In unequal societies, the gap in education and work opportunities between those living on the right and wrong sides of the track tend to get wider. This was an issue highlighted in the recent Social Mobility Commission report, and was also cited by Ofsted chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw in the inspectorate's Annual Report (see Analysis).
Wilshaw says there is a direct link between an area's socio-economic health and the standard of education - right through early years, schools and college. Of particular concern to Ofsted is the long-standing problems some parts of the country have had in improving the standards of secondary education. These have mainly been concentrated in deprived parts of the North of England and the Midlands.
Disparities in the quality of public services is also a theme of the Association of Directors of Children's Services' Safeguarding Pressures study published in early December (see Analysis). It shows wide variation between how different authorities deal with vulnerable children and families. For example, struggling families in one area are four times more likely to be referred for early help than in others, while children living in some authorities have a far greater chance of being taken into care than in neighbouring areas. The NCB's Enver Solomon says such variations cannot be explained by differing local circumstances alone, but reflect inconsistency of practice and a collective failure to raise performance.
Wilshaw says the effect of failing education standards can be seen in the high levels of support for Brexit in disadvantaged areas. Brexit has dominated the political and policy landscape this year and looks set to do so in 2017. In the post-Brexit society that is carved out over the coming months, policymakers must not only deal with the consequences of the referendum vote, but address the social disparities that led so many to believe such a drastic change of course is needed.
Gender identity training vital to support children
The recent Kids on the Edge Channel 4 documentary on gender dysphoria in children effectively captured the extraordinarily difficult challenge facing parents and professionals when supporting a child who wants to change their gender identity (see Analysis).
As was illustrated by the two cases featured in the documentary, an increasing number of pre-pubescent children are being referred to the only specialist NHS unit to treat child gender dysphoria. This raises tough questions about whether such young children are able to assess their gender identity and fully understand the implications of treatment. It will take highly-trained clinicians months to make a proper assessment, while parents are often torn between on the one hand supporting their child's wishes and on the other hoping it will be a passing phase.
For children's professionals, such cases also present a dilemma on what the right course of action is, particularly as gender dysphoria is not covered in the social work degree. This must be addressed as the number of under-18s with gender dysphoria is likely to increase further.
