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Each day, CYP Now will summarise the key issues affecting the children and families sector as it tackles the effects of the pandemic. The daily update signposts children’s services practitioners and leaders to the latest developments, expert views, advice and resources.
Changes to early years funding
Funding allocations for early years providers will be based on census data from January this year as opposed to data for 2021, the government has said.
The change in protocol comes due to a drop in numbers of children attending settings due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sector leaders have welcomed the announcement but say it will not solve a funding crisis faced by providers.
Call for key worker status for youth workers
The National Youth Alliance (NYA) is calling for youth workers to be given “key worker status” in a bid to tackle increased absence from schools for vulnerable pupils as they return to classes in September.
A new report, published by the National Youth Agency (NYA), reveals that more than 300,000 vulnerable young people are also missing from the radar of youth services.
It adds that there are more than one million young people with known needs that have been amplified by the pandemic and upto 500,000 young people known to be involved or vulnerable to gangs.
Leigh Middleton, NYA chief executive, said: “Youth services must be enabled, empowered and up-skilled to do more to meet the immediate needs of vulnerable young people through the pandemic and the challenges from the global recession.
“Government guidance needs to classify youth services as essential services and to mobilise youth workers as key workers.”
More research into exclusions needed
More research must be undertaken to understand how best to support children most at risk of exclusion, a new report shows.
The study by not-for-profit organisation Social Finance, commissioned by Cheshire West and Chester Council reveals that while boys are more likely to be formally excluded, girls are at higher risk of being informally removed from schools.
Children involved with social workers are also at a higher risk of exclusion, the study shows.
Sara Parsonage, associate director at Social Finance, said: “We need to better understand the relationship between absenteeism and a child’s needs. This is hugely important in the context of Covid-19 as schools return.”
Social workers urged to share ‘inspiring stories’
Social workers in Scotland have shared inspiring stories from the sector during lockdown.
The Scottish Social Services Council has shared 60 stories from across children’s and adults social care online as part of its new Inspiring Care Stories resource.
Jeane Freeman, cabinet secretary for health and sport in Scotland said: “Social care staff provide vital support to people across the country and they have worked courageously and with compassion to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of those they care for.
“This illustrates, through people’s own experiences, the real impact of the work of social care staff. Their stories demonstrate the importance of the profession as well as the human impact and rewarding nature of a career in social care.”
