Number of vulnerable children attending school rises significantly
The number of vulnerable children attending school has risen, according to Department for Education figures.
Back in April, we reported how just 5 per cent of vulnerable children were attending school. Around 84,000 children attended an educational establishment on Friday 17 April, representing 0.9% of pupils who normally attend. Of those, 24,000 of [...]
Councils warn they will struggle to meet demand for children’s services post lockdown
Councils have admitted that they will struggle to cope with a surge in demand for children’s services following lockdown due to existing funding shortfalls.
The County Councils Network fear a rise in vulnerable children and troubled families needing support as a result of the Coronavirus lockdown. However existing funding shortfalls and additional costs of the [...]
“Some vulnerable children at risk of exploitation are thriving in lockdown”
WillisPalmer has previously reported on the pressures facing frontline social workers in lock down.
Frontline social worker Rita Long* told us how her team were under-staffed with two vacancies and two social workers self-isolating due to underlying health conditions and they were operating with no PPE although they could request it if they were [...]
Government will publish paper on group-based CSE
The government will publish a paper into group-based child sexual exploitation later this year to better understand the characteristics of this type of offending and safeguard vulnerable children.
The Home Secretary announced that the paper will provide insights gained from the work and outline how agencies can learn lessons to help deliver justice for victims. [...]
Children’s commissioner tells ministers and unions to ‘stop squabbling’ over re-opening schools
The education secretary has said that the government’s plans to re-open schools on 1 June 2020 in a phased manner is based on science.
Gavin Williamson stood firm on schools in England reopening on June 1 and tried to reassurance parents saying that the government’s plans are based on the “best scientific advice with children [...]
Children’s commissioner calls for secondary legislation for children in care to be revoked
Measures set out in the secondary legislation on children in care should be revoked, the children’s commissioner for England has urged.
While acknowledging that some local authorities may be experiencing challenging working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic, Anne Longfield said she does not believe that the changes made in these regulations are necessary.
“I would like [...]
