Letters to the Editor: Family Action supports special guardians

Regarding the article on the lack of support offered to special guardians in last month's issue (Legal Update, CYP Now, July 2018), we would like to alert local authorities and special guardians that Family Action offers a Special Guardianship Support Service.

We offer a dedicated website and a seven-days-a-week, out-of-hours free phone helpline aimed at helping guardians in precisely the areas they currently feel let down; offering practical advice, guidance and emotional support. The service is based on an annual subscription model that councils can sign up to and, once signed up, any guardian or professional involved with special guardianship orders can use all the facilities.

More from www.family-action.org.uk/sgs

Jessica Ormrod, Family Action

Government action vital to avert childcare crisis

On 18 July, more than 100 childcare providers from nurseries, pre-schools and childminding settings across the country took part in a lobby of Parliament to highlight the devastating impact that the 30 hours funded childcare offer is having on the early years sector in England.

Organised by the all party-parliamentary group for childcare and early education - of which the alliance is a founding sponsor - the event saw childcare providers meet with their local MP and other interested parliamentarians to discuss their concerns about the scheme, and underfunding in the sector more generally.

It beggars belief that, nearly a year into the roll-out of the 30 hours, the government still sees fit to turn a blind eye to the devastating impact this policy is having on early years providers.

Week after week, we are seeing nurseries, pre-schools and childminders across the country having to choose between increasing fees and charges for parents, compromising on quality or potentially being forced to close their doors for good. This is a direct result of the sustained underfunding of early years care and education in this country - and yet all we seem to hear about from government is how great the scheme is for parents.

This just isn't good enough. It's time that those in Parliament who have the ability to do something about this start listening to the concerns of those working on the frontline - otherwise it's no exaggeration to say that we will be facing a childcare crisis in the near future.

Neil Leitch, chief executive, Pre-school Learning Alliance

CLARIFICATION

In Advice on using ACE enquiry (CYP Now, July 2018) Alana Ryan and Karen Bateson were reported as questioning whether research on adverse childhood experiences (ACE) is sufficiently developed for children's health services to start using ACE as the basis for redesigning provision. This misrepresents their position. They welcome the growing awareness around the potential negative impacts of ACE and the need for preventative policy solutions, but urge caution over the translation of ACE research into practice. CYP Now is happy to clarify this.