures have shown.
The number of children eligible to have free school meals rose from 20.8% in 2021 to 22.5% this year, representing just under 1.9 million pupils. This is an increase of nearly 160,000 pupils [...]
Review of children’s care ‘fails to understand’ IRO role
The independent review of children’s social care has “failed to fully understand the role of the Independent Reviewing Officer,” critics have warned.
The proposal in the review to scrap the IRO role and ‘reset the role of children’s advocacy’ risks “throwing the baby out with the bathwater”, Nagalro has warned.
“Nagalro would welcome children in care [...]
Care review urges teachers to foster children
There should be clearer routes for adults who already know a child, such as teachers, to be approved as that child’s specific foster carer, the independent review into children’s social care has stated.
In the review, chair Josh MacAlister said that the culture of care means that it is often considered inappropriate to ask whether [...]
8,000 babies to participate in childhood study following COVID
The first new national birth cohort study of babies in more than two decades has been launched by UCL researchers.
More than 8,000 babies and parents are being invited to participate in the study at a time of huge significance for the country as it emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Study director, Professor Pasco Fearon, UCL [...]
Carers Week: Unpaid carers need dedicated recovery and respite plan
The government is being urged to publish a Recovery and Respite Plan for Unpaid Carers by Carers UK and other charities supporting National Carers Week.
The plan should outline additional support for carers across a range of areas, including breaks, respite and care services, infection control, identification of carers, financial help, and support to help [...]
Children’s social workers leaving the profession rises
The rate of children’s social workers leaving the profession has risen from 7.2% to 8.6% in just a year, Department for Education figures have shown.
On 30 September 2021, the attrition rate of children’s social workers leaving their local authority was 11.2%, and while 2.6% were leaving to become a locum social worker, 8.6% were [...]
