Department for Children Schools and Families Report 2009 - outlines the progress towards the Government's PSAs and six new Departmental Strategic Objectives which are: secure the wellbeing and health of young people; safeguard the young and vulnerable; achieve world class standards in education; close the gap in achievement for children from disadvantaged backgrounds; ensure young people are achieving their potential; keep young people on the path to success. View the full report here.
21st Century Schools White Paper - The vision for the 21st Century school is set out in the Children’s Plan and affirms that schools have a role in promoting the whole range of outcomes for children. Find out more here.
New arrangements for the inspection of schools - Ofsted has published new guidance on the evaluation schedule and the conduct of inspections from September 2009.
£655 million to fund the September guarantee has been announced by Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, over 2009-2011, to enable more than 1.55 million young people – the highest numbers ever – to stay on in education and training this September.
NEET figure rises to 10.3% an increase for 18-year-olds has resulted in a higher overall NEET figure - Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, School and Families, responded to figures which show that a record proportion of 16 to 18-year-olds are in education or training. This reflects the changing labour market and the reduction in unskilled or low skilled jobs, as well as the current economic conditions. Click here to read more.
NEET figures released June 2009 can be found here. Although CLC NEET levels for 16-18 year olds hold steady.
Child poverty bill - The government has published a landmark cross-departmental bill that enshrines in law a duty to eradicate child poverty by 2020. The bill identifies key point as: setting income targets, compiling and revising strategy every three years, establishing a dedicated commission and the publishing annual reports. Local authorities will be involved, working alongside partner organisations to eradicate child poverty by the target date.
Criteria for the new £16.7m Hardship Fund announced - part of the Real Help for Communities action plan is a £16.7m Hardship Fund. This fund will provide grant support to organisations in England delivering front-line services to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in society that have been affected by the recession.
A Targeted Support Fund will provide £15.5 million as part of the Real Help for Communities action plan. This money will be made available as funding for small and medium providers in 50 communities most at risk of increased deprivation due to the recession in England. Read more.
Funds of £200 million for 101 projects across England - to bring together children and families services on single sites, has been announced by Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF). Dubbed the Co-location fund the money is backing a number of projects, with between £50,000 and £10 million to deliver investment in joined-up facilities.
Functional Skills Update - Functional skills qualifications will be introduced across England in September 2010 and we expect all young people from the age of 11 to be taught them. Read more here.
Languages Work Update focuses on London 2012 - CILT, the National Centre for Languages, has just released its latest Languages Work Update,
available for download.
Supporting Young Carers - The report claims that councils are not doing enough to identify and support young carers. It recommends that local authorities should conduct investigations to find out how widespread incidents of children caring for their parents are in their locality.
Equality and Human Rights Commission - has published Staying On, a study of 1000 14 to 18 year olds. It claims almost half of girls from a working class background have a profound fear of failure, which is seriously affecting their chances at school and that attitudes of schools towards work and gender have not changed since the 1960s. Girls are still far more likely to do hairdressing, catering and childcare courses, while boys go into mechanics and plumbing.
Government reshuffle – A raft of new ministers have joined the Department for Children, Schools and Families as its ministerial head-count has risen from five to seven. Find out more here.