Coronavirus daily round-up: Friday 20 November
Fiona Simpson
Friday, November 20, 2020
Just one in 10 vulnerable children attended school during the first Covid-19 lockdown, analysis by the House of Lords public services committee says.
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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.
Lords’ warning over pandemic impact on vulnerable children
Hundreds of thousands of "invisible" children are falling through gaps between social and education services across England, the House of Lords public services committee has warned in a new report.
A critical juncture for public services: lessons from Covid-19 found that disadvantaged and vulnerable children face more risk of abuse and dropping further behind due to school closures.
Just one in 10 children defined as vulnerable attended school or early years education during lockdown, the committee heard - their plight made worse by fewer home visits by social workers due to the pandemic.
NEU slams plans for public services pay freeze
The National Education Union (NEU) has criticised rumoured plans for a public sector pay freeze to rebuild public finances due to the pandemic.
A report in The Times claims that Rishi Sunak will use the upcoming Spending Review to freeze pay for public service workers including teachers.
Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the NEU, said: “This is the very last thing the economy needs as it tries to recover. Key workers have kept this country on its feet throughout the pandemic.”
New guidance to support children at risk of violence
The Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) has published new advice for organisations working with children at risk of involvement in violence to support them during the pandemic.
The guidance is the first Insights Brief to come from YEF’s £6.5m Covid-19 Learning Project.
It has been developed by Dartington Service Design Lab, in partnership with the Centre for Youth Impact, Research in Practice and University of Plymouth and it draws on a rapid review of evidence as well as the experience of more than 100 YEF grantees during the health crisis.