For me, 2010 ended on a sombre note, with too many Christmas cards from friends and colleagues announcing early retirement or redundancy. And as councils try to balance their books the news is even more worrying, with reductions in ringfenced grants amplifying the effect of council spending cuts, and the voluntary sector in an even more parlous state.
The strategy seems to be to announce cuts in every area and, where there are squeals of anguish, reviewing the cut but only partially reinstating it. This has been seen in areas as diverse as education maintenance allowances (EMAs), music education and capital spending. As councils, schools and colleges are forced to focus on the most vulnerable, and reduce provision of non-essential activities, such as music education, I fear for the future of those services.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
