Minister launches consultation on school support for vulnerable children
Neil Puffett
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Vulnerable children on the edge of the care system will receive more support in school as part of government plans announced by new children's minister Vicky Ford.
Ford, who was officially announced as children's minister earlier this month, following a government reshuffle, said dedicated school leaders will ensure all children deemed to be in need "attend and achieve".
A consultation launched today will introduce changes to the role of designated safeguarding leads in schools so that they have a greater focus on improving the academic achievement of children on the edge of care, as part of their existing safeguarding duties.
The government said the proposals will aim to specifically help children that experience challenges outside of school, which may contribute to poor attendance, poor behaviour and disengagement in lessons. This includes sharing information about how children’s circumstances are impacting on their education and supporting school staff to find effective ways of teaching them and maintaining a "culture of high aspiration" for them.
There are around 1.6 million children who have needed help and protection from a social worker at some point in the last six years. As a result of the issues they face, they often have worse outcomes than their peers, and are three times more likely to be persistently absent from school and two to four times more likely to be permanently excluded.
The plans come in response to recommendations made in the Children in Need review, published in June 2019.
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Ford said: "We know that on average, three children in every classroom need a social worker. We also know that far too many of those children fall behind, which is why I am determined to be ambitious for these children and ensure they are seen, safe and able to succeed.
"Teachers and social workers are some of the most dedicated professionals in society, delivering for children up and down the country. But I do not want any child to slip through the cracks, which is why we are consulting on having a dedicated senior leader in schools to make sure schools know who their vulnerable children are, set high aspirations for them and put in place the right support so they can achieve."
Designated safeguarding leads are currently responsible for co-ordinating the safeguarding of children, making sure staff across a school understand signs of child abuse and neglect, as well as referring concerns to children’s social care when appropriate.
The DfE said it will also be consulting on what is needed for designated safeguarding leads to provide this help, in terms of resources, training and support. The consultation closes on 21 April, with the proposed changes due to be introduced from September.
The consultation document states that the government recognises "that schools and colleges are facing pressures and therefore the right help needs to be provided to support any change in practice".
"The consultation will help us understand to what extent designated safeguarding leads and their deputies are already providing this type of support to children who need or have needed a social worker," the document adds.
"We are also consulting on what additional resources, training or support would help them to provide it successfully so that we can make sure the right support is in place when these changes are introduced."
Sam Royston, director of policy and research at The Children’s Society, said children who are on the edge of the care system can struggle at school as much as children in care, and has urged the government to provide schools with additional resources to back the plans.
"It is fantastic to see the government recognise the importance of dedicated extra support to help them succeed academically," he added.
"It’s vital that this support focuses not only on their grades, but also on their wellbeing and personal development. This will require additional investment in the pupil premium so schools have resources to provide the right help.
"Support for vulnerable children mustn’t stop at the school gates and it’s crucial that the underlying issues affecting their lives are addressed as well."