In a year which saw growing rates of child poverty, record high levels of children entering care and being issued with education, health and care plans, we look back on the five most read news stories of the last 12 months in order of readership levels:
Budget 2023: Government confirms controversial relaxation of childcare ratios
The relaxation of staff to child ratios among childcare providers for two-year-olds proved controversial when Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt announced it would be changed to align with Scotland in his Spring Budget.
The Department for Education changed its Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework in July, confirming that from September, nurseries and pre-schools in England were able to operate at a ratio of one staff member to five two-year-olds from September.
Read the full story here.
Children’s homes provider tells staff to 'disengage' with Ofsted inspectors
The role of Ofsted and the future of its single-word judgments has been widely discussed throughout 2023 following the suicide of headteacher Ruth Perry in January as she waited for the publication of a critical report into her school.
In March, a children’s social care provider instructed its workers to minimise their interactions with Ofsted inspectors in a bid to reduce the stress of the inspection process on staff.
Anderida Adolescent Care, which runs seven residential children’s homes and also provides foster care services, sent an email to staff “outlining our intent to step out of engagements with Ofsted inspections, past our legal requirements to allow Ofsted access to our homes and documentation”.
The decision was made to protect staff from “gruelling, inconsistent, and damaging” inspection processes that have led some to step down from managerial positions, Anderida bosses said.
Read the full story here.
Outcomes First Group 'in talks' over children's home closures
In May, CYP Now revealed that the fourth largest provider of private children’s home placements in England and Wales was in talks over the closure of a number of its children’s homes.
The Outcomes First Group later confirmed “sector-wide recruitment challenges” had led to the “difficult decision” to close an undisclosed number of homes in England and Wales.
In December it was announced that the group had been bought by two private equity firms.
Read the full story here.
King’s Speech 2023: Key points for children and young people and what was missed
The sector watched with bated breath in November as King Charles III laid out government plans for legislation impacting children and young people as part of his first King’s Speech as monarch.
However, despite widespread calls from across the sector for government to act on child poverty, increasing rates of poor mental health among young people and high levels of youth homelessness, the speech was followed by widespread disappointment over several omissions.
While plans for a new qualification to replace A-levels and legislation to create a “smoke-free generation” were announced, there was little mention of key asks from childcare to children’s social care and health.
Read the full story here.
Children England to close after 81 years
In September, Children England, the collective body for children’s charities, announced plans to close after 81 years.
The charity, launched as the National Council of Voluntary Child Care Organisations (NCVCCO), in 1942, cited “financial challenges” as the reason behind its closure.
Chief executive Kathy Evans said: “No chief executive wants to close the organisation they love and feel responsible for, but I am proud of the decisiveness of our board in knowing when it’s time to call it a day.”
The announcement prompted an outpouring of grief across the sector and praise for the organisation’s work.
Read the full story here.
CYP Now Awards 2023: Winners revealed at glittering ceremony
At the CYP Now Awards ceremony at London’s Hurlingham Club in November, Children England’s Kathy Evans received a standing ovation following an impromptu tribute from Children’s Society chief executive Mark Russell.
The night of celebration was hosted by children's TV favourite Cerrie Burnell and was attended by almost 600 guests who enjoyed a three-course meal and entertainment by The Youth Drumming Band from South London Samba.
Read the full story here.
