Children in receipt of free school meals twice as likely to be absent during pandemic
The absence rates of children in receipt of free school meals was more than double that of children who were not eligible in 2020-2021, Department for Education statistics have revealed.
The overall absence rate for pupils eligible for free school meals was 7.8% across the full year, more than double the rate for pupils who [...]
Surge of young people could be drawn into youth justice system following pandemic
There is a significant risk of a surge in the number of children drawn into the youth justice system following the pandemic, a report by the Alliance for Youth Justice has found.
The briefing finds:
Exacerbated vulnerabilities and inequalities: the impact of COVID-19 on children is devastating, as not only have pre-existing vulnerabilities been exacerbated and [...]
Status of foster care has to improve
All fostering services in the UK should implement a foster carers’ charter to improve the status of foster care, the Fostering Network has urged.
The charity’s latest report shows that foster carers are not treated with the respect and value their vital role warrants, and not given the support they need to help children thrive.
Kevin [...]
Care leavers to receive £1600 per month in pilot scheme
Care leavers in Wales are set to receive £1600 per month to assess the impact on their lives under a pilot scheme announced by the Welsh government.
Under the scheme, more than 500 young people leaving care across all local authorities will be offered the opportunity to participate in the scheme to assess whether the [...]
Register to be introduced for children not in school
Children not in attendance at school will be required to sign a register under the government’s plans for levelling up education.
The government has confirmed it will go ahead with the creation of a register for children not in school at the earliest available legislative opportunity.
While much of home schooling is done well, the government [...]
Domestic abuse referrals rise
There was an average of 669 referrals a day from police to children’s services about domestic abuse in 2020-21, analysis by the NSPCC has found.
Police made almost 245,000 referrals to social services for domestic abuse, an 8% increase on the previous year, with the charity fearing this could be the tip of the iceberg.
The [...]
