Schools' Role in Promoting Pupil Well-being - Draft Guidance for Consultation: The 2006 Education and Inspections Act laid a duty schools to promote the well-being og pupils at the school. The duty came into effect in September 2007. This consultation draft offers guidance on school role in promoting well-being in many ways including developing the personal, learning and thinking skills that employers value; delivering the September Guarantee, and ensuring that young people have good quality, impartial advice and guidance at the right time, that raises aspiration about course options and career choices, working with other schools and Information Advice and Guidance providers. This will greatly support the work of Connexions in school. The closing date for comments is 26th September 2008. Click here for more.
Government publishes action plan to implement Byron recommendations – A comprehensive plan for how the Government intends to make the internet and video games safer for children and young people was published this week by Children’s Minister Kevin Brennan, Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker and Culture Minister Margaret Hodge.
Morgan Inquiry Reports On Future of Volunteering For Young Adults – The Morgan Inquiry has published its findings on the future of young adult volunteering. The six month independent Inquiry, chaired by Baroness Morgan of Huyton looked at all aspects of volunteering among young adults including the reasons why young people volunteer, barriers preventing then from volunteering and how volunteering could be further encouraged among 18-24 year olds.
Child poverty – The number of children living in poverty in the UK has risen according to the
annual poverty statistics published by the Department for Work and Pensions. The figures show that 2.9 million children are officially living in poverty in the UK – up 100,000 since 2005-06.
Preventing violent extremism: A strategy for delivery – The DCSF has published new resources on preventing violent extremism. The delivery strategy explains the government’s plans to strengthen institutions and help communities resist violent extremism. The guide for local partners gives detailed guidance to support front line practitioners, and includes children’s and youth services.
Volunteering – The Cabinet Office has produced new
guidance on criminal records checks for volunteers. It is designed to help cut unnecessary red tape and responds to concerns voiced by the voluntary sector that potential volunteers can be put off if they are asked to undergo a CRB check without good reason.
Young Runaways Action Plan – The DCSF has published its Young Runaways Action Plan. The plan sets out how government, local delivery agencies and the voluntary sector should work together to put in place services that will prevent young runaways coming to harm and provide them with the support they need.
Rights of the Child – The four children’s commissioners covering each country in the UK have joined forces to report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. Their
report argues that children’s rights have worsened in some areas and in others there has been no change since 2002.
Sport England has published its strategy for 2008-2011. It commits Sport England to deliver on a series of targets by 2012/13. These include delivering a 25% reduction in the number of 16 year olds who drop out of key sports, and making a substantial contribution to the ‘sport offer’ for young people.